254 LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
hearing, to consult what was most proper to be done, and came 
to a resolution to return to our former quarters ; accordingly 
we all went back. 
" I began to flatter myself that 1 had obtained my purpose 
to go in the canoe, Avhich I was desirous to do for tAvo rea- 
sons ; one was, because it would prevent the great hazard 
and labor we must expect in going over the several rivers we 
must pass, beside the fatigue of traveling about sixty miles 
upon the sand, in a very hot country, and the danger of being 
devoured by tigers, alligators, or other ravenous beasts ; and 
the other reason w^as, if we traveled by land, I must leave the 
canoe, with the greatest part of my clothes, beside the small 
arms and the iron pot, so useful to us. Having returned to 
our old quarters, v/e fed chiefly upon cabbage, saving the lit- 
tle provisions we had left to the last stake. Here we remain- 
ed three or four days ; it being tolerably fair vv^eather, and the 
sea being much smoother, I proposed to put to sea ; but the 
seamen refused, and swore they would not go in her any 
more. I talked pretty smartly to them, and told them what 
they deserved ; and that if but one man would go with me, I 
would leave them. My boy and two men consented to go; 
and Ave set out accordingly about eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and in about three hours we reached the mouth of the 
river of great Remain ; to which place several of the people 
(growing into better temper) went with us, and assisted us to 
make our bark logs. We found scattered upon the banks of 
the river several bamboo trees; these we got together, and 
cut into proper lengths, and fastened them to each other to 
make bark logs, in order to get over the river. We had a 
fishing line, w^iich was divided between us ; myself and the 
boy one half, and the two men had the other half, each bark 
log carrying two persons. We left the ax with the rest of 
the people, who returned to the canoe, and we set forward 
w'ith our two bark logs ; we paddled up close by the side of 
the river, keeping as much out of the current as possible, in- 
tending to go a good way up it before we endeavored to cross 
it, that we might be in no danger of driving out of the river's 
mouth. We kept paddling till half an hour past six o'clock 
at night; and seeing a fine green spot, clear of bushes, close 
to the river's side, we landed there, and took up our abode 
that night ; but on stepping ashore, several large alligators 
flounced from thence into the vrater close by us, which very 
much startled us. Finding this place convenient for us, we 
made fast our bark logs, and then made a fire to prevent the 
