274 LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
sleep by the brink of the river, and at the least noise slips into 
the water, where sinking down to the bottom, though very 
deep, she walks as on dry ground. She cannot run fast, there- 
fore never rambles far from the river, for there she aivvays 
takes sanduary in case of dangers ; there is no shooting her 
but when she is asleep. Manatee and turtle are also found on 
this coast. 
" When I had been at Plantain River about ten days, we 
saw a sloop stand in for the shore, which came to an anchor 
off the river's mouth; she hoisted English colors, and sent 
her canoe for the shore, but it was overset in the breakers, 
and all the people put to swimming for their lives ; however, 
they all came well on shore. We gathered up the oars, and 
hauled up the canoe ; and I soon learned from the people that 
their sloop was laden with logwood, came from the Bay of 
Honduras, and Avas bound to Jamaica; but that they had 
been looking for that island so long till all their provisions 
were spent, and could not find it ; and in standing to the south- 
ward they saw the land, and made it to be Plantain River, 
which some of them had been at before, and were come hi- 
ther in hopes of being supplied with provisions. I was ex- 
ceeding glad to hear they were bound for Jamaica, having 
now great hopes of getting thither again; for though I fared 
tolerably Avell for provisions, I had little pleasure in my com- 
pany, Avho were a rude unpolished crew, and I w^as heartily 
tired with this Indian manner of living. A white man, that 
sometimes used to reside in this place, was part owner of the 
sloop, was then gone to Sandy Bay, in order to go on an ex- 
pedition against the wild Indians before m.entioned; and the 
person who had the care of his affairs having some provisions 
of his, concluded to put on board of the sloop a barrel of beef 
and one of flour, and send them forward for Jamaica. I was 
very willing to make use of this opportunity of a passage ; 
but considering the master of the sloop was incapable of navi- 
gating her, I consulted with the person who supplied the pro- 
visions in relation to the conducting the vessel; observing to 
him that they in the sloop had lost themselves, and by great 
accident were come thither, or must all have perished by the 
ignorance of the master; and told him, if the master of the 
sloop would leave the direction to me, I would venture to go 
in her, but if not, I had rather wait till another opportunity, 
for I was apprehensive of being put in the same condition 
they had so lately been in. He thought this a very reasonable 
request, it being for the safety of the vessel as well as myself, 
