WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 79 



the unfortunate crew. I need not say that our 

 undivided attention to this and other services 

 was commanded by this gentleman, in order to 

 expedite our return to the wreck, which was his 

 most anxious desire, his whole head and soul 

 being in the hope of relieving or rendering assist- 

 ance to his distressed countrymen, fully aware 

 that even if they had all succeeded in reaching 

 the shore in safety, there was great danger to be 

 apprehended of an attack by the Indians, should 

 they come upon them by surprise, or if they had 

 not been able to save the means of defence 

 against that vindictive race of savages, who on 

 former disasters had plundered the unfortunate 

 crews of four vessels wrecked upon their coast, 

 and who were more particularly to be feared at 

 this season of the year, as that intoxicating drink 

 chichi is plentiful; and when excited by this 

 beverage they make desperate attacks on horse- 

 back, armed with spears of bamboo from twenty 

 to thirty feet in length, and are not an enemy to 

 be ti'ifled with. 



May — The despatches, having been com- 

 pleted at a late hour last night, were sent off 

 this morning at 4 o'clock by an extraordinary 

 courier, who was to be rewarded for his services 



