ST. AUGUSTIN TO BAHAMA ISLANDS 317 



To return to Europe I seized the first opportunity 

 offering, and repaired on board the ship Hero, com- 

 manded by Captain Bryan, a Bermudan. It was a 

 small, light built, but fast-sailing ship, lying with its 

 cargo deep in the water; the cargo was made up of 

 mahogany, brasiletto, lignum vitae, pineapples (sev- 

 eral thousand), and live turtles. The turtles, all to- 

 gether 2400 pounds' weight, were distributed in 64 

 large hogsheads. These heavy casks, which were 

 filled with sea-water besides, crowded the deck and 

 made a very heavy load, increased by anchors, fire- 

 wood, the drinking-water for the voyage, and the like, 

 these having to lie out, there being no room for them 

 in the hold. In this way the little ship carried near 

 30 tons' weight on deck, and was ' top-heavy ' as the 

 sea-term is, (heavier above than below) and this rash 

 lading had almost ruined us. 



We left the harbor of Providence June 7th 1784, 

 had fair winds and weather the first week, passed the 

 Summer or Bermuda islands with no mischance, and 

 then held towards the coast of America so as to get 

 into the path of the west winds commoner there. This 

 region is famous for its many and sudden storms, or 

 as the saying is : 



If the Bermudas let You pass 

 You'll get it at Cape Hatteras. 



We found it a true proverb. On the 15th of 

 June while we were sailing with a light wind and a 

 fine sky between the Bermudas and Cape Hatteras, we 

 were hit by a squall so suddenly and with such fury 

 that all on board must regard our lucky escape as in 

 the circumstances very extraordinary. The whole 



