Came to at the entrance to the Chamatla River. A nasty bar, impassable at low water; heavy surf breaks along the coast. Two of our boats were swamped in attempting to land. Saved them with loss of anchors only. Good wild shooting is to be had by ascending the river in canoes. On the banks, near the entrance, were hundreds of alligators. Deer in plenty were seen on the opposite side of a narrow lagoon which runs parallel with the beach. [Sidenote: Jan. 5.] Pinnace returned. Weighed following day. Came to in Mazatlan Harbour. [Sidenote: Jan. 6.] Having made arrangements for leaving pinnace and barge in charge of Mr. May, master, took pilot on board. Weighed at 5 P.M. [Sidenote: Jan. 17.] Came to in Guyamas Harbour. A convenient port for target practice. Distance from the shore from eight hundred to a thousand yards; the shot easily recovered. The weather is generally fine. We were enabled to send boats to distant points to assist the merchants; the men enjoyed the change. Bowyear, the First, was equally contented to remain, and, by drill and various exercises, keep the remaining crew happy and contented. Among the youngsters, a universal favourite was a son of Lord Ellesmere, now about sixteen years of age. In a letter before leaving England his father wrote: “It is wrong to have a favourite in a family, but you take with you the Benjamin of my flock.” [Sidenote: Jan. 27.] In the evening, returning on board, I noticed the sad looks of officers as well as men. Bowyear informed me I should find young Egerton laid in my cabin badly wounded. The poor boy breathed, but knew me not. I remained until the end, which came only too soon. [Sidenote: Jan. 28.] Among our friends at Guyamas was the liberal Catholic Priest, who appeared to rule supreme. He had a portion of the churchyard, half a mile from the landing-place, selected for the grave of our poor young shipmate, who was there buried with full military honours--a firing party of marines, band playing that impressive Dead March in “Saul,” which brought tears from many lookers-on. The remains were followed by the merchants and authorities of the place. Ships in port lowered colours. [Illustration: _The Cemetery at Guyamas._] I was before this too sad to clearly state cause of accident. I mentioned that the First Lieutenant was well pleased with the position of our anchorage, as the open spaces, as well as position of land and rocks, afforded good opportunities for target practice, as well as for musket drill in boats. On the present sad occasion a mark had been whitewashed on the face of a huge rock; the boats passing dropped alternate oars and took shots. We were short of officers: the boatswain was in the stern-sheets, with the young mid in charge. In unnecessary haste, the musket of one of the crew went off, with the sad result.