, and when a little
rum was added to it, the men persuaded themselves it resembled
milk-punch, and it became a favourite beverage with them.

The people were employed during the 20th much in the same manner as on
the previous day, but very few things could be obtained from the ship,
every article of value being under water.

On Friday, the 21st, the party stationed on board the wreck observed a
number of proahs full of Malays, apparently well armed, coming towards
them. Being without a single weapon of defence, they could only jump
into their boats without loss of time, and push for the land. The
pirates followed closely in pursuit but retreated when they saw two
boats put out from the shore to the assistance of their comrades. The
Malays then returned to the ship and took possession of her. In an
instant all was activity and excitement in the little camp.

'Under all the depressing circumstances attending shipwreck,' writes
Mr. McLeod, 'of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and menaced by a ruthless
foe, it was glorious to see the British spirit stanch and unsubdued.
The order was given for every man to arm himself in the best manner he
could, and it was obeyed with the utmost promptitude and alacrity.
Rude pike staves were formed by cutting down young trees; small
swords, dirks, knives, chisels, and even large spike nails sharpened,
were firmly fixed to the ends of these poles, and those who could find
nothing better hardened the end of the wood in the fire, and bringing
it to a sharp point, formed a tolerable weapon. There were, perhaps, a
dozen cutlasses; the marines had about thirty muskets and bayonets;
but we could muster no more than seventy-five ball cartridges among
the whole party.

'We had fortunately preserved some loose powder, drawn from the upper
deck guns after the ship had struck (for the magazines were under
water in five minutes,) and the marines, by hammering their buttons
round, and by rolling up pieces of broken bottles in cartridges, did
their best to supply themselves with a sort of shot that would have
some effect at close quarters, and strict orders were given not to
throw away a single discharge until sure of their aim.

'Mr. Cheffy, the carpenter, and his crew, under the direction of the
captain, were busied in forming a sort of abattis by felling trees,
and enclosing in a circular shape the ground we occupied; and by
interweaving loose branches with the stakes driven in among these, a
breas