APPENDIX.] WEST INDIES. 117 



into the nature of the winds and currents on the African coast, 

 and reflect on the various casualties to which ships at sea are 

 liable, even in the most favourable season of the year; we 

 must admit, that it not only probably happened in some of 

 those ancient expeditions, but even that it was scarce possible 

 not to happen, that vessels would be driven by sudden gusts, 

 or carried by adverse currents, within the verge of the trade 

 wind; in which case, if they happened to lose their masts, 

 they must necessarily run before the wind, towards Brasil, or 

 the West Indies. 



Two remarkable accidents of this nature, precisely in point, 

 are recorded by writers of credit, and doubtless there are many 

 other instances equally well authenticated, that have escaped 

 my research. The first is related by Captain Glass, in his 

 History of the Canary Islands, who observes that a small bark, 

 bound from Lancerota to TenerifFe, was thus forced out of 

 her course, and obliged to run before the wind, until she came 

 within two days sail of the coast of Caraccas ; where she for- 

 tunately met with an English cruiser which relieved her distress- 

 es, and directed her to the port of La Guira on that coast. 

 The other is told by Gumilla, as follows. " In December, 

 " n31," says this author, " while I was at the town of St. 

 Joseph, in Trinidad, a small vessel belonging to TenerifFe, 

 with six seamen, \vas driven into that island by stress of 

 " weather. She was laden with wine; and being bound to 

 " one other of the Canary islands, had provisions for a few 

 " days only, which, with their utmost care, had been expend- 

 " ed a considerable time, so that the crew lived entirely on 

 ' wine. They were reduced to the last extremity, and ex- 

 <c pected death every moment; when they discovered Trinidad, 

 ic and soon afterwards came to an anchor in that island, to the 

 " great astonishment of the inhabitants; who ran in crowds 

 * to behold the poor seamen; whose emaciated appearance, 





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