ppened to be an
unusually heavy surf breaking on the shore. It would have been wiser in
my humble opinion to have waited till the surf had gone down, or to have
selected some other spot for disembarkation to that fixed on; but,
strange to say, the authorities did not happen to ask my opinion,
simply, I suppose, because I was a midshipman, and the landing
commenced. The boats, pulled by the seamen and crowded with soldiers,
made for the shore. Some reached it in safety by taking the proper
moment to dash through the surf, but others were not so fortunate. One
boat from our ship had put off; the men in high spirits at the thought
of a brush with the Niggers, as they called the unfortunate Caribs. I
was watching them from the deck as they approached the shore, when a
heavy roller went tumbling in after them. The men saw it coming and
pulled for their lives, but it was too quick for them, and catching the
boat turned her over as if she had been a mere cockleshell. In an
instant some thirty poor fellows were struggling in the surf. Many sunk
at once, others made way for the shore, but they had a remorseless enemy
on the watch for them, and several, with a shriek of agony which reached
almost to the ears of those on board the Falcon, were drawn under by
those monsters of the deep, the voracious sharks. Others, when nearly
touching the sand, were washed out again by the reflux of another roller
following up the first. It was doubly sad, because before it was
possible to send any help to them their fate was sealed. Several other
boats met with a like accident, and before the troops were all landed a
large number both of seamen and soldiers were lost. The survivors
formed on the beach and then advanced rapidly into the country, where
the Caribs were drawn up in strong force to receive them.

The enemy, having the advantage of a knowledge of the country, chose
their own ground for encountering our troops, and, truth to say,
generally had the best of it. I do not wish to enlarge on the subject.
I know that we gained very little honour and glory, but, after losing a
considerable number of men, some from the bullets of the enemy and
others from sunstrokes, the troops were ordered to embark again.
Afterwards we heard that the Caribs were allowed to remain in possession
of their rights. I suspect, however, that they did not retain them for
any long period after this time.

I remember nothing of any particular importance