J^OaTER'S JOiiKiNAL. 



The frigates iiad just returned from a cruise of four months 

 •among the GaUipagos and Washington islands, without 

 meeting a single vessel of any description, and their crews., 

 for more than six weeks, had been upon short allowance. 

 Several of their men were dangerously ill, and not a/few^iilT 

 a convalescent state. On coming to an anchor, they fired a 

 salute of 13 guns, which was promptly returned by the fort. 

 The next day, Lt. Gamble obtained permission to visit the 

 Briton, for the purpose of learning some particulars relative 

 to the island of Nooaheevah* Her Captain, Sir Thomas 

 Staines, informed him, that Midshipman Feltus and all his 

 companions, excepting Ross, were beyond doubt massacred 

 by the natives before the Sir Andrew Hammond got clear 

 of the Bay. Ross tied into the mountains and remained 

 there for some time ; but being at length exhausted with 

 hunger, he was obliged to throw himself upon the mercy of 

 an old chief, who very kindly took him under his protection. 

 The villain, Wilson, complained that he had been robbed by 

 the men under command of Lt. Gamble, and declared that 

 he was perfectly ignorant of the intention of the sav^ages ii» 

 murder young Feltus and his friends. The guns were all 

 removed from the fort, and the houses demolished. The 

 remains of the Greenwich were still visible, but, excepting 

 a few copper bolts, nothing was taken from the wreck. Peter 

 C. Swook, one of the perfidious rogues who deserted in aii 

 open boat, previous to the mutiny at J^ooahcevah, entered om 

 board the Briton at St. Christiana ;* his three companions, 

 who with him had safely gained that port, paid a visit to the 

 ship at the same time, but declined entering. 



The Raccoon had made a useless voyage to Columbia 

 river, and was last from Lima. The American traders at 

 the mouth of this river, sold their furs and their whole es- 

 tablishment to the Hudson-Bay company, some time before 

 the arrival of the Raccoon. In cominj^ out of the river on 

 her way home, she struck twice upon a sand bar, and besides 

 knocking off her false keel, and starting several planks from 

 the bow, she was otherwise so seriously injured as to require 

 three pumps to be kept going in order to keep her afloat* 

 In consequence of this, tte Captain was obliged \o heave her 

 out at St. Francisco on the Coast of California, ^ ^ 



* St. Christiana is one of the Marquesas Islands, and about three days* 

 &ail from JYooaheevah. 

 VOL. 11. 



