256 LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
up our lodging, but having had no water since parting from 
the river Remain, were almost famished, and ready to die with 
thirst ; having found some cocoa plumb-trees, we took up our 
quarters, and searched them very narrowly for fruit ; found 
two or three plumbs, which moistened my mouth, and gave ^ 
me great relief In a little time after, by digging in the sand, 
we found fresh water, and satisfied our thirst. 
"As soon as it was day Vv'e pursued our journey, and about 
ten o'clock in the morning came to a river with a very deep 
and rapid stream, but not above a quarter so broad as that al- 
ready passed. Finding bamboos scattered over the point of 
the river, we gathered them together, and began to make our 
bark logs. In about three hours we completed them, and put 
over the river, and found less trouble in'passing than we ex- 
pected, by reason half the breadth of it on the farthest side 
proved to be shoal water, and not above mid-leg deep ; this 
we found little inconvenience in wading through. When over, 
and had taken our line from the bark logs, it being about two 
o'clock in the afternoon, we sat down by the river-side to din- 
ner. Having eaten as much as we could afford, and washed 
it down with large draughts of water, we proceeded on our 
journey, but found it very troublesome traveling on dry and 
loose sand, beside the inconvenience of bad shoes. We at- 
tempted several times to travel through the woods, but found 
the underwood so thick, and the ground morassy, there was 
no passing that way, and were obliged to keep by the sea-side. 
We waded over several rivers, some up to our knees, others 
to oar middle, and others up to our chin. One of the men 
could swim, and he used to try first whether the rivers were 
fordable, which if he found, we forded over ; and if not, we 
made our bark logs and went over upon them. We traveled 
about eight or ten miles after passing over Limehouse River, 
(for so that river was called where we dined,) and it being 
near night, we made a fire according to custom, and rested 
till morning ; then went forward, fording many rivers in our 
way. About noon we came to a headland that jutted into 
the sea, Avhich put a stop to our going by the sea-side ; the 
rocks being very high and steep, the sea beating violently 
against them, we chose to go back into the woods, where we 
found it less troublesome, with an intent to go through the 
country till we should get on the other side of the headland ; 
and accaxdingly marched up the hills for that purpose, hav- 
ing with great difficulty traveled up and dov/n several, often 
obliged to haul ourselves up from tree to tree, and slide down 
