48 
tion she remained for about three or four 
minutes, when a sea took her over the rocks, 
and carried her about a cable's length nearer 
the shore, where she again struck, and 
kept heaving in with a dreadful surf, which 
every moment made a break over her. 
The lashings, that held the raft, having 
given way, and the spars carried to a con- 
siderable distance from the ship, we lost all 
hope from that quarter. At length, one of 
the crew, who was a black, plunged into the 
waves, and, by exertions which seemed more 
than human, gained and seated himself on 
the raft. He scarcely remained in that situ- • 
ation for ten minutes, when the whole was 
turned over, and the man completely en- 
veloped in the sea. In a few moments, how- 
ever, we perceived him in his former seat. 
Again he endured a similar misfortune; 
and a third succeeded. Still he buffeted 
the waves, and gained the raft, until at 
length, after suffering two hours of fatigue, 
which, until then, I could not possibly ima- 
gine human nature could survive, he drifted 
on shore. 
The natives, who had kindled several fires, 
