114 



WRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 



night, which was very stormy, we lost twelve of our companions, 

 but we scarcely felt the want of food or drink. A considerable ab- 

 sorption took place in the lower extremities of our bodies ; besides 

 this, I remarked, that our clothes, quite soaked with sea-water, 

 kept us in a constant bath. To this cause, no doubt, we owe not 

 having felt thirsty ; the day following, I remarked no alteration, 

 and three pints of wine, distributed to every one, sufficed to ap- 

 pease our thirst. The first part of the night was like the prece- 

 ding, with respect to the effects of abstinence ; but, the sea run- 

 ning high about midnight, our people fell into a kind of delirium, 

 accompanied with an ungovernable desire of food. Unable to ap- 

 pease the hunger that preyed on them, their outrageous imagina- 

 tions conceived the idea of drinking till they lost their senses. In 

 consequence of this, they broached a hogshead in the middle of 

 the raft, and took a considerable quantity of wine ; but this liquid 

 soon deranged their enfeebled minds, their delirium turned to fury, 

 and a cruel engagement took place on board our raft. Sixty-three 

 unhappy men lost their lives on this occasion. During this night, 

 I felt almost insupportable pains in the epigastric region; my 

 thirst was immoderate, my legs could scarce support me, and my 

 eyes grew dim ; I was on the point of losing my senses, but a lit- 

 tle wine brought them back a little, and appeased the pangs that 

 tore my stomach. In consequence of the long and bloody conflict 

 which we had sustained, we all fell into a kind of lethargy ; so 

 great was my insensibility, that I did not perceive two deep cuts I 

 had received in the fray. Day coming on, partly dissipated these 

 melancholy symptoms ; it was now seventy-two hours since we 

 had been abandoned. Hunger began to be sharply felt again, on 

 this third day ; fortunately, we felt little thirst, for it was attenua- 

 ted by the absorption in our lower extremities ; but, however ac- 

 tive this absorption, it could not compensate for the want of solid 

 food. The sea-water, by this time, had so macerated the epider- 

 mis of our legs and thighs, that it was almost raised off, and our 

 skin was as red as though we had applied blistering plasters. I re- 

 peat it, our hunger was now sharply felt, and I suffered intolera- 

 ble pain in the epigastric region ; the least obstacle irritated me, 

 and I had need of all my reason to govern the impetuosity of my 

 motions ; others, who had been furious during the night, even be- 

 same sullen and motionless, unable to utter a single word. Amidst 

 this disorder, some wretched men, tormented with outrageous hun- 



