202 THE CRUISE OF THE ' GURAgOA: 



natives who had taken tlie hberty of ejecting the Mis- 

 sionary fi'ora their island. Very soon our big guns loaded 

 with shell began to carry very unpleasant messages to the 

 culprits, while our cutter further enhghteued them by dis- 

 charging rockets among a great crowd of natives that clus- 

 tered about the harbour. Tliis overture continued for 

 some hours, when the more serious business of the day 

 began by the landing of some 170 men, who were to pene- 

 trate into the island, and commit such devastation as was in 

 their power. The task, however, was not an easy one. The 

 natives of course, incapable of resistance, fled from the coast, 

 and concealed themselves in the bush, which presented an 

 almost insurmountable barrier to an invading force. No 

 guide had been found, and the advance had to be made as 

 best it might. Taking advantage of a most unpromising 

 patli that led upwards from the beach. Commander Dent 

 led up his men in the direction of an open space on the 

 hill to]), whicli the Missionary had pointed out from the 

 ship as being the dancing ground, and which was to be the 

 place of rendezvous. This spot, after a prodigious expendi- 

 ture of creeping, crushing, and other fatiguing exertion in 

 forcing a way through the intricate tangle of the bush, was 

 at length reached. But no sooner was this effected, than a 

 volley from the rear showed that the natives had been fol- 

 lowing on their track. A da.-:h was made at them, and they 

 immediately vanished. Their fire had been harmless, but, 

 in their flight, they came across one of the men who was 

 stooping in the act of cutting down sugar canes, whom they 



