WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



39 



caciques, a bullock or two, which were driven 

 down to our camp for beef ; and from the hills 

 were brought, by the daily straggling Indians, a 

 moderate number of fowls, with potatoes and 

 apples, for which the officers and crew bartered 

 whatever they had to spare that attracted the 

 rapacity of the Indian. The weather, towards 

 night, became thick, the surf sounding loud and 

 heavily. Our usual precautions were taken in 

 watching through the night. 



May 25. — We were roused just before one 

 this morning by Don Bernardino, who came to 

 the camp with information, brought by a horse- 

 man just arrived, that the Indians had yesterday 

 been fighting near us, and might shortly be ex- 

 pected 5 recommending us to be on our guard 

 against their insidious mode of attack, particu- 

 larly about daybreak, and, like them, to sleep 

 by day and watch by night." The seamen and 

 marines were instantly under arms. The captain 

 made his disposition of our force, by putting the 

 seamen in quarter watches, the marines forming 

 a fifth body, each under an officer. Rockets and 

 blue lights, and fire-balls, which we had made, 

 were in readiness to throw amongst the horses. 

 Fires were kept in, torches burnt, and all hands 



D 4 



