we made sail for Port Essington,
and anchored there on the 15th of April.

...

It was our intention to have concluded this volume with Captain Stanley's
narrative, but as the following account of the daring manner in which Mr.
Watson rescued the English boy from the savages of Timor Laut, has fallen
into our hands, and as doubtless it was the cause of the strange and
suspicious reception the Britomart's boats met with on their second visit
to Oliliet, we here lay it before our readers:

MR. WATSON'S PROCEEDINGS AT TIMOR LAUT.

Mr. Watson had not been off the island long before his vessel, the
schooner Essington, was surrounded by eleven armed canoes, for the
purpose of attack. The chief wished Mr. Watson to go in and anchor, which
he refused, but showed him that he was ready for defence in case of any
outrage on their part. The chief, thinking he could entrap him, made
signs of friendship, and Mr. Watson allowed him and his crew to come on
board. The chief then said that a white man was on shore, and wished the
master to go and fetch him off, which was refused. Mr. Watson then laid
out an immense quantity of merchandise, which he said he would give for
the white man, and desired the chief to send his canoe ashore to fetch
him; stating, however, that he would retain him on board till the white
man came, and also, that if he was not immediately brought, he would
either hang or shoot the chief, and he had rope prepared for the purpose,
as also a gun. This manoeuvre had the desired effect on the chief, who
immediately despatched his canoe to the shore. For three days and nights
Mr. Watson was compelled to cruise off the island, the natives still
refusing to bring off Forbes. Towards the close of the third day they
brought off the boy, but would not put him on board until Mr. Watson
placed the rope round the chief's neck, when they came alongside; and as
the crew of the Essington were hoisting Forbes up the side of the vessel,
the chief jumped overboard into his canoe. Mr. Watson made the chief come
on board again, and told him that although he had deceived and wished to
entrap him, yet he would show that the white men were as good as their
word; and not only gave the chief the promised wares, but also
distributed some to each of the other ten canoes. This line of conduct
had a very good effect on the natives, who after receiving the goods
expressed great joy, and as they were leaving kept up a constant cheer.
Forbes at