47.
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following after the Stone Boat, they hailed us to come to them, but we kept on intending to go on board the Hulk; they went along side and put Hicks and Johnson on board and then I went in the same boat with a Corporal of Engineers, the Jail clerk, four additional Chinese Constables, and a Portuguese Constable in pursuit of the Convicts; at the time the boat started from the Hulk I saw that the Convicts had pulled to the shore.
I believe that after they escaped the Convicts broke the ring connecting the two leg irons and then tied the leg irons against their leg; one double iron and one single iron were found in the boat after the Escape; also some of the Connecting rings, there was also a large spike Nail sharpened at the end.
We landed, we ascended the first hill and then saw the Convicts ascending a second hill; they dispersed on the hill sides; we continued to chase them for some time, but never got near them. The Convicts were all ironed, about two thirds double irons, and the remainder single irons.
I found a Chisel; I believe that if the police Boat had pursued Stone Point when I first got on board, that we could have easily overtaken the Stone Boat.
As the police Boat was going towards the Hulk, I saw some Constables going towards the point.