Our anchorage was four hundred yards distant from the beach; which, since the vessel took the ground at low water, was as near as we could prudently approach it but sufficiently close to protect our property from the natives until everything was landed.  None had as yet appeared, but, the country having been lately fired, and the impression of a man’s foot having been noticed on the sand when we landed in the morning, gave evident proofs that they were not far off.  On the beach were the remains of several huts; but they did not appear to have been recently occupied:  in order however to avoid surprise or loss, the stores and provisions that had been landed in the evening were placed at a distance from the grass and trees and covered over with a sail:  near this pile our four-pounder was planted, loaded with musket balls, ready to be fired at a moment’s warning.

Having thus taken all possible precaution our people returned on board to pass the night.  My anxiety however prevented my retiring to bed so early and I continued watching our property in the momentary expectation of something occurring.  The moon was fortunately at her full and shone sufficiently bright to enable me to distinguish any moving object near the tent.  At eight o’clock a light was suddenly observed on the summit of the hill that rises over the beach; but after being stationary for ten minutes it disappeared:  at first it was thought to be a native’s fire; and afterwards it was suspected to be occasioned by an insect.  At midnight, as the light had not again been seen, I retired to rest, leaving a watch on the deck to give alarm should anything occur; but in less than an hour was disturbed by the cry, “The tent’s on fire!” On reaching the deck I found the alarm had not been made without reason, for a flame was actually blazing close to them.

At the first appearance of the flames two muskets were fired in the direction of them and our people were immediately landed.  On reaching the tent everything was secure and quiet but the fire was still burning at about twenty yards behind it.  Having cautiously approached it we found our fears had been groundless and that they were occasioned by no less innocent an enemy than a half-consumed log of wood, in the heart of which a fire had been lying dormant for some days, having been lighted by the fires which had lately passed over the country; it had been fanned into a flame by the land-breeze which sprung up at midnight.  The light seen in the early part of the night originated, most likely, from a similar cause; so that we returned to the vessel without further apprehension.

September 22.

The following day all our wet and dry provisions, our wood and guns were landed; and the greater number of the crew slept on shore.

A discovery of great importance was this day made which enabled us to carry on our operations with much greater facility and comfort; this was our finding near the tents some deep holes containing a great abundance of excellent water; so that by emptying our water-casks we avoided the trouble and delay of hoisting them out:  our operations were in consequence so much expedited that the next morning at high tide the vessel was warped and secured as far up the beach as the water would allow, preparatory to her taking the ground, which event we awaited with considerable anxiety.