280 



PROCEED UP THE RIVER. 



so that we stuck fast till tbe tide rose, and a little 

 fresh breeze coming in from the sea dragged us 

 through it. We went up this new arm to the 

 N.N.W., but it was now sunset, and we were conse- 

 quently obliged to anchor. The tide was then 

 running with such force that the cutter, which was 

 about 200 yards a-head of us when we anchored, 

 was quite unable to stem it, when she attempted to 

 return to us, and was obliged to anchor where she 

 was, and the men to remain in the wet without their 

 suppers till nearly nine o'clock, when the tide 

 slackened sufficiently for them to pull down to us. 

 It then ran quite as strongly the other way during 

 the ebb. The water here was quite fresh with both 

 tides. 



The rain still continued to pour down, notwith- 

 standing which, about seven o'clock, we saw a bright 

 light in the north-west, like the reflection of some 

 great conflagration. No flame was visible, nor 

 could any be seen from the mast-head, and the fire 

 was evidently some miles off. After continuing 

 for about half an hour, it gradually died away. 

 It was evident that it could not be a fire in the 

 woods in their present wet condition, but whether 

 it was a signal fire or an accidental conflagration of 

 one of their large houses we could not guess. 



May 31. — Heavy rain all night and this morning, 

 and Captain Blackwood determined on not proceed- 

 ing any further up these rivers, on account of the 

 badness of the weather and the shoalness of the 

 water for our deep little craft, but to return to sea 



