ARRIVAL OF MR. LANDER. 353 



supplied us with provisions, taking our des- 

 patches with him to forward to England. 



About the 19th of April, we espied a canoe ap- 

 proaching us, on her way down the river, with a 

 union jack flying; and in a short time she landed 

 on the opposite bank, abreast of the brig. Two 

 or three individuals jumped out of the canoe, 

 when, by the aid of the glass, I thought that I 

 could distinguish Mr. Lander. We despatched 

 a boat to the party ; and our joy may be easier 

 conceived than described, on finding we had not 

 been deceived, and that it really was Mr. Lan- 

 der. We had, however, mistaken him for a mu- 

 latto — and with good reason, for he was much 

 sunburnt. Anxious inquiries were quickly made 

 after our old companions ; but what was our dis- 

 may ! — on asking how was Dr. Briggs ? the reply 

 was, " Dead !" — how was Mr. Laird ? '^ Very ill, 

 and not expected to recover !" — how was Cap- 

 tain Miller ? " Dead !"— Mr. Jordan ? « Dead!" 

 In short, officers and men were almost all dead. 

 Such intelligence was enough to shake the 

 strongest nerves : only eight or nine were left 

 alive, and four of these have since died. 



Mr. Lander informed me that most of the 

 officers and men had been dead three months, 



VOL. I. 2 a 



