HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
95 
ing the state of the natives at this period are given in an 
account of the loss of the ship Winterton East Indiaman, 
wrecked on the south-western coast, in the year 1792; and 
as they serve to illustrate the character and habits of the 
people, and confirm the statements already given, a slight 
notice of them may not be unappropriate. They are 
related in a straightforward, manly, but simple and affecting 
manner by a “ passenger in the ship,” who was ably assisted 
in his record of these events by the testimony of Captain 
Dale, the third and only surviving officer of the ship. 
The vessel sailed from England with nearly three hundred 
passengers on board, ten of whom were ladies, and the 
early part of their voyage was more than commonly pros¬ 
perous. But on approaching Madagascar, Captain Dundas, 
the commander, appeared to be somewhat uncertain re¬ 
specting the accuracy of his calculations, and consequently 
of the true position of the ship. Under these circum¬ 
stances, the vessel struck upon a reef of rocks, about six 
miles from the coast of Madagascar, and a short distance 
to the north of St. Augustine’s Bay, where it shortly after¬ 
wards became a total wreck. The whole number stated by 
Mr. Dale to have been drowned at the time of the wreck 
was forty-eight, but many more fell victims to the severe 
and protracted sufferings which attended their escape from 
the ship, and their destitute and harassing condition after 
reaching the shore. In their journey from that part of the 
coast where the vessel was wrecked, towards Tolia, Captain 
Dale, and his companions in suffering, while travelling along 
the shore, were highly elated by learning from a native 
whom they met, that a British ship, which had left England 
in company with them, was at anchor in that port. The 
account brought by one of their own party, of the manner in 
which he had been treated by some king into whose power 
