INTRODUCTION. xliii 



ed the largeft boat, and all three got down into her, follow- 

 ed by a multitude of people whom we could not hinder, 

 and there was, indeed, fomething that bordered on cruelty, 

 in preventing poor people from uiing the fame means that 

 we had done for preferving their lives ; yet, unlefs we had 

 killed them, the prevention was impofiible, and, had we 

 been inclined to that meafure, we dared not, as we were 

 upon a Mooriih coaft. The moft that could be done was, 

 to get loofe from the fhip as foon as poilible, and two oars 

 were prepared to row the boat afliorc. I had ftript myfelf 

 to a fhort under- waiftcoat and linen drawers ; a filk fafh, 

 or girdle, was wrapt round me ; a pencil, fmall pocket-book, 

 and watch, were in the breafl-pocket of my waiftcoat; two 

 Moorifh and two Englifli fervants followed me ; the reft, 

 more wife, remained on board. 



We were not twice the length of the boat from the vef- 

 fel before a wave very nearly filled the boat. A howl of 

 defpair from thofe that were in her mewed their helplefs 

 flate, and that they were confeious of a danger they could 

 not fhun. I lav/ the fate of all was to be decided by the 

 very next wave that was rolling in ; and apprehenfive that 

 £bme woman, child, or helplefs man would lay hold of me, 

 and entangle my arms or legs and weigh me down, I cried 

 to my fervants, both in Arabic and hngliGi, We are all loft; 

 if you can fwim, follow me ; I then let myfelf down in 

 the face of the wave. Whether that, or the next, filled the 

 boat, I know not, as I went to leeward to make my dillance 

 as great as poilible. I was a good, ftrong, and praclifed fwim- 

 mer, in the flower cf life, full of health, trained to excrcife 

 and fatigue of every kind, All this, however, which might 



F 2 have 



