116 



WRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 



as long as possible ; at meal times, when each received his small 

 portion, he kept it in a small tin goblet, and by means of a quill 

 sucked it up, from time to time ; this operation lasted generally a 

 quarter of an hour, and relieved our thirst much more effectually 

 than if we had drank all at one draught. 



The portion of wine being too small to calm our raging thirst, 

 we were under the necessity of seeking other expedients. Some 

 of us found bits of tin, which, taken in the mouth, kept up an 

 agreeable coolness ; but the most general expedient was to take 

 some salt water in a hat, and frequently wash our face and hair 

 with it, as also plunging our hands in the water for a long time. 

 Having by chance discovered too little vials, containing a spiritu- 

 ous tincture for the teeth, the owner kept them most carefully, 

 and only granted a drop or two at a time in the hollow of our 

 hand. This tincture, which I suppose to have been composed of 

 guiacum, cinnamon, cloves, and other aromatic substances, pro- 

 duced the most delicious sensation on the tongue, and, for a few 

 moments, appeased the torments of thirst. Excessive misfortune 

 rendered us industrious, and we made every effort our strength 

 permitted to discover new means of relieving our sufferings. Ex- 

 tenuated by the crudest privations, the least agreeable sensation 

 was happiness to us; among other things, a little empty vial, 

 belonging to Monsieur Caudlin, was eagerly sought for, as it had 

 formerly contained essence of roses. As soon as it could be pro- 

 cured, we breathed its odour with ecstacy, for it produced the most 

 delicious impression on our senses. The very perfume of wine 

 was extremely agreeable, and I was often greatly relieved by 

 smelhng the vessel it had been in. We were now in the ninth 

 day of our sufferings ; the hunger that in the beginning had so 

 cruelly tormented us, was now hardly sensible, but our thirst was 

 intolerable, and I w^as fully convinced that thirst is much more 

 insupportable than hunger. In fact, the former was then the on- 

 ly cause of our distress, whilst the latter scarce provoked a com- 

 plaint. If we eagerly wished for the hour of distribution, it was 

 only to savour a small portion of wine ; but it was insufficient, as 

 I already observed ; so that, besides the expedients already men- 

 tioned to moisten our parched mouths, some of us even drank 

 urine. To render it capable of being swallowed, they cooled it in 

 tin goblets ; and I remarked, that the urine of some persons was 

 more agreeable to drink than that of others. One passenger 



