35^ HîJîorîCal Journal of 



amufed themfelves with founding again, and they found only 

 five Fathom Water. Prefently after they founded again and 

 found only three. Reprefent to yourfelf. Madam, a Parcel of 

 Children, who feeing themfelves drawn towards the Brink of a 

 Precipice, are only attentive to know the Depth of it> without 

 taking any Meafures to avoid it. 



Now there arofe a confufed Noife^ every Man cried out as 

 loud as he could bawi, the Officers could not make themfelves 

 heard, and two or three Minutes after the Ship ran aground : 

 There rofe at this Inflant a Kind of Storm j and the Rain which 

 followed foon after made the Wind fall ; but it foon rofe again, 

 fettled in the South, and grew flronger than before. The Ship 

 began immediately to lay hard upon her Helm, and they were 

 afraid that the Main-Maft, which at every Shock rofe pretty 

 high, would jump out of its Step and fplit the Ship's Bottom. 

 It was tried in the ufual Way, condemned, and cut down im- 

 jnediately, after the Captain had given it the firll Stroke with 

 a Hatchet, according to Cuftom. 



Then the Lieutenant went into the Boat, to try to difcover in: 

 what Place we were, and in what Condition the Ship was. He 

 obferved that in the fore Part we had but four Feet Water, that 

 the Bank on which we were wrecked was fo fmall, that it was 

 but juft large enough to receive the Ship> and that all round 

 ît ihe would have floated. But if we had efcaped this Bank,- 

 we could not have fhunned another, for we were furrounded 

 with them, and it is certain v/e fhould not have met with one fa 

 €ommodious. 



The Wind continued to blow violently ; our Ship continued 

 to bear hard upon her Helm , and at every Shock we expected 

 ii to fplit. All the EfFeéls of Fear were painted on our FaGes,^ 

 and after the lirll Tumult formed by the Cries of the Sailors 

 who worked the Ship, and by the Groans of the PalTengers, who 

 expected Death every Moment, a deep and mournful Sileftce 

 prevailed through all the Company. We heard afterwards that 

 îbme Perfons took their Meafures fecretly not to be nonplufhed^ 

 m Cafe th€ VefTel fhould go to Pieces : Not only the Boat, but 

 the Canoe alfo were in the Water, v/ith every Thing in Readi- 

 Befs, and fome trufly Sailors were ordered privately to be ready 



the firft Signal. They afTured me afterwards, that they had 

 agreed not to leave me in the Danger. 



This is certain, that I paiTed the Night without doling my 

 Eyes,, and in the Situation of a Man who does not expe6l to 

 fee the Day again. It appeared however, and difcovered to us 

 the Land at more than two Leagues from us* It was not thaty 

 which we difcovered at firf:, and v/hich we faw Hill at a great 

 Dillaiice, but a low Land, and which appeared to us very \xtAt 



to 



