96 
THE FIRST MUTINY. 
[chap. II. 
tinence was so violent, that I immediately ordered him 
twenty-five lashes, as an example to the others. 
Upon the vakeel (Saati) advancing to seize him, 
there was a general mutiny. Many of the men threw 
down their guns and seized sticks, and rushed to the 
rescue of their tall ringleader. Saati was a little man, 
and was perfectly helpless. Here was an escort! 
these were the men upon whom I was to depend in 
hours of difficulty and danger on an expedition in 
unknown regions ; these were the fellows that I had 
considered to be reduced “ from wolves to lambs !” 
I was determined not to be done, and to insist upon 
the punishment of the ringleader. I accordingly went 
towards him with the intention of seizing him ; but 
he, being backed by upwards of forty men, had the im¬ 
pertinence to attack me, rushing forward with a fury 
that was ridiculous. To stop his blow, and to knock 
him into the middle of the crowd, was not difficult; 
and after a rapid repetition of the dose, I disabled 
him, and seizing him by the throat, I called to my 
vakeel Saati for a rope to bind him, but in an instant 
I had a crowd of men upon me to rescue their leader. 
How the affair would have ended I cannot say ; but as 
the scene lay within ten yards of my boat, my wife, 
who was ill with fever in the cabin, witnessed the 
whole affray, and seeing me surrounded, she rushed 
