xlii INTRODUCTION. 



tend famine, crowded in unknown to me ; but the paflage 

 was fhort, the vefTel light, and the mailer, as we fuppofed, 

 well accuftomed to thefe feas. The contrary of this, how- 

 ever, was the truth, as we learned afterwards, when too 

 late, for he was an abfolute landfman ; proprietor indeed 

 of the vefTel, but this had been his firft voyage. We failed at 

 dawn of day in as favourable and pleafant weather as ever 

 I faw at fea. It was the beginning of September, and a 

 light and deady breeze, though not properly fair, promifed 

 a fhort and agreeable voyage ; but it was not long before 

 it turned frefh and cold ; we then had a violent mower of 

 hail, and the clouds were gathering as if for thunder. I 

 obferved that we gained no offing, and hoped, if the wea- 

 ther turned bad, to perfuade the Captain to put into Benga- 

 zi, for one inconvenience he prefently difcovered, that they 

 had not provi'fion on board for one day. 



HowrvER, the wind became contrary, and blew a violent 

 ftorm, feeming to menace both thunder and rain. The vef- 

 fel being in her trim with large latine fails, fell violently to 

 leeward, and they fcarce would have' weathered the Cape 

 that makes the entrance into the harbour of Eengazi. which 

 is a very bad one, when all at once it (truck upon a funken 

 rock, and feemed to be fet down upon it. The wind at that 

 inftant feemed providentially to calm ; but I no fooner ob- 

 ferved the fhip had ftruck than I began to think of my own 

 fituation. We were not far from fhore, but there was an 

 exceeding great fwell at fea. Two boats were Mill towed 

 aftern of them, and had not been hoifted in. Roger M'Cor- 

 mack, my Irifli fervant, had been a failor on board the Mo- 

 narch before he deferted to the Spanifh fervice. He and 

 the ether, who had likewiie been a failor, prefently untam- 

 ed 



