130 
A SUDDEN DEATH. 
the natives; Mr. Toby, mate, having volunteered for this 
dangerous service. He succeeded in landing ; but, in 
attempting to come off again, the boat was swamped, 
upset, and all were thrown by the surf on the beach, 
where the natives — being a friendly tribe — rendered 
them prompt assistance. If such a thing had 
occurred in the bay of the Bottomless Pit,’’ they 
would probably have all been put to death, as the 
natives of that part are hostile. 
The catastrophe w^as witnessed by all on board, who 
were anxiously looking on. Mr. Toby and his men 
were kindly treated by the chief of the village, to whom 
a present was aftei'wards sent. By their assistance, the 
Krumen, with their usual dexterity and cheerfulness, 
got the boat through the surf on the following 
morning, and all arrived safely on board. 
A melancholy event occuiTed in the evening, a 
liberated AfHcan, about twenty-two years of age, and 
apparently in good health, after uttering an exclamation, 
suddenly expired. He had a few minutes before been 
speaking with some of his companions, on the prospect 
of soon seeing their native land. An attempt was 
made to bleed him, but in vain, stertorous breathing 
was observed for a few seconds, and he died almost 
instantly, without doubt, of apoplexy. Of this, indeed, 
Dr. Pritchett was so firmly convinced, that he thought 
it unnecessary to shock the prejudices of the coloured 
people by examining the body. 
There were, unfortunately, at this time several cases 
of fever on board, principally among the West Indian 
