cii.vp. III. GALLANT CONDUCT OF AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN. 65 



party. At length, after much suffering, on the 5th of Sep- 

 tember, when the scanty provisions would scarcely have 

 sufficed for another day, and when many had become too 

 weak to walk to the nearest place where water could be 

 found, a ship previously seen reappeared, and sent a boat to 

 the shore. This vessel proved to be the "Monmouth," Ameri- 

 can whaler, commanded by Captain Ludlow, who, with the 

 greatest promptness and kindness, rescued the whole party 

 from a most appalling death, and brought them to Mauritius, 

 the nearest port, which they reached in three weeks after 

 leaving the scene of their fearful disaster. 



The government immediately appropriated to the use of 

 the shipwrecked company the houses at the quarantine station, 

 and took measures to provide for their wants. The inhabitants 

 of Port Louis manifested a prompt and generous sympathy, 

 not less honourable to themselves than it must have proved 

 cheering to the destitute strangers. In company with Mr. 

 and Mrs. Kelsey, I visited them soon after their arrival, and 

 found amongst those with whom I conversed a deep feeling 

 of devout gratitude to God for their wonderful and almost 

 miraculous escape from death in one of its most appalling 

 forms — that of starvation. Besides this, were feelings of 

 inexpressible thankfuhiess to Captain Ludlow, his officers and 

 crew, by whose humane and intrepid exertions they had been 

 rescued ; while his subsequent conduct, his sympathy and 

 ceaseless attention to their comfort, had sweetened the 

 bitterness of their cup, and reinspired them with confidence 

 and hope. Supplies of clothing were readily provided by the 

 inhabitants of Port Louis. On the day of their landing, and 

 as soon as their destitute circumstances were known, ladies in 

 their carriages repaired to the place with packages of women's 

 and children's apparel. Grentlemen sent the contents of their 

 wardrobes, or purchased and forwarded such articles as seemed 

 most needed and suitable. The Eev. Mr. Voller, a Baptist 



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