lightning in the evening, and heavy rain, which caused the tents to
leak, they having been made of old canvas.

_Thursday, 5th._--A bag of damaged pepper sent on shore from the
Runnymede for the soldiers to eat with the shell fish. An oyster bed
discovered. A tree on fire, mistaken for a steamer's light.

_Friday, 6th._--The carpenters commenced planking the boat. Several
men were sent to the hospital with fever and head complaints. An order
was issued, prohibiting the soldiers bathing or otherwise exposing
themselves in the heat of the sun.

_Saturday, 7th._--The canoe was launched, and answered better than was
expected. Nearly the whole of the fallen trees on the island lay
towards the south-west, so that the hurricane must have come from the
E.N.E. or N.E.

_Sunday, 8th._--Divine service as usual. The canoe brought in a cargo
of fine oysters from the northward. The tracks of a number of hogs
were seen. A soldier of the 80th died in hospital of brain fever.

_Monday, 9th._--The Runnymede got a spar over her quarter, lashed to
the mizen-mast, to shore her up, the heavy surf causing her to bump
more than was agreeable. There was quite a fleet of canvas in the bay
fishing and paddling about.

_Tuesday, 10th._--One of the fishing crews caught a large fish of the
snapper kind, of about 20 lbs. weight. It was found to be coarse and
hard when cooked.

_Wednesday, 11th._--The encampment looked quite gay, each tent having
its distinguishing flag, or number of the company, hoisted; those of
the officers had also their signals flying. Captain Stapleton's had
the number of his regiment, 50th. The bay from the Runnymede had a
very pretty effect.

_Thursday, 12th._--Two turtles were seen upon the water. There were
only sufficient provisions on hand to serve this month through. The
Hope has been gone now sixteen days.

_Saturday, 14th._--A party of officers of the 80th went to the
northward on discovery, attended by the canoe. They crossed over to
the other island. Saw a wild beast in the bush of the panther kind.
Found some bundles of pigs' heads, tied with cane, laid together in
heaps, and stones suspended from the trees by rattan. They supposed
this to be some religious ceremony of the natives. They found a
quantity of excellent oysters on the rocks. They made a fire, and
dined off them.

_Sunday, 15th._--Divine service as usual. This was the 20th day after
the departure of the Hope. The present amount of ration to