^82 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
however, were restored at the general peace, and 
in June 1816 an expedition of about four hundred 
men, which, besides troops, comprised men of 
science, artisans, miners, &c. was sent out in the 
Meduse frigate to enter upon their possession. 
M. de Chaumareys was the captain, but the nar- 
rative is the joint production of Messrs Savigny 
and Correard, who were on board. The vessel, 
apparently through the most gross errors of the 
jaaval officers, ran aground upon the bank of Ar- 
guin, and was soon found to be in such a situa- 
tion as to leave no hope of extrication. When 
this became known, all on board began, in the 
most tumultuous manner, to provide for their owe 
safety. There were five boats, into which about 
two hundred and thirty persons crowded, while a 
hundred and fifty were stowed into a raft. This 
raft was fixed to the boats, which undertook to 
tow it ashore, but who all, with the most criminal 
indifference, cast off the tow lines, and left it to 
shift for itself. The sufferings which then ensued 
on board the raft, seem indeed to have been of 
the most fearful description. They had no instru- 
ments to direct their course ; and in the confu- 
sion of leaving the ship they had received a very 
small supply of biscuit, which was miserably com- 
pensated by a very large proportion of wine. The 
use of the latter, acting on enipty stomachs, and 
upon this agitated frame of mind, produced a vio- 
