baker's second voyage. 
161 
doubt of his authenticity. We shall, therefore, 
take a rapid view of his second and still more 
disastrous voyage. 
Baker finding himself upon English ground, had 
vowed never more to embark for a coast where he 
had suffered so many woes and perils. Time, how- 
ever, softened the impression ; and being invited 
next year to take a place in an African expedition, 
he, " unhappy foolish wight," accepted without 
hesitation. The vessel reached the coast, and for 
some time nothing evil occurred, till our author, 
with nine men, were sent on shore with a boat for 
the purposes of trade. Then, indeed, he found 
that the donation to Vulcan had not been revok- 
ed. That personage " began to play his part 
and having " feed Eolus to be his friend," raised 
such a tempest of wind and thunder, that the 
boat was entirely separated from the ship ; and, 
notwithstanding mutual efforts, they could never 
rejoin each other. A dismal prospect now open- 
ed, on considering how, in this small bark, sur- 
rounded by enemies, they were ever to recross 
the Atlantic, and regain their native country. 
But a more urgent concern soon pressed upon 
them, when they found their stock of provisions, 
and every commodity with which they could 
purchase them, entirely exhausted. Baker now 
pointed out to his companions the necessity of 
forming some decisive resolution. The alterna- 
tive lay between the negroes and the Portuguese ; 
VOL. r. L 
