dition of the passengers, compared to that of ours. What a comfortable shipwreck they must have had, with no other inconvenience than just to pack up their baggage, and convey it ashore at their leisure-walk to a comfortable inn, and sit down at their ease, and laugh over their good fortune!

When we let go our anchor at the bell buoy, waiting till the health officer should come alongside, every eye was upon us, and telescopes were levelled against us from every ship within sight. Seeing the deck crowded with people, some thought we were a parcel of pirates, driven in by distress, -some took us for a slaver, that had lost her reckoning, and run unconsciously into the hands of justice; whilst others, nearer the mark, took us for the crew of some ship cast away, who had built our vessel out of the wreck, and got once more within sight of an inhabited land.

About two hours after we came to anchor, the surgeon's boat, with his yellow flag, stood down the harbour, and he came on board. There being neither plague nor cholera prevalent amongst the inhabitants of Amsterdam, we were beyond the pale of quarantine, and were allowed to land.

CHAPTER V.

As soon as the news of our arrival was known, I had a warm invitation from Messrs. Jack and Henderson, with whom I had formed a casual acquaintance, when the Lady Munro called at Port Louis, to go and live with them; and the captain, showing no regard to his promise respecting the searching of the lascars, I went on shore in the afternoon, and had the house, the wardrobe, and the purse of these kind gentlemen at my disposal.

Next morning I had a visit from several of the lascars, decked off in flowing robes, the originals of which were painfully remembered. They were all living under the protection, and at the expense of Government, in houses appropriated for their use. They gave me a long account of their goings on, and amused me a good deal. The Burra-tindel informed me, that the mate of the schooner, (Mr. Fuller,) seeing a part of the police coming off, told them that, if they had any valuables, they had better intrust him with them, and he would keep

them till they found it convenient to take them ashore; that unless they did so, everything would be taken from them by the police. The Burra-tindel told me he gave over his things, consisting of fifteen silver spoons, of different sizes; a silver watch, and a silver cup. Musdeer, one of the lascars, gave also a silver cup; and several others gave more or less. After they had been examined by the police, they went to the mate, and asked him for those things they delivered to his charge; but all the answer he gave them was, some person had stolen them from him, and what could he do? Of course, the captain knew nothing about it. But all were not so easily imposed upon. Sammy, one of the cuddy servants, contrived to smuggle ashore six large silver spoons, and four silver forks; but they were all stolen from him next day by some of the rest. Munoo, one of the tindels, the most mutinous man of the crew, had bills of exchange upon him to the amount of £2,300: these were taken into custody by the police, besides a quantity of plate from several others. But Salmin, an old African, not worth a rupee to look at, and who drew from the skipper the remark, that "God Almighty showed no partiality for fine forms and features, when he saved him from the wreck," was proof against both the insinuations of the mate, and the searching of the police, and contrived to save no less than fifty-six sovereigns. The plan he took was rather ingenious. Finding an old-fashioned sword-belt amongst the wreck, composed of two

folds of leather sewed together, he cut open one of the seams, and, stowing away his gold, sewed it up again, and wore it as a belt for an old knife which he attached to it. He was now playing the liberal with great profusion; treating his companions to beef, and fish, and curry, and fruit, to excess; lending any one a handful of rupees that wanted it; and making every one that was thirsty as drunk as himself. I always believed that, if any one of the lascars had anything valuable, Salmin was the one; for, though the most useless creature to look at of all, he was always on the search morning and evening; and I had frequently found him sitting behind a rock, all alone, with a bottle of wine in his hand, and with the neck broken off. Withal, he was less selfish than any man amongst them. Our cellar was indebted to him for three or four bottles. once told us of his having discovered a quantity of yams, and a small supply of water, in a cask that had been overlooked, and occasionally brought us a few cakes and birds to eat. He was one of the mizzen-top boys on board, and contributed a good deal to our amusement there. He was never a minute idle, and did his work well. He was wont to hint, that it would be a profitable speculation for some one to buy him; and when asked his terms, divided the concern into two lots-himself and his cap; but placed a sufficient value upon the latter to make up for the money he had on his person. He was to have given up all intentions of ever going to sea again, and to enter into my service in

He