A few hours brought a courteous reply, extending to the Alabama the hospitality of the port; and the health officers having visited the ship, arrangements were made for laying in a stock of provisions, and such other articles as were required after the cruise.

Nor were the amenities of the Alabama's reception confined to the authorities alone.

An enthusiastic greeting awaited her from almost every one; the clubs were placed at their disposal, and invitations _a discretion_ poured in from every side.
It would, perhaps, have been better for the discipline of the Alabama had the welcome extended to her crew been somewhat less cordial.

Weary of their long confinement, and bent, as the sailor always seems to be on first putting into port, on a "good spree," a considerable number of her men fairly succumbed to the hospitality of the worthy islanders, a result that was not a little aggravated by the exertions of the deserter, Forrest.

This man appears to have entertained a deliberate purpose of exciting a mutiny on board of the vessel, and with this object in view, managed to slip overboard unobserved, swam to a boat, and returned on board with a quantity of spirits, which he distributed through the forecastle.