Joseph’s formerly stood, as its site was covered with bushes; and new town there was none, save a couple of huts, scarcely worthy the name. The next day, the terrible heat of the climate demanded shelter; but, with every possible exertion, it occupied three days in clearing sufficient ground for their habitation. Some wept at sight of the desolate spot; others gnashed their teeth; while many, yielding to despair, threw themselves on the ground, and declared themselves abandoned of God and man. The more hopeful were employed in pitching tents, and had scarcely commenced landing the goods, on which their safety depended, when a great gale arose, and the vessel was blown away; nor did they hear of her until a month had elapsed. Their situation was not only painful and perilous, but almost hopeless. Hardy as they were, and fit to battle with any fate, they bore with them those for whose safety they would gladly have perilled their lives. The young child and the aged grandsire, alike incapable of restraining their wants and wishes, were there. The mother and the infant, the maiden and the matron, had each her representative. “Bushes were around, and the moon above,” wrote one of the survivors. Night brought its fearful malaria, day its yet more fearful sun; and who can imagine the first dig of the spade which, as it sunk deeply into a soil, half mud and half water, sunk more deeply into the heart of the unhappy agriculturist. They sowed corn, and the sun withered it as it rose from the ground. They planted potatoes, and as they sprung up, they perished from the great heat. A further danger appeared to the settlers. They were told by the king of the Mosquito nation, that no grant would be recognized by him, and that they must acknowledge allegiance or quit his territory. In these circumstances, it was deemed advisable for a deputation to wait upon his Majesty; and over sandy beaches they took their way. Weak from want of food, weary from want of rest, their journey proved one of toil and trouble. The rainy season was fast approaching; sickness and death decimated the wanderers; and vainly did they make desperate efforts to avert their impending fate. One party procured a boat, and started in search of aid; but, unhappily, forgetting to take water, died ere it could attain help. Others bought a canoe, and, with Indians to guide them, were scarcely at sea, ere their treacherous companions plundered and flung them overboard. Those who remained had yet to be acclimated; and sickness added to the sufferings they had already endured. Eating salt provisions, drinking impure water, burning by day and shivering by night, on the borders of a creek which bred disease, with a fatal malaria around, they were unable to resist the ague, which in its worst form seized upon them. Without help and without hope, far from home, in an inhospitable country, sickness seized upon one and all. It spared neither age nor sex, neither strength nor decrepitude.