244 TRAVELS IN 
of cburfe very little refiftance. The fwimnicrg^ 
therefore, dragged me along without, difficulty ; 
they were even ridiculing the fear they had 
entertained of not fucceeding, and I myfelf was 
making merry at my own expence. I could 
not help laughing at my ftiff and conftrained 
attitude ; with my two arms raifed aloft hold- 
ing in the air my inftruments of death ; with 
the collar that was about my neck, and the 
baggage which furrounded my waift, ferving 
as ballaft to the moft fmgular conveyance that 
the mind of man perhaps had ever invented : 
but the fcene was prefently changed, and the 
accents of our voices became expreffive of very 
different fentiments. 
Scarcely had we entered the current when, 
its rapidity overpowering our efforts, we faw 
ourfelves gradually drifted out of our courfe ; 
and foon its violence was fo great that, notwith- 
ftanding the courage and dexterity with which 
my negroes combated with the water, we 
found ourfelves hailening towards the fea. 
Had we been adually carried thither, no 
exertion could have faved me : I muft infallibly 
have periHied. However, as my good for- 
tune would have It, the wind, blowing from 
the 
