The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-14 00:00:00

!LOSS OF THE LEDA.

The Lads, lawribe, sailed from Liverpool on the 29th
L anuary last. for Bombay. On the istlt of May having passed
through the Mosunbique channel, and on the lookout for the
island of .Johanna, the ship struck on a reef of rocks. After a
full consideration of the difficulties of the situation. it was deemed
prudent by the captain and crew to abandon the ship in their
boats, and to make for the nearest lands which proved to be the
island of Mayotte. Here they landed, and having set upsonse
tents on the shore, were enjoying a state of comparative cum-
tort after the dangers they had escaped. They were shortly after,
however, surrounded by a party of the natives, all amid with
spears, attended by the King cat Mayotta's brother, and a man
who could speak English, who brought a letter from the King
of Mayotta to desire them to leave that place, where they would
certainly be plundered of all they possessed, and repair to the
town, where every assistance they reputed would be affonled
them. They in consequence struck their tentsithe next morning.
and proceeded down to the town, which lay about ten miles so
the leeward, in their boats, here they proposed, having little con.
fidencein the King's professions °fatuity, to remain only a few
hours, and then steer for Johanna. The Captain meantime
waited on the King in person who received kiln very civilly, but
finding him detci mined to depart, grew furious, end insisted, at
all events, on his remaining three days. There was no option
:left, therefore, but to comply with the best grace ble. Absstt
sunset of die evening of their arrival. the King of Mayotte. with
.a large party of the nativc.', went down and. took out of the boats
. all the trunks and bags, and put doom into bis own house, where
. they remained until the evening of the 19th of May, when the
King wet weed they might go away. Their trunks and bags
were deliverelto then, but tile locks of the trunks bad been
broker), all the bags had been opened, and their best clothes had
been taken gttt. .As soon as the King departed, a new and more
extensive plunder eutimumeed on the part of the native*, who
took away all the quadrants, the chronometer, two watches, and
the medieineebest. The captain. irritated at the loss of articles
so essential to their safety, demanded to see the King, fur the
purpose of reclaiming them ; but the guards put their hands to
their swords, and threatened that if he and his crew did not leave •
the island that evening. all their throats should be cut. They •
were compelled, thetehoe. to embark and set sail fur Johanna,
where, after encountering infinite perils, they arrived at midnight
ten the 214. At the time of their landing, the Ktng of the'
.island was waiting for them on the shore, and received them
with the utmost kindness; he even provided them with quarters
in his own house; and during their stay, which was ten days
treated diem with the utmost hospitality, The Captain and his
mates dined every day at the King's table, and the crew had a
lege house to themselves. On the 31st of May, the'ship Thames.
of London, came into the Bay, and took them all on boards sad
serried them to Bombay. The three blues were left with the