Mr. WAFER'/ Voyages, &c. 179 



except when a flafh of Lightning came. Then we 

 could fee all over the Hill, and perceive the Water 

 approaching us ; which in lefs than half an Hour 

 carried away our Fire. This drove us all to our 

 fhifts, every Man feeking fome means to fave him- 

 felf from .the threatning Deluge. We alfo fought 

 for fmilKTrees to climb : For the place abounded 

 with grest Cotton Trees, of a prodigious bignefs 

 from the Root upward, and at leaft: 40 or 50 Foot 

 clear without Branches, fo that there was no climb- 

 ing up them. 



For my own Part, I was in a great Confirmation, The A, 

 and running to fave my Life, I very opportunely^™^ a 

 met with a large Cotton Tree, which by fome acci- 

 dent* or thro 5 Age, was become Rotten^ and hcl- 

 low on one Side having a Hole in it at about the 

 Heighth of 4 Foot from the Ground. I immediate- 

 ly got up it as well as I could : And in the Cavity I 

 found a Knob, which ferv'd me for a StooU and 

 there I fat down almoft Head' and Heels together, 

 not having room enough to fland or fit upright* 

 In this condition I fat wifhing for Day : but being 

 fatigued with Travel^ though very hungry withal, 

 and cold, I fell afleep t But was foon awaken'd by 

 the Noife of great Trees which were brought down 

 by the Flood *, and came with fuch force againft the 

 Tree, that they made it fhake. 



When I awoke I found my Knees in the Water, Heisbefe 

 though the loweft Part of my hollow Trunk was, 

 is I faid, 4 Foot above the Ground ; and the Wa- ! 

 ter was running as fwift* as if 'twere in the middle 

 of the River. The Night was ftill very Dark, but 

 only when the flaflies of Lightning came: Which 

 made it fo dreadful and terrible, that I forgot my 

 Hunger, and was wholly taken up with praying to* 

 God to fpare my Life. While I was praying and 

 meditating thus on my fad Condition, I faw the 

 Morning-Star appeaf •} by which I knew that Day 



T 4 was 



