Some of the fellows then rushed on board brandishing their large knives, while others stood sentry on shore with pointed rifles. They searched our persons, a proceeding particularly distressing to the jadies, not even omitting a baby 13 months of age. Bedding, boxes, bags and everything on deck were all ransacked. Anything locked was instantly slashed open with their big knives. Fortunately for us they were not wanting heavy loot, so did not carry off bedding and clothes, but only smaller articles such as watches, hand bags, dollars and copper cash, ete., ete. Some things they took that could be of mo value to them, but of much account to the rightful owners, @.g. correspondence, note books, pens, etc. Other things were damaged and repair. With everything emptied on to the floors—bedding, clothes, stationery, books, toilet ware—our compartments presented one glorious mess, which took a good time -to disentangle.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.