THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
*35 
which brought Mr. M. Wilson and John Duncan, i 7 8 3 . 
had been overfet. This accident arofe from a fquall of 
wind coming on fo fuddenly, that the canoe could not get 
its fail down quick enough to fave it; there were four na¬ 
tives in it, with Mr. Wilson and Mr. Duncan. As the 
canoe was going over, two of the men fecured the two mnf- 
quets, and holding them in one hand, buoyed up Mr. Dun¬ 
can and Mr. Wilson with the other; whiift the remaining 
two made a fmall raft with the bamboos, ropes, paddles, and 
pieces of wood they could colled:. During the time they were 
floating the canoe righted itfelf. The other canoes that were 
in company being driven to a diftance, with much difficulty 
efcaped to the neareft ffiore ; but the inftant they had landed 
our people, they put off again, and took up Mr. Wilson and 
Duncan, who could neither of them fwim; by the time they 
were relieved they were both almoft exhaufted, having been 
floating and clinging to the raft for the greater part of two 
hours. Two bayonets and a cartouch-box were loft by this 
accident, but happily no life. Captain Wilson inftantly 
rewarded the men who had faved them, by giving them 
fome files, and fome pieces of iron to make hatchets. 
They were all received with great joy by their country¬ 
men at Oroolong, and ftill more fo, from their bringing 
back with them the welcome news of the King’s luccefs. 
But as this forms not only a new, but a very interefting 
fcene, that I may lay it in the moft circumftantial manner 
before 
