MEDITATIONS AMONG THE TOMBS. 
139 
with old matchlocks and others with sticks, ad- 
vanced against us, while one, more daring than the 
rest, closing with the sergeant, attempted to wrest 
his rifle from him. The captain, however, came 
briskly to the rescue, and dealt a well-directed blow 
with his walking-stick upon the knuckles of the as- 
sailant, who beat at once a hasty retreat, discomfited 
and crestMlen. This well-timed action excited the 
laughter of his would-be-bellicose compatriots, who 
halted and remained gazing upon us from a safe 
distance ; until, having completed our observations, 
we packed up our instruments, and, greatly to the 
relief of the natives, returned to the ship. Mr. Mac- 
leod, in his “Voyage of the Alceste,” relates an 
incident very similar, which occurred to the officers 
of his ship in 1816 , and probably at the same place. 
The spot from which we made our observation 
was close upon the confines of their cemetery, 
and strolling in that direction, I meditated among 
their tombs. There was, however, not much • to 
foster meditation among the monuments, which 
for the most part consisted of tall square columns, 
