1832.] 
LANDING OF THE DIVISIONS. 
109 
ferent parts of the town ; but they soon disappeared. A moment 
more, and the order, " Oars," was gi"ven. The boats immediately 
" backed in," when the launch let go her kedge ; and, as the surf 
was high, rigged out her stage, over which the division in her 
passed on shore, without difficulty or accident — scarcely wetting 
a single piece. The six-pounder, by the same means, was also 
landed in safety. By this time, the other boats had also com- 
menced disembarking their respective divisions ; and, in fifteen 
minutes, all were safely landed, formed, and in order of march ;; 
each man having found his place, according to the position he 
occupied while being drilled on the decks of the Potomac. The 
marines formed in front, facing to the south ; the other divisions 
in like manner, the right of each being near the water's edge ; 
the left but a few yards from the groves of cocoanut-trees and 
jungle. 
While this little force stood thus under arms on the beach, be- 
fore receiving orders to advance, what an interesting spectacle 
must they have presented to an American eye ! Who could be- 
hold, without feelings of the deepest interest, so small a body of 
men, thus paraded on a foreign and hostile shore, armed, and 
eager to march whithersoever led, in the stern demand for justice,, 
on account of wrongs suffered by their unoffending and unpro- 
tected countrymen ! Rough, hardy sailors, as most of them, 
were, they presented a picture that was by no means deficient iii 
those exquisite touches which constitute the " moral sublime." 
The morning star had shone some time above the horizon, and 
the streaks of light began to make their appearance. The 
matches were now lighted, and all was expectation and eagerness. 
At the moment, some hesitation was felt as to the exact course to 
take ; a Malay, who had probably been placed as a sentinel, was 
observed to run some distance ahead, from the beach towards the 
jungle, and the instant Avas seized to move forward. 
The town of Quallah-Battoo does not contain less than two- 
thousand inhabitants, and nearly five hundred fighting men.. It 
is situated on a small bight about two miles long ; a small stream, 
passing through the rear of the town, divides it into two very un- 
equal portions, the main part being on the northwest side, where 
the divisions landed. It is regularly laid out into streets, inter- 
spersed with jungle and cocoanut-trees, and contains five forts,. 
