RIONEGRO. 95 



numerous sand-bars. It became necessary, as the tide rose, to make 

 the river. The Sea-Gull having got off, I put the scientific gentlemen 

 on board of her, and ordered Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold to 

 proceed in, keeping in what the chart pointed out as the channel-way 

 and deepest water. He finally succeeded in getting into the river, 

 after thumping heavily over a sand-bar, with some fears on the part 

 of the passengers, but without injury to the vessel, and anchored, after 

 dark, about half a mile up the river. 



During this time an amusing occurrence took place in the road- 

 stead. I had directed Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, in case of 

 accident or requiring aid, to make signal, that I might order boats at 

 once to his assistance. When the night closed in, the signal was 

 seen ; when the requisite signal was made from the Flying-Fish to the 

 different vessels to send boats to assist. The commanding officer's 

 mind being somewhat impressed with an idea of the hostility of those 

 on shore, he concluded the boats were required to repel an attack, and 

 had them fully armed; in this state they were met in a short time 

 exerting themselves to their fullest strength at the oars, to be in time 

 to take part in the expected fray, and appeared greatly disappointed 

 when it proved a false alarm, and that none was to take place. 



Shortly after the schooner anchored, a voice was heard from the 

 shore, ordering a boat to be sent immediately, when a party landed, 

 but 'no one was found to receive them. Seeing a light at a distance, 

 they proceeded towards it : it proved to be the pilot's house, a long 

 low barn-like building ; but no inhabitants were visible, and none 

 made their appearance until our party had taken a survey of the 

 premises. The furniture was of a rude and scanty description; a 

 table, bench, two or three bunks in one corner, and in another a 

 number of arms, consisting of cutlasses, carbines, and pikes, in good 

 order ; in the others, various accoutrements. The two pilots, one an 

 Englishman and the other a Frenchman, with a negro, then made their 

 appearance, and unravelled the mystery, by informing them that the 

 vessels had been mistaken for the French squadron, and much alarm 

 had been created by our visit ; they also said that the guard of about 

 thirty Guachos were in ambush near where they landed, with the in- 

 tention of cutting our party off; but hearing them speaking English, 

 they found to their satisfaction that they were not French. They also 

 stated that all the inhabitants living near the mouth of the river had 

 fled to the town, and that most of the women and children in the town 

 were hurrying off to the interior. They were likewise employed 

 driving off the cattle, and preparing to fire the country, the usual mode 

 of warfare, and were rejoiced to identify us as Americans. 



