t plenty
of water and abundance of tropical fruits might be procured.

Meanwhile the officers and men exerted themselves most indefatigably
to save some of the provisions,--a task by no means easy of
accomplishment, as the holds and everything in them were submerged in
water. Towards the afternoon, the boats returned from the shore, and
the men reported that they had had great difficulty in landing his
excellency, from the mangrove trees growing out to a considerable
distance in the water; and it was not until they had pulled three or
four miles from the place where they first attempted to land that they
were enabled to reach terra firma. They also stated that neither food
nor water could be discovered on the island. Unpromising as
appearances were, there was no alternative but to seek shelter on the
inhospitable shore. Accordingly, every preparation was made, and by
eight o'clock P.M., the people were all landed, excepting one
division, who remained on board the wreck, with the captain, first
lieutenant, and some other officers.

About midnight, the wind had greatly increased, and the ship became so
uneasy from her heeling to windward, that fears were entertained for
the safety of those on board. To prevent her falling further over, the
topmasts were cut away, and as the wind became more moderate towards
daylight, the ship remained stationary, and all apprehensions were
removed. The boats did not return to the wreck till between six and
seven o'clock in the morning, and they brought no better tidings as to
the capabilities of the island to furnish food and other necessaries
for the subsistence of so many human beings.

A raft had been constructed during the previous day, upon which the
small quantity of provisions they had been able to collect, together
with some of the baggage of the embassy, and clothes and bedding of
the officers and men, had been transported to the shore.

In the course of the forenoon, Captain Maxwell thought it right to
confer with Lord Amherst as to his further movements; he accordingly
quitted the wreck, and went on shore. He left the vessel in charge of
Mr. Hick, the first lieutenant, with orders that every effort should
be made to get at the provisions and the water, and that a boat should
remain by the wreck for the safety of the men in case of any
emergency. Captain Maxwell reached the shore about half-past eleven
A.M., and we may imagine the bitterness of his distress on finding the
a