t4 SPILSBURy's voyage to AFEÏCA.- , 
thing but water, lie bad but just returned to Temara, liav- 
mg had a war with a ueighbGoriog kmg, who had destroyed \m 
towo, as we saw, and had takeo a great number of his peo- 
ple : but he assisred us that he had been {uWy revenged, and 
was now returned to rebuild hh town. He said he was takeîi 
to England when youog, and lived a long time at Chester ; but 
having happily returned to his own country, he fixed on this 
island, Viliich belonged to him by right. His wives procured 
lis some water, and ofiered to cook us some fowls, but we 
declined their politeness and took our departure. It is neces- 
sary to reînark here, that saluting is not the same as the Eng- 
lish fashion; but is performed by one person holding out the 
hand open, over which the other draws his. One point of 
this island is called Tom Williams's Point, and on this his 
town is situated. 
December the l6th, at four o'clock, Cape Sierra Leone bore 
S. W. g W. three or four îpile?'. At a quarter past four the ship 
struck on a sîîoal of sand called the Middle-ground, the cape 
bearing at this time S. W. nearly five miles. Hove the sails 
all aback, and sent the master away to sound. Findmg it im- 
practicable to get her off at that time, in consequence of the 
fallmg tide, we struck the lower yards and top-masts, and put 
ihem over the side to keep the ship upright. Boats were also 
employed in carrying out anclîors, to heave her olf. 
At twenty minutes past five, came alongside to our assistance 
Mr.. M<?. Cawiey, master of the Mary, and also a boat from the 
Arab : we started our water in the hold, and got every thirsg 
ready for heaving her off at high water. A. M. light airs and 
cloudy. At tw'enty minutes past twelve bruuglit to the capstan^ 
and endeavoured to heave her off, but without efiect. At twenty 
minutes past niiîe a schooner came alongside and carried out 
our bower anchor ; ahe took on board also part of our guns. At 
ten the Arab can:.e to our atsislance. I'he 17th, early in the 
inornmg, all hands were .employed at tiie capstan, and at three 
they hove her otf into three fathoms w^ater. At thirty minutes 
past three received a hawser from the x4rab, and warped her off 
the bank, and at six anchored in seven and half fathoms. People 
were now employed in getting up the yardy miû topmasts, and 
at nine, we weighed and made sail. In the evening we anchored 
off Free-tovWi, in eleven fathoms water. 
December 20th. W e first heard of Lord Nelson'^s victory- 
over the combined fleet off Trafalgai', and fired a salute of twenty- 
one guns lu consequence- We now received orders to go to 
Rio Ponjor, to look after a privateer. At half-past six, A. 
we weighed; at seven hoisted in ail the boats; and at fi.fteen mi- 
nutes past eiev£n we anchored m seven and half fathoms, Fr^ee- 
