LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 67 
commander a peculiar attention. It may happen, that by hu- 
moring their religious prejudices at a particular moment, an 
essential service maybe obtained ; and the following remark- 
able anecdote Avill tend to elucidate this opinion. 
At a period when the tempest raged with the utmost vio- 
lence, the captain directed most of the crew below, particu- 
larly the Lascars, to work the pumps. One of them, however, 
was perceived coming up the gang-way, with a handkerchief 
in his hand ; and on being questioned what he was about, he 
answered in a tone of voice that discovered a perfect confi- 
dence in the measure he proposed, that he was going to make 
an offering to his god. " This handkerchief," said he, "con- 
tains 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." The captain was going to order him 
back to the pumps, but recollecting that in so doing he might 
throw both him and his countrymen into a state of despondency, 
and thereby lose the benefit of their exertions, he acquiesced. 
The Lascar thanked him, and he soon beheld the child of 
prejudice mount the tottering ladder without discovering a 
single apprehension. He lashed the handkerchief to the mi- 
zen top-mast head, fearless of all danger, and arrived in safety 
on the deck. Confident now that his god was the captain's 
friend, he w^ent below to inform his brethren that he had done 
his duty ; all the Lascars seemed transported with joy, em- 
braced their virtuous companion, and then labored at the 
pumps Avith as much alacrity and perseverance as if they had 
encountered, before, neither apprehension nor fatigue. To 
their unceasing labors was owing, in a great measure, the 
preservation of his people. 
The shift of wind which threw the ship into the trough of 
the sea and tore away the nidder, was fortunately a s<juall of 
but short duration, not continuing above a quarter of an hour. 
Had it lasted but a little longer, the ship must have been torn 
in pieces. The wind came round to its former quarter, and 
moderated greatly. 
After the long-boat had been delivered to the care of the 
second mate, and the raft completed, the captain held a con- 
suhation with the officers, and they were all decidedly of 
opinion that it was impossible to save the ship, and that they 
had no other chance to preserve their lives, than to make the 
land and run her on shore. 
The people, when informed of the issue of this consultation, 
appeared to work with renovated spirits. This disposition 
