390 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1S20. Mr. Cunningham was successfully employed 
Aug. 22 . in adding to his collections, but the dry season 
was so far advanced, and the country so parched 
up, that every thing bespoke the last season as 
having been unusually dry. 
23. On the following day, when our people re- 
sumed their occupation, they were again cau- 
tioned not to trust to the apparent absence of the 
natives. In the afternoon Mr. Roe walked along 
the beach with his gun in quest of birds : on his 
way he met Mr. Hunter returning from a walk, 
in which he had encountered no recent signs 
of the Indians. This information emboldened 
Mr. Roe to wander farther than was prudent, 
and in the mean time Mr. Hunter returned to our 
party in order to go on board ; he had, how- 
ever, scarcely reached our station when the report 
of a musket and Mr. Roe’s distant shouting 
were heard. The people immediately seized 
their arms and hastened to his relief, and 
by this prompt conduct probably saved his 
life. 
It appeared that, after parting from Mr. Hunter, 
he left the beach and pursued his walk among the 
trees ; he had not proceeded more than fifty yards 
when he fired at a bird : he was cautious enough 
to reload before he moved from the spot in 
search of his game, but this was scarcely done 
