750 miles from the Sand Heads at Calcutta, and twelve degrees from
the Equator. That on which the vessel was driven was in point of latitude
about the centre, and may be easily known by a remarkable hill
somewhat resembling a puritan's hat, and being placed in a hollow of
the land, with much higher hills, both on the north and south of it.
The anchorage is good, and a ship may be sheltered from all points.

[Illustration: Hullmandel & Walton Lithographers.
No. 1.
THE POSITION OF THE SHIPS, AT DAYBREAK, MORNING, 12TH. NOVEMBER]

About 60 years ago an attempt was made on the part of the East-India
Company to form a settlement on the Andaman Islands for the
convenience of shipping. Their first settlement was called Port
Chatham, on the South Andaman. But, after about a year or two, it
was removed thence, on account of its unhealthiness, to the North
Andaman, where it was named Port Cornwallis, after Admiral Cornwallis,
who recommended the removal, and not long after that was finally
broken up, and the islands abandoned.

The ship being nearly dry aft, on the weather clearing, her crew, to
their great astonishment, beheld, about a quarter of a mile inside of
them, high amongst the trees, in a swamp of mangroves, whither she had
forced herself a passage, a large barque, with troops on board.[B] In
consequence of this discovery, Ensign Du Vernett was, as soon as
possible, lowered with ropes from the Runnymede's stern, with twelve
soldiers, to communicate with the barque. At 7 A. M., the tide rising,
orders were given to the men to prepare to land at next low water,
and, if possible, get something cooked, as, during the hurricane, no
fires could be kept in the ship, and, consequently, the crew and
troops had not had anything but biscuit and a glass of spirits during
the storm. At half-past 3 o'clock P. M. the tide having fallen
sufficiently to enable the people to wade on shore, Ensign Du Vernett
returned on board and reported the vessel he had visited to be "The
Briton" from Sydney, bound to Calcutta, and which had sailed from the
former place, in company with the ships Royal Saxon, Loyds, and
Enmore, on the 12th of August, 1844, having on board Her Majesty's
80th regiment, 1000 strong, under the command of Lieut.-col. Baker.
The companies two, three, and six were on board the Briton, under the
orders of Major, afterwards Lieut.-col. Bunbury, and consisted of 311
soldiers, including 12 serjeants and 4 drummers