406 MEETING WITH THE STEAMERS. 



suddenly attracted up the river, and, to our great 

 astonishment and gratification, we beheld the 

 two steamers under weigh approaching us, and 

 shortly after they anchored within half a mile of 

 us. When seen from a distance, the vessels bore 

 a striking resemblance to barns, from their being 

 thatched fore and aft, as a protection against 

 the sun and rain ; but the happiness we enjoyed 

 on meeting them, in the relief that we now had 

 from a confined boat exposed to the weather, be- 

 sides the satisfaction of seeing our friends, may 

 be better imagined than described. 



