2 5 6 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [March, 



were twenty days from their entrance into the ftrait to their finding 

 themfelves again in an open fea. The navigation through this paffage 

 was defcribed as the moft dangerous ever performed by any nvai- 

 gator ; nor was this all the hazard that they ran ; for, from fome of the 

 iflands, eight canoes formed the daring attempt of attacking the armed 

 tender, and with their arrows killed one and wounded two of the fea- 

 men. Some of thefe canoes were fixty or feventy feet long, and in 

 one of them were twenty-two perfons. 



This account excited many apprehenfions for Mr. Bampton's fafety. 

 It was known that he had on board fome articles of merchandize, 

 which he meant to difpofe of at Batavia ; but by very late accounts re- 

 ceived at Calcutta from that place, it appeared that he had not touched 

 at that port. It was therefore more than probable, that both the Shah 

 Hormuzear and the Chefterfield had been wrecked on fome of the 

 ihoals with which the ftrait abounded, and that their officers and 

 people, taking to. their long-boats, had fallen facrifices to the natives 

 who had attacked the Afiiftance, by the guns of which many had 

 been wounded in their attempt to carry that vefTel. 



To the difappointment which the colony fuftained from the failure 

 of the contract already mentioned for cattle and provifions, which 

 were to have been fupplied them by Mr. Bampton, was added the 

 regret which every thinking being muft have felt on contemplating 

 the calamitous moments which had, in all probability, brought de- 

 ft met ion on fo many of their fellow-creatures. 



The mafter of the brig had met with captain Patrickfon, who had be- 

 fore carried a cargo on fpeculation to Sydney, and had actually loaded 

 a fhip with the intention of repeating his vifit, but was prevented by 

 fome unaccountable apprehenfion that his venture would not be 

 pnrchafed. 



The government of Bengal too had advertifed for terms to freight 

 a veffel for that country with cattle and provifions ; but were diverted 

 from the defign by the equipment of the armaments which it was ne- 

 cefTary to enter into at that time. 



Thus 



