256 
SHIPWRECK. 
her, and on their way met Captain Maxwell going on shore, where 
his presence was likely to be of the greatest service in establishing 
order amongst his men, and where his counsel was required respect- 
ing the best means of procuring relief from some neighbouring port. 
He expressed great concern that no water had been discovered on 
the island, as very little had yet been obtained from the wreck. 
We found, on reaching the vessel, that she had heeled over so 
much on her starboard side, that it was very difficult to mount her 
quarter-deck by the larboard gangway. The topmasts had been cut 
away, some of the yards had been lowered, and others were taking 
down to form rafts for the conveyance of things on shore, and for 
the safety of those on board in the event of any sudden breaking up 
of the vessel, whose timbers threatened to give way about midships. 
The noise, and the scene which prevailed on board, were inex- 
pressibly awful. The wind was high and the swell of the sea con- 
siderable, and the vessel knocked fearfully against the rock. The 
rending of the sails, the rattling of the ropes, the splashing of the 
waves, the howl of the winds, the roar of the sea, and the shouts of 
the seamen, combined in horrid confusion. Linen, books, and all 
kinds of packages, covered the upper deck. The water rose to the 
main deck from below, and beat over it through the starboard ports. 
Pieces of furniture floated in every direction. The cabins, in which 
but two days before we had reposed in comfort and security, were 
either empty, or filled with motley lumber. One alone was an 
exception to this state. A collection of plants, seeds, and minerals, 
which had been made in China, was still in a great measure unin- 
jured, but only mocked the vexation of the owner, who saw no chance 
of preserving it. Every one at the time being necessarily too intent 
on securing the means of general subsistence to attend to an indi- 
vidual’s interests, it could only be recommended to the attention of 
the officer commanding on board, and by his directions was after- 
wards placed on a raft, which, with every thing upon it, was burnt by 
the Malays. 
Whilst we remained on board, two casks of water floated up from 
