248 
LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
" In the morning we launched our canoe, and pursued ottr 
journey as before. About noon we saw our vessel sunk near 
the shore; we went on board, but found every thing gone out 
of her. I ordered the canoe to Black River, where she was 
conducted by an Indian, and went myself to the Indian ha- 
bitations, where I found most of them very happy ; some of 
them so drunk that they could not speak. We had the good 
luck to find one or two sober, who showed us where they had 
laid some of our provisions, which our people went imme- 
diately to dress, being all very hungry. Black River running 
up near the Indian habitations within the land, our people 
brought up the canoe ; the sober Indians were very courteous, 
and gave us some of our own rum and sugar, with which we 
made some punch, and cheered our spirits; they also let us 
know where they had hid some of our rum, from whence vre 
took a small cask and put it into our canoe. 
" The next day Captain Hobby came to us, and behaved 
very civilly, though he made a heavy complaint for the loss 
of his cow. I assured him our men would not have killed it 
if they had not believed it had been wild ; at which he seemed 
better satisfied, and was very friendly, seeming very sorry for 
our misfortune. 
" This country being all a low flat, morassy ground, we 
were grievously pestered with flies, so that it was almost im- 
possible to sleep. As to the Indians, I did not perceive they 
found any inconvenience, or that they took any notice of them. 
" In four or five days we fitted our canoe as well as we 
could, in which we fixed a small fire-hearth to dress our pro- 
visions, having put into her as much provisions and water as 
we could go safely to sea with. Taking Avith me eight of my 
people, we put to sea, intending to make for Truxillo, which 
was the place appointed for our rendezvous, and where we ex- 
pected to find our consort. Captain Hobby lending us another 
canoe to carry the rest of our men, we rowed round the cape 
where we were cast away, which we then knew went by the 
name of the False Cape ; this makes me believe some other 
people had been deceived in it as well as my pilot, who had 
given it that name. Having passed the cape, we stood down 
along the shore with our sails ; and at night let go our grap- 
lin, and lay by till morning, for fear of passing our consort, 
which we hoped to see upon the coast. As soon as it was 
light we weighed and pursued our voyage, keeping as near 
the shore as we could with safety, as we designed to call at 
Plantain River, to inquire whether they had seen her pass by. 
