, 34 women, 51
children, and the following officers, namely, Captains Best, Sayers,
and Montgomery; Lieutenants Leslie and Freeman; Ensigns Hunter and
Coleman; and Assistant-surgeon Gammie, medical officer in charge. The
Briton was commanded by Captain Alexander Hall. She had a crew of 34,
was a vessel of 776 tons, A 1, and was ascertained to be the same
barque which had drifted a-head of the Runnymede in the storm, having
parted with all her companions, which afterwards arrived safely at
their destination. The Briton was so short of provisions, that twelve
men were obliged to be satisfied with the ordinary allowance of four.

[B] The roots of these trees support their stems some
feet above the ground, and diverge in every direction,
so as to produce an almost impenetrable thicket. The
trees do not rise more than twelve feet high. They grow
in marshy places, generally within the influx of the
Indian Ocean, and where the tide can readily wash their
stems.

By dusk, all hands, including soldiers, women, and children, had left
the wreck of the Runnymede, and were accommodated on board the Briton.
They were received by Captain Hall, Colonel Bunbury, and the officers
of the 80th, with the greatest kindness, although they were enduring
very great privations themselves. The crew of the Briton were
delighted to hear of there being a fair stock of stores on board the
Runnymede, particularly as regarded biscuit and flour, which, if
moderate weather continued, would be landed for the benefit of both
ships' companies.

In the morning after the wreck, a seaman of the Runnymede lost his
life by the following piece of disobedience and fool-hardy temerity.
Captain Doutty was sitting in Captain Stapleton's cabin, consulting
with the military officers as to the best mode of getting the women
and children on shore, when it was perceived that one of the seamen
had placed himself by the cabin windows, apparently dressed for a
swim. Captain Doutty enquired what brought him there: he instantly
replied, "We are all alike now." Captain Doutty told him he was
mistaken if he thought so, for that whilst two planks of the ship held
together, he was determined to keep the command, and ordered him to
leave the cabin. As he appeared unwilling to go, the chief officer was
desired to send him forward. Being called accordingly, he refused,
with an oath, to go, and immediately threw himself from the cabin
window, and swam