xxj LONDON: VOYAGE TO SINGAPORE 305 



one. Our boats continued very leaky, and we could not cease 

 an instant from baling ; there was a considerable swell, though 

 the day had been remarkably fine, and there were constantly 

 floating around us pieces of the burnt wreck, masts, etc., which 

 might have stove in our boats had we not kept a constant look- 

 out to keep clear of them. We remained near the ship all 

 night in order that we might have the benefit of its flames 

 attracting any vessel that might pass within sight of it 



" It now presented a magnificent and awful sight as it rolled 

 over, looking like a huge caldron of fire, the whole cargo of 

 rubber, etc., forming a liquid burning mass at the bottom. In 

 the morning our little masts and sails were got up, and we 

 bade adieu to the Helen, now burnt down to the water's 

 edge, and proceeded with a light east wind towards the 

 Bermudas, the nearest land, but which were more than seven 

 hundred miles from us. As we were nearly in the track of 

 West Indian vessels, we expected to fall in with some ship 

 in a few days. 



" I cannot attempt to describe my feelings and thoughts 

 during these events. I was surprised to find myself very 

 cool and collected. I hardly thought it possible we should 

 escape, and I remember thinking it almost foolish to save my 

 watch and the little money I had at hand. However, after 

 being in the boats some days I began to have more hope, 

 and regretted not having saved some new shoes, cloth coat 

 and trousers, hat, etc, which I might have done with a little 

 trouble. My collections, however, were in the hold, and were 

 irretrievably lost And now I began to think that almost all 

 the reward of my four years of privation and danger was lost. 

 What I had hitherto sent home had little more than paid my 

 expenses, and what I had with me in the Helen I estimated 

 would have realized about £500. But even all this might 

 have gone with little regret had not by far the richest part of 

 my own private collection gone also. All my private col- 

 lection of insects and birds since I left Para was with me, 

 and comprised hundreds of new and beautiful species, which 

 would have rendered (I had fondly hoped) my cabinet as far 

 as regards American species, one of the finest in Europe. 



vol. 1. X 



