AFRICA. 485 
which prefently rofe to fuch a height, that all 
the Ikill of our feamen was of no avail againft 
its fury. Wave after wave drove us preci- 
pitately towards the rocks ; while, on account 
of the mift, we could fcarcely fee each other, as 
if Heaven had intended to fave us the agony 
of beholding twenty fhipwrecks at once. We 
had not only the breakers to fear, but to 
dread alfo running foul of one another; for 
the Channel was covered with veffels. I can- 
not convey a better idea of the fury of the 
wind thus let loofe upon us, than by obferv- 
ing that our fails, though furled, were torn 
to rags, and our rigging abfolutely blown to 
tow. I confidered death as inevitable, and 
awaited it in filence. Twenty veffels, drivea 
by their ill fate either againft each other or 
upon the rocks, were loft. The Middelbourg 
was wrecked on the (hore, and the hulband, 
wife, and children, all periflied together. Ano- 
ther veffel of our fleet, the Holland, loft her 
rudder, which was broken and carried away 
by a wave. Become the fport of the winds 
and waves, and unable to fteer her courfe, 
ilie made fignals of diftrefs, which v/e an- 
fwered by the fignals of death. To add to our 
misfortunes, 
