86 FRIENDLY RECEPTION. 



the hurry of re-embarking he had been left 

 ashore. I pulled back in the gig and took him 

 off; but we had a narrow escape, and it was 

 merely owing to the form of the bank and the 

 gallant behaviour of our Kroomen that we got 

 clear off. By my directions, the Kroomen in 

 the launch kept up a brisk fire, under which I 

 pulled in and recovered the man, notwithstand- 

 ing the natives were firing away within a few 

 paces of us. On mustering the crew, I was 

 glad to find no one hurt; which was easily 

 accounted for, as the natives fire always from 

 the hip and never take aim from the shoulder. 

 The boats and oars had been hit in many 

 places. 



At nine we proceeded up the river, after get- 

 ting up our anchors, and came to again off a vil- 

 lage about three miles above our last anchorage. 

 We were received here with open arms by the 

 chief, who was delighted at hearing that we had 

 been destroying his neighbours. 



The next morning we were informed by the 

 natives that three men had been killed in the 

 skirmish, and four badly wounded ; the latter 

 having been brought to the village opposite by 

 their friends. Dr. Briggs immediately volun- 



