THE FATE OF THE CREW. 447 



a sail out of some cloth which formed a part of her cargo. 

 It took seven days before it was completed, when they 

 launched off and bid adieu to the ill-fated vessel, which 

 was probably soon broken up, for at high water the sea 

 breached over her. 



" The vessel that was seen with her masts standing, was 

 too far to windward for them to reach, for even the boat 

 could not make way against the wind and current. Upon 

 casting off, they set their sail and steered before the wind, 

 but the raft was so heavy and deep that very little progress 

 was made. She drifted rather than sailed, and probably 

 did not go more than a mile or one mile and a-half an hour. 

 After some time they came to a reef upon which they 

 remained for the night, and the next morning proceeded 

 before the wind, but saw no more reefs. 



" After being two days and nights upon the raft, up to 

 their waists in water, and partaken of very little food, 

 they passed an island, and then saw several more a-head. 

 Soon afterwards a canoe was perceived paddling towards 

 them, containing ten or twelve Indians, who as they ap- 

 proached stood up and extended their arms to shew they 

 had no weapons and were inclined to be friendly. On 

 reaching the raft the Indians got upon it, and conducted 

 themselves very peaceably ; and after a short time proposed 

 that they s"hould leave the raft and go into the canoe, which 

 they at first hesitated to do, until Thomas Ching, a mid- 

 shipman, said he would go, as he should then have a better 

 chance of getting to England, upon which they all con- 

 sented, and embarked in the canoe. Before they left, the 

 Indians searched the raft very narrowly for iron implements, 

 but only found a few hoops which they collected and took 

 with them. They left the raft about four o'clock in the 

 afternoon, and in less than an hour were landed on an 

 island which they subsequently found was called Boydaut 



