M A VTBTT TO THE INDIAN ARCHlPELAnO. 



as Kpars and rigging wcro concerned. Sho was caught 

 \vhile iti Btays, and hca<l to wiml ; tlic liobstajs liad given ^ 

 aud the fores bays liad brought the bowsprit in-hoard ; 

 this had been carried away just outside the kniglit- 

 lieads, and was now laid alongside the foremast^ wliich, 

 with the otlier three nmsfcs, lay amidsliips, fore and aft 

 the deck. 



Leaving the Rmjtdut at Lahuan to refit, and a volunteer 

 party of Marines to do duty on shore, we sailed on 14th 

 October fer Siiicaporc. 



The wind holding from the wo went out to the 

 eastward and northward of the island, taking advantage 

 of the pilotage of Lieut. Gordon, eommantling the 

 Roi/aUd, who was particularly well (|ualified to show us 

 the way, having lately completed an excellent survey of 

 the island and adjacent coast. After ho had left us, 

 and before losing sight of Labuan, we passed over aji 

 extensive coral shoal to the N,W., the sounding varying 

 from four to four and a half fathoms for several miles ; 

 such an uwcei'tain bottom rendered it most unpleasant 

 cruising'ground for a forty-four gun fiigate. 



On our passage, symptoms of fever began to show them- 

 selves among the party of Marines^ who had been first sent 

 to do duty at Labuan ; one of them, a private, died on the 

 17th, and a corporal two days after : they were both 

 promising young men* Tlieso casualties caused us to 

 feel very anxious about the poor fellows who were stUl 

 doing duty there. 



