Good-tempered Jack, who were honoured with a second dinner at Captain Owen’s table, when presented with meat supposed to be done to their taste, shewed a repugnance to it, and wished it to be put on the fire again.  Cut-throat had shewn so much disinterested zeal in our favour, on various occasions, and particularly in the affair of the bill-hook, that Captain Owen took the opportunity of rewarding him for it, by presenting him with some iron, and a pair of shoes.  It is singular, that he is the only native we have, as yet, been conversant with, who never begged for any thing.

Thursday, 29.—­Our little establishment (considering the few hands, and the many irons we have in the fire,) is making a rapid progress.  The greatest activity pervades every department.  The whole of our people, whether ashore or afloat, live uncommonly well, having plenty of yams and palm-wine served out to them daily, with fowls and fish occasionally, which are extra provisions, supplied gratuitously; the former being purchased from the natives with iron hoop, the latter taken by our fishermen.  We have also caught a few hawksbill, and green turtle, and occasionally dig turtles’ eggs from the sand on the beach.

Saturday, Dec. 1.—­Our establishment has hitherto been remarkably healthy; the sickness which has occurred, being almost entirely the result of accidental wounds, or the bites of musquitos and sand-flies; the latter, being irritated by rubbing, have produced, in some instances, very serious sores, which have baffled the greatest attention of our surgeons:  one feature in these ulcers is, that frequent changes of applications are required, no individual remedy appearing to agree, at farthest, for more than five days; generally, but three or four; nor has any kindly disposition to heal shewn itself, until a degree of salivation has been produced, by giving the patient a grain of calomel, night and morning.  Both my companions in the country are unfortunately on the sick list,—­Elwood, with remittent fever, with which he was seized immediately after his return; the other, Debenham, in consequence of getting his legs bitten by insects.  I have myself, thank God, escaped without illness or injury of any kind.

Sunday, 2.—­Two chiefs, Cut-throat and Bottle-nose, with some other natives of consequence, dined with Captain Owen to-day, who was entertaining a party of the officers and other gentlemen attached to the establishment.  The natives always appear particularly gratified in being allowed to dine on board, and Captain Owen, as a matter of policy, in tending to promote a friendly intercourse, frequently indulges them in this way; it is offering, however, no trifling sacrifice at the shrines of the gods of friendship and cleanliness, to sit down with them, for their bodies not unfrequently emitted a most offensive odour, particularly when much heated by exertion, and the influence of a tropical climate.  Imagine the action of these upon a mixture of perspiration,