THE NATIVES. 339 



quarter-deck ready for use : the men were armed 

 with a cutlass and brace of pistols each, and sta- 

 tioned by the guns. 



About three o'clock, on passing a town situate 

 on the left bank, about two hundred natives 

 rushed from behind the trees and fired at us, tak- 

 ing deliberate aim. I stood by the nine-pounder 

 and fired a rocket over the town ; but this did 

 not appear to alarm them, for they kept up an 

 irregular fire running along the bank with 

 the vessel until we rounded the point and got 

 out of sight of the town. The musket-balls 

 flew about the temporary house and the ship's 

 quarter-deck in all directions for several minutes ; 

 and although they struck the chimney and roof 

 of the house, we all escaped. 



Here I cannot refrain from complimenting my 

 brave Kroomen, who may with truth be said to 

 be the white man's friend ; not one of them ap- 

 peared afraid, but enjoyed the probability of war, 

 as they termed it. They were much disappoint- 

 ed that I did not heave-to and attack the town. 

 Brown's conduct was highly praiseworthy. While 

 I stood on the quarter deck ready to fire into 

 any canoes that should dare to obstruct us. Brown 

 was exceedingly anxious to fire the field-piece 



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