56 CAPT. HARRIES AND THE ENGINEER. 



siderable distance, we continued on our course 

 for the river Nun, expecting the brig and the 

 Alburkah to follow us during the night. 



In the course of the evening Captain Harries 

 complained of a stiff neck, which he attributed 

 to sleeping with one of the cabin windows open 

 to the land-breeze. The second engineer, George 

 Curling, was also slightly indisposed. Dr. Briggs 

 prescribed for the latter ; but Harries would 

 take no advice, and insisted on keeping the 

 deck. 



On the following day, the 12th, we had a fine 

 fair wind ; but the Quorra under all her can- 

 vass could only make about five miles per hour, 

 steering at the same time two and a half points 

 to windward of our course, to compensate for 

 the indraught into the bight. As we were draw- 

 ing towards our destination, the men were now 

 busily employed in fixing the chevaux-de-frise* 

 round the vessel's sides. Captain Harries be- 

 came worse, and symptoms of fever appeared ; 

 but we could not prevail on him to take the 



* This contrivance was intended to prevent our being 

 boarded by the natives ; but fortunately we had no occasion 

 for proving its value, although it was of considerable service 

 to us in preventing them from crowding and incommoding 

 our decks. 



