jdvili INTJIOBUCTION* 



abfolute want of every neccffary, carried with 

 them a young child, who partook of the 

 extreme weaknefs of its mother. They 

 related, that during the time of their rcfi- 

 dence on the ifland, they had feen five vefr 

 fels, feveral of which had in vain attempted 

 to land at the place of their captivity. A 

 fmall veffelj called La Sauierelley for fome 

 time gave them hopes of being at length 

 delivered from their melancholy fituatien ; 

 but the catioe of that veffel, through a dread 

 no doubt of being wrecked upon the iiland, 

 where the crew had before experienced tlie 

 utmoft difficulty in landing, bore off fud- 

 denly, and with fo much precipitation that 

 one of the feamen was left behind. This 

 man, who fell a vi<^tim to his courage and 

 humanity, feeing hi mfelf abandoned, formed 

 the defperate refolution of attempting to 

 make his way to Madagafcar on a raft. He 

 embarked with three negroes and three ne- 



grcfles, 



