was very little chance of assistance. In this frightful 
situation every one got on deck; where we couid only 
wait our last hour. However, not to be idle, we shut 
the port holes and threw every thing heavy overboard; 
all hands worked; we took again to the miserable pump, 
and by dint of patience and much fatigue succeeded at 
least in procuring an outlet for the water. The ship 
was then much lighter; but notwithstanding all precau- 
tions and endeavours, we must have perished if the me- 
teor which lasted about ten minutes, had continued 
somewhat longer, as the vessel was in too bad a state to 
withstand it. 
In these most critical moments, I had the satisfaction 
of seeing myself rewarded for some acts of humanity 
which I had exercised in the course of @ur voyage. The 
captain, the mate, and several sailors came one after an- 
other whispering me in the ear, that I had nothing to 
fear; that if any body was to be saved, it should be me. 
I saw by this that they intended to possess themselves 
of the boat; in a short time the meteor subsided; they 
actually began to get ready, in order to save themselves, 
having resolved to resist with their knives the attempts 
of those that were to be left behind. But fortunately 
matters terminated well without any other loss than 
some effects belonging to the frigate and to the passen- 
gers; the whole loss might be computed at several thou- 
sand piasters, and my private loss at about three hun- 
dred; for the gratitude of the crew prevented my things 
from being thrown overboard by those who flung away 
every thing at random, whilst all matters of value be- 
longing to the ship, and to other passengers, were thus 
buried in the sea. I believe that I should not have sus» 
