PUNISHMENT FOR STRIKING THE CHIEF. 67 



While entering the river I looked in vain for 

 the battery described by former visitors as being 

 on the eastern side of the river ; not a vestige of 

 it was to be seen, and none of the natives of whom 

 I inquired appeared to recollect anything of it. 

 It was rather remarkable that I had entered the 

 river on my natal day : whether to think it a good 

 or a bad omen I knew not, but I found myself 

 speculating now and then on where my next 

 might be passed. The river where we lay ap- 

 peared about three quarters of a mile broad, 

 having an average depth of six fathoms. I an- 

 chored the Columbine with both points of the 

 entrance open, in order that she might have all 

 the benefit of the sea-breeze.* 



On the following morning I was under the 

 painful necessity of punishing a man for striking 

 the chief. Having made every preparation, be- 

 fore a lash was given I offered him the alterna- 

 tive of leaving the vessel for the Susan^ then 

 lying in the river ; by which offer I got rid of a 

 worthless character, without disgracing the vessel 

 by inflicting corporal punishment. 



* I was happy to find on my return, that her mortaHty 

 had been much less than that of other vessels which had 

 been in the river and had anchored M'ithin the swamps. 



F 2 



