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 uling the fame means that 

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

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

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

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

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

 were prepared to row the boat afhore. I had ilript myfelf 

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

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

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

 Moorifli and two Englifh 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 

 ftate, and that they were confcious of a danger they could 

 not lliun. I faw the fate of all was to be decided by the 

 very next wave that was rolling in ; and apprehenfive that 

 fome 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 Englifh, 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 diftance 

 as great as pofiible, I was a good, ftrong, and practifed fwim- 

 mer, in the flower 'of life, full of health, trained to :^ercife 

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



f 2 have 



