NARRATIVE OF AN 



I have frequently had occafion to mention our provi« 

 fions, viz, fait beef, pork, rufk, bifcuit, and water, for 

 our allowance, which were dealt out regularly every five 

 or fix days ; the two former having perhaps made the 

 tour of the world, after leaving Ireland, and were even 

 fo green, fo flimy, fo {linking, and fometimes fo full of 

 worms, that at other times they would not have re« 

 mained upon my ftomach ; but I have not defcribed our 

 furniture. This, however, will not occupy much time, 

 as it confifted only of a fquare box or cheft for each offi« 

 cer, to carry his linen, frefh provifions, and fpirits, when 

 he had either. Thefe boxes ferved not only as cup" 

 boards, but as chairs and tables in the camp. On a march 

 they were carried on the head of a negro : I muil obferve, 

 moreover, that we had no light after fix o'clock in the 

 evening, that of the moon excepted, when all was folemn 

 and melancholy beyond defcription. 



I had not fo much as a trencher, bafon, fpoon, or 

 fork : for the firfi: and fecond I made a negro's calibafli 

 ferve me ; a fork I wanted not, and a fpoon but feldom : 

 inftead of that article, therefore, I ufed a folded leaf, 

 agreeably to the practice of the flaves ; and as for a knife, 

 each perfon carried one in his pocket. I at lafl: con- 

 trived to make a lamp by breaking a bottle ; in which 

 having melted fome pork, it produced a quantity of oil, 

 and a flip of my fliirt ferved for a wick. Neceflity is 

 proverbially ingenious, and in fuch a fituation every 

 nicety is forgotten. Indeed, could I now have had what 

 2 formerly 



