3 



long eftablifhed habit of drinking water ; and 

 are even bold enough to propofe that we 

 fhould form a tontine, with the benefit of 

 furvivorftiip. " Let us," fay they, " enter 

 into an engagement that he who lives longeft 

 fhall be entitled to the clothes, arms, baggage, 

 and horfes of thofe who may chance to die, 

 previous to our return to England." — To this 

 I tell them, I can fee only one objection, viz. 

 that it would encumber me with more red 

 coats, and baggage, than I fliould know what 

 to do with. They, laughing, aflure me that 

 I need have no fuch apprehenfion, and kindly 

 promife — the one to preferve my fword, the 

 other my piftols as "a talifman, in memory of 

 a friend, who fought his death--- -by drink- 

 ing water /"— " Water," continue they, " will 

 render you the moft palatable to the hungry 

 devourer of thefe regions, and, of courfe, you 

 will be his earlieft prey."" — " On the contrary, 

 my friends," I reply, " you lay a bait for this 

 ravenous deftroyer, by preparing for him in- 

 viting juices, enriched with wine, and high 

 effenced difhes ; for, like yourfelves, he loves 

 to indulge, and prefers wine and high flavored 

 viands, to a more plain and fimple diet — 

 hence, inftead of your dividing my fword and 



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