64 NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP. Magdenberg, but about half-way our voyage was once 



XVIII 



^ - more obftrucSted by an enormous tree which had acciden- 

 tally fallen acrofs the Creek, fo that we could neither drag 

 the boat over nor under it. Thus we were again obliged 

 to return to the Jacob, whence we now proc-eeded to Mag- 

 denberg on foot, through thorns, roots, brambles, and 

 briars, and where we finally arrived wet and bloody ; and 

 my ancle, which had been nearly well, frefh wounded to 

 the bone, the (kin and flelh being quite torn away by 

 the numberlefs obftru6lions to our fteps. 



Here we were acquainted that Mr. Orleigh, one of the 

 two officers that I had fent up to Magdenberg from the 

 Hope on the 23d, was no more^ Thus died almoft all our 

 gentlemen, who had been during the laft month upon 

 the hopelefs Hope, from which now fcarcely one fingle 

 private returned in health ; and this, I am firmly of opi- 

 nion, was greatly owing to the dry and burning month 

 of June, when the fun fuddenly fcorched them, after 

 marching and even fleeping in cold watery fwamps, and 

 conftant heavy fliowers during the rainy feafon. How- 

 ever, I hitherto ^fcaped by the ftrength of my conftitu- 

 tion and good fpirits, which I determined by every poffible 

 means to keep from depreffion, by laughing, whiftling, 

 finging, and (God forgive me !) fometimes fwearing, 

 while all the reft were fighing, bewailing, and dying 

 around me. 



CHAP, 



