43 
inquiring what he was about, he told me, 
and in a tone of voice that discovered a 
perfect confidence in the measure he pro- 
posed, that he was going to make an offer- 
ing to his God. " This handkerchief," 
said he, " contains a certain quantity of 
rice, and all the rupees I am worth ; suffer 
me to lash it to the mizen top, and rely 
upon it, sir, we shall all be saved." I was 
going to order him back again to the 
pumps ; but recollecting that in so doing 
I might throw both him and his country- 
men into a state of despondency, and 
thereby lose the benefits of their exer- 
tions, I acquiesced. The Lascar thanked 
me, and I soon beheld this child of pre- 
judice mount the tottering ladder without 
discovering a single apprehension. He 
lashed the handkerchief to the mizen top- 
mast head, fearless of all danger, and ar- 
rived in safety on the deck. After assuring 
me his God was now my friend, he went 
below to inform his brethren that he had 
done his duty ; all the Lascars seemed 
transported with joy, embraced their vir- 
tuous companion, and then laboured at the 
