footer's journal. 



189 



witness the operation. After taking about seven ounces of 

 blood from him, he fainted, and the spectators immediately 

 called out to know whether he had killed him. Lieut, 

 Gamble directed the interpreter to assure them, that the 

 loss of seven ounces of blood, would not deprive a man of 

 life ; and that in the course of two or three hours, the old 

 chief would be greatly relieved. The next day, the pains 

 had nearly ceased, but the disorder of his mind continued 

 as obstinate as ever; and, in truth, there could be no great 

 hope of his recovery from it, however much he himself 

 might feel disposed to think so, while those around him in- 

 cessantly inculcated the idea of its impossibility. On the 

 17th, Heut. Gamble visited him again, and was much sur- 

 prised to find him better. 



As he had no disposition to use the least rigour towards 

 the natives beyond what necessity required, lieut. Gamble 

 made known to the swine thieves, that he should exact no 

 farther damages from them, provided they would build a 

 house for him, within the breastwork, on the hill, and 

 another near the water, for his boat. To these terms they 

 acceded at once, and so industriously did they labour at the 

 buildings, that before the close of the ensuing day, one of 

 them was completed. The garden still continued to 

 flourish, but the mice had entirely destroyed the beans. 



An event now occurred of more serious importance to 

 the welfare of the Americans than any which had yet taken 

 place since the departure of the Essex. In order to keep 

 the natives in total ignorance of the weakness of his force, 

 as well as of the manner in which the duties of the ships 

 were performed. Lieut. Gamble had given positive orders 

 to the crews of the Sir Andrew Hammond and Seringa- 

 patam, not to suffer male or female to come alongside, or 

 on board, on any pretence whatever. Notwithstanding 

 this unequivocal regulation, he had for some time sus- 

 pected the crews of these ships of carrying bread secretly 

 on shore, for the natives, and permitting females to come 

 on board at night. He was not long left in doubt, for, on 

 the morning of the 20th, one of the men who had watched 

 on shore the preceding night, reported, that at the hour of 

 five he saw a female swim from one of the ships, with a 

 large bundle of bread. That no scruple might arise, in 

 regard to the fact, a boat was sent to these ships the fol- 



