NARRATIVE OF AN 



maca, intent on immediate mifchief, and that they were 

 marching to the weft ward. In confeqnence of this in- 

 formation, a captain and fifty men were immediately 

 detached, by water, to reconnoitre the banks near the 

 Pinenbiirg Creek. This party returned upon the 8th, 

 and confirmed the intelligence. Our indefatigable chief 

 now again determined to purfue them ; but the flaves 

 who were to carry the ammunition and provifions had 

 been fent home to their mafters, nothing but fkin and 

 bones, to be exchanged for others, not yet arrived, and 

 to be ftarved in their turn. I fhall therefore relate what 

 happened the two following days, until the arrival of 

 thefe unfortunate beajis of burden ; for fo they might 

 with propriety be called. 



On the 9th were fold upon credit, and to the higheft: 

 bidder, the effe6ls of the deceafed Enfign Strows, when the 

 poor foldiers, regardlefs of price, and only wifhing to ob- 

 tain fome cloaths and refrelhments to keep (in the vulgar 

 phrafe) foul and body together, adually paid at the rate 

 of 700 per cent, and this infamous debt was accordingly 

 ftated in their accounts. I have feen, for inftance, a pri^ 

 vate marine pay five fliillings for a pound of mouldered 

 tobacco, that might be worth fix- pence, and double 

 the prime value for a pair of old ftockings or fhoes'. 

 A fick man paid one guinea for a couple of nieagre 

 chickens; and for a broken bottle-cafe to hold his lumbei*, 

 another paid a fimilar fum. Thus were thefe poor dying 

 half-ftarved wretches deprived of the little property they 



had 



