90 



porter's JOtJRJN'At. 



account of the exposed situation we should be in while 

 crossing. We endeavoured in vain to clear the bushes of 

 the opposite banks with our musketry. The stones and 

 spears flew with augmented numbers. Finding that we 

 could not dislodge them, I directed a volley to be fired, 

 three cheers to be given, and to dash across the river. 

 We soon gained the opposite bank, and continued our 

 march, rendered still more difficult by the underwood, which 

 was here interlaced to that degree, as to make it necessary 

 sometimes to crawl on our hands and knees to get along. 

 We were harassed as usual by the Typees for about a 

 quarter of a mile through a thicket which, at almost any- 

 other time, { should have considered impenetrable. Mou- 

 ina and two or three others of the natives had kept with 

 us, the others had not crossed the river. We soon came 

 to a small space cleared of the small trees and the under- 

 wood ; the natives had ceased to annoy us, and we had 

 hoped soon to have arrived at their village, which I had 

 been informed was at no great distance. On emerging 

 from the swamp, we felt new life and spirits ; but this joy 

 was of short duration, for on casting up our eyes, we per- 

 ceived a strong and extensive wall of seven feet in height, 

 raised on an eminence crossing our road, and flanked on 

 each side by an impenetrable thicket. In an instant after- 

 wards we were assailed by such a shower of stones, ac- 

 companied by the most horrid yells, as left no doubt in our 

 minds that we had here to encounter their principal 

 strength, and that we should here meet with much resist- 

 ance in passing this barrier. It fortunately happened, that 

 a tree which afforded me shelter from their stones, enabled 

 me, accompanied by Lieutenant Gamble, and Doctor 

 Hoffman, a very valuable officer, to annoy them as they 

 would raise above the wall to throw at us. These were 

 the only muskets which could be employed to any advan- 

 tage. Others kept up a scattering fire without effect. 

 Finding we could not dislodge them, I gave orders for 

 pushing on and endeavouring to take it by storm. But 

 some of my men had by this time expended all their car- 

 tridges, and there were few who had more than three or 

 four remaining. This discouraging news threw a damp on 

 the spirits of the whole party. Without ammunition our 

 muskets were rendered inferior to the weapons of the 



