142 A VIOLENT TEMPEST. [1693. 



and some Water-Melons, of which we resolv'd to content our 

 selves with two or three Ounces a Day, to lengtlien out our 

 miserable Lives, in case we should have the Misfortune to 

 over- shoot Isle Maurice, which was the nearest Land to us, 

 and whither we were bound. This doubt of ours was well 

 grounded, and 'twas no less than a Miracle, that we lit upon 

 that Island, as I shall satisfie you more at large hereafter. 

 The Wind which we had had almost contrary, even to the 

 beginning of the eighth day of our setting Sail, was suc- 

 ceeded by a violent Tempest. The day began bright enough, 

 but towards Noon the Heavens lour'd, and pour'd down such 

 a prodigious quantity of Water, that our small Vessel had 

 been soon filled with it, had not we labour'd incessantly at 

 the Pump.^ This Eain lasted above four Hours without any 

 other Storm ; but as soon as Night came, the Wind arose, 

 and that feeble Light we had remaining, was follow'd by a 

 profound Obscurity. 



The Tempest encreasing, we were obliged to strike our 

 Main-Sail and, as we could not keep our Lights in, and con- 

 sequently not consult our Compass,^ we made but little way, 

 and suffer'd ourselves to be driv'n before the Wind with our 

 Fore-Mast^ up. The Night not continuing equally dark, we 

 cou'd sometimes observe the Va^ie, which we eudeavour'd 



1 lu orig. : " a la vuider," i.e., by baling out ; they evidently bad no 

 pump. 



2 Vide ante, p. 108. In orig. : "la petite boussole." 



In Harris' Voyages there is a remarkable account of the wonderful 

 escape of William Okeley and &ix companions, in an improvised boat of 

 canvas, from slavery in Algiers, in July 1644. "The Directions they 

 steered by in the Day time was only a Pocket- Dyal that one of the 

 Company had, and they were in the Night guided by the motion of the 

 Stars, and when they disappeared by that of the Clouds." (Harris, 

 vol. ii, Appendix, p. 17.) 



3 In orig. : " de gouverner vent arriere avec la trinquette.^' The trans- 

 lator is here also wrong in his technical terms. There was only one 

 mast, so there could not be a fore-mast (triuquei). By trinquette is meant 

 a sail, storm-jib, by which they were able to steer the boat and keep her 

 before the Avind. 



