292 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



manly heart burning with the spirit of enterprise, or dwelling 

 with delight upon the happy home and family which it was then 

 about to seek. How changed the prospect now ! The beautiful 

 fabric is in ruins, and those who risked their all within her, are 

 disheartened and undone. The sight is a melancholy one indeed, 

 and I cannot but think, too, how nearly this deplorable situation 

 had been ours. 



When the masts went over the side, the ship righted, as if she 

 felt relieved from a burthen, but in a very short time, the cry 

 " she has bilged," arose from her decks, and the people were put 

 to work getting out all the most valuable private articles, and 

 passing them out of the cabin windows. Here they were received 

 in boats and taken on shore. Soon after this, we observed, as 

 the hull rose and fell, the water pouring in and out of her counter, 

 and very soon she settled upon her side, and lay with one of her 

 gunwales under water, fast anchored upon the coral reef. 

 Nothing more could be done for her safety, and all the efforts of 

 the crew were directed to getting out the cargo of oil. Mean- 

 while, we who could render no service, concluded to go ashore, 

 and as we were about pushing off from the wreck, the captain of 

 the ship requested a passage with us. As we pulled into the 

 harbor, I wished to say something by way of consolation to the 

 poor fellow, but I had no language in which to express my 

 feelings. He is a young man, only twenty seven-years of age, 

 highly spoken of for his activity, perseverance and honesty. He 

 has raised himself from the lowest station to a command, 

 entirely by his good conduct ; this is his first voyage as master, 

 and so far it had been remarkably successful. After we left the 

 ship, he seemed more calm, but as we drew near the shore, he 

 trusted himself with one look towards his former home, and it 

 was too much for his philosophy, — he threw himself back in the 

 boat and wept like a child ! I could almost have wept with 



