1 694-] ANOTHER FUTILE ATTKMl'T. 167 



very dangerous Creatures. iSTotwitlistandiiig all this, after 

 we had a long while work'd at getting off his Irons, by 

 rubbing them with Stones, and the like, he being at liberty, 

 put himself into the Water. When he had swum above 

 three-quarters of the way, his Strength began to fail him, 

 and, having both the Wind and Tide against liim, could not 

 advance a jot ; moreover, the Waters covering him every 

 Moment, hinder'd him from making any sign of Distress. 

 All this consider' d, the Seamen perceiving him, began to 

 think him in danger ; therefore hoisting out their Boat, imme- 

 diately row'd to his Assistance, and came just in time enough 

 to save him. When they had brought him to the Ship, the 

 Captain kept him till such time as he had recover'd his 

 Spirits, yet afterwards sent him back again, but with his 

 Assurance, that it was with all the Eegret imaginable he did 

 so. I am of Opinion he herein acted a little too cautiously, 

 and that whilst those Gentlemen were with us we might 

 have concerted Measures of saving our selves without ex- 

 posing them to any Danger.^ As they were thoroughly satis- 

 fy'd we were Persons unjustly detain'd, and inhumanly treated 

 by that cruel Hangman- of a Governor who would needs 

 be both Judge and Witness in his own Cause ; they might 

 so have order'd Matters as to have cast Anchor, seemingly 



1 " The captains of ships iii the service of the Dutch East India 

 Comjmny are obliged, by their articles, to consult their lieutenants 

 respecting the course to be steered ; and if they cannot agree, a council 

 is to be summoned, consisting of the five principal officers on board, 

 including the captain, where the matter is decided by a majority of 

 votes. This council likewise takes cognizance of whatever, not 

 relating directly to the navigation of the ship, may be called extra- 

 ordinary circumstances; and determines, among other things, respecting 

 the diminution or increase of the allowance to the crew ; the touching 

 at any places for reparation or refreshment ; the time to be passed 

 there, etc., as per Arts, in, iv, v, and vi of the East India Company's 

 Artikel-hrief, or articles of agreement, entered into by the persons in 

 their employ.'' (Wilcocke, op. cit., i, p. 162.) 



2 In orig. : "par un voleur & un Bourreau.'' 



