( 3*o ) 



were, and what condition the fhip was in. He 

 found that there was only four feet water a-head, 

 that the bank on which we had (truck, was fo 

 fmall, that there was juft a place for the veffel, and 

 all around it (he would have been a-float. But 

 had we efcaped this bank, we muft have fallen upon 

 another, for it was furrounded by them, and cer- 

 tainly we could not have met with one that was 

 more convenient. 



The wind ftill blew with violence, and the vef* 

 fel continued to ftrike, and at every ftroke we ex- 

 pected me would have gone to pieces. All the ef- 

 fects of terror were painted on every face, and af- 

 ter the firft tumult formed by the cries of the fai- 

 lors who were working, and the groans of the paf- 

 fengers, who laid their account with periling eve- 

 ry moment, was over, a dead and profound filence 

 reigned throughout the whole vefTel. We have 

 iince learnt that fome few had fecretly taken their 

 meafures not to be furprifed in cafe the vefTel mould 

 fall to pieces : not only the fhallop, but the canoe 

 were launched and in readinefs, and fome trufty 

 failors had warning given them to hold themfelves 

 prepared for the firft fignal. I was afterwards told, 

 that they had refolved not to leave me behind. 



What is certain, is, I pafTed the night without 

 clofing my eyes, and in the fituation of a man who 

 never expects to fee daylight again. It however 

 appeared, and mewed us the land about two leagues 

 from us, but it was not the fame which we had at 

 firft feen, and which we ftill perceived, tho' at a 

 great diftance, but a low land which did notfeem at 

 firft to be inhabited. This fight, however, did not 

 fail to give us pleafure, and fomewhat to revive our 

 fpirits. 



- We 



