30

so we joined some of our party. The Maderia
wine etc had taken effect for some of
them were what they call "fresh" six sheets
in the wind "quite jolly "tight". I should have
expressed myself if required by them & said
rather say Drunk. We had a lot of little
black running for coppers. It was a comical
sight some naked other little fellows with
tiny shirts all scrambling for the first place.
Our boatsmen were looking after us as was
expected for they had got no pay for fetching
us off this was one advantage we had
no difficulty in getting back to the ship.
We had 20 men in our little boat
besides the rowers & it was not at all comfortable
to see the water come up to
within an inch of the boats edge. Every
minute was a doubt as to whether we
should be swamped or no & good reasons
we should have had for being fearful.