392 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
issuing there also, the men were set to work clearing 
out part of the cargo. After throwing out some quan- 
tity without any symptom of approaching the seat of the 
fire, we opened the after hatchway ; and here the smoke 
was much more dense, and in a very short time became 
so sufibcating, that the men could not stay in the hold 
to throw out more cargo, so they were set to work 
pouring in water, while others proceeded to the cabin, 
and now found abundance of smoke issuing from the 
lazaretto, whence it entered through the joints of the 
bulkhead which separated it from the hold. Attempts 
were now made to break this bulkhead down ; but the 
planks were so thick and the smoke so unbearable that 
it could not be effected, as no man could remain in the 
lazaretto to make more than a couple of blows. The 
cabin table was therefore removed, and a hole attempted 
to be cut in the cabin floor, so as to be able to pour 
water immediately on the seat of the fire, which appeared 
to be where the balsam was stowed. This took some 
time, owing to the suffocating smoke, which also con- 
tinued to pour in dense volumes out of the hatchway. 
Seeing that there was now little chance of our being able 
to extinguish the fire, the Captain thought it prudent 
to secure our own safety, and called all hands to get 
out the boats, and such necessaries as we should want, 
in case of being obliged to take to them. The long- 
boat was stowed on deck, and of course required some 
time to get it afloat. The gig was hung on davits on the 
quarter, and was easily let down. All now were in great 
activity. Many little necessaries had to be hunted up 
from their hiding-places. The cook was sent for corks. 
