^32 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP, the fatisfadlion to fee them feize their arms, and rufli 

 out with the utmoil order and intrepidity. This experi- 

 ment I was the rather in dined to put in pra6lice, as it 

 was reported that the rebels intended foon to pay a vifit 

 to the River Comewina. But we foon experienced that 

 no fcene of pcrfe6t felicity can be laliing, for the dry 

 feafon now fuddenly fetting-in, difeafe and mortality 

 once more began to rage among us, ten or twelve men 

 dying daily at the Java Creek and Magdenburg, while 

 thofe imder my command at the Hope diminifhed 

 hourly. 



On the 3d, the furgeon made me the following report, 

 ^' That my Enfign, Mr. Decabanes^ had his anchor-a- 

 " peek, and would certainly fet fail for the other world 



with the ebb-tide;" which was really the cafe, for he 

 died that very evening. This grieved me the more, 

 as he had obtained his commiffion through my intereft, 

 and bore an excellent chara6ter. 



On the 4th of June, the fpring-flood broke down my 

 dams \yhile we were drinking the King's health, and laid 

 the whole poft under water, which created vaft confu- 

 Hon ; and in this diftrefs the overfeer Blenderman re- 

 fufed to lend me any affiftance, which occalioned fo vio- 

 lent a quarrel, that he was glad to take to his heels, and 

 make his efcape from the plantation. I fliall never 

 have done mentioning the infolence of thefe favage 

 brutes, who raofdy are the refufe of the earth, brought 

 ©p in Germany, or elfewhere, under the cane of a corpo- 

 ral. 



