418 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
proached it, we found our fears had been ground- 
less, and that they were occasioned by no less 
innocent an enemy than a half-consumed log of 
wood, in the heart of which a fire had been 
lying dormant for some days, having been lighted 
by the fires which had lately passed over the 
country ; it had been fanned into a flame by 
the land-breeze which sprung up at midnight. 
The light seen in the early part of the night 
originated, most likely, from a similar cause ; so 
that we returned to the vessel without further 
apprehension. 
The following day all our wet and dry pro- 
visions, our wood and guns were landed ; and 
the greater number of the crew slept on shore. 
A discovery of great importance was this day 
made, which enabled us to carry on our opera- 
tions with much greater facility and comfort ; this 
was our finding near the tents some deep holes, 
containing a great abundance of excellent water ; 
so that by emptying our water-casks, we avoided 
the trouble and delay of hoisting them out : our 
operations were, in consequence, so much expe- 
dited, that the next morning, at high tide, the 
vessel was warped and secured as far up the 
beach as the water would allow, preparatory to 
her taking the ground, which event we awaited 
with considerable anxiety. 
