132 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
measure, deprived of all power of exertion. The chief promoters of this enterprize 
were now convinced of their folly and presumption, and there was not one of them 
who did not anxiously wish to regain the island: but such attempt was altogether 
impracticable. In this lamentable situation did we remain from eleven at night till 
two in the morning; in which time, we concluded, that all the points were passed, 
and that we had gained the open sea, as we no longer heard the noise of the breakers. 
We had hitherto depended on our oars, but we now claimed the assistance of our 
sail, and began in some degree to recover ourselves. The next day the wind was 
variable, and the six following days it was in our teeth; a very extraordinary cir¬ 
cumstance in these seas. The meat which had been' dressed for the voyage we 
were obliged to throw overboard, as it became full of maggots; and our whole 
dependence, as to provisions, was some dried lamentin and water melons. In the 
early part of the voyage we had taken, the precaution to content ourselves each day 
with two or three ounces of this food, in order to prolong to the utmost our miserable 
existence, if we should be so unfortunate as to miss the Island of Mauritius. Indeed, 
it was by a kind of miracle that we at length reached it. 
44 The wind, which had never ceased to be adverse till the morning of the eighth day 
of our navigation, was succeeded by a violent tempest. The weather was perfectly 
serene till noon, when the heavens became obscured ; and the rain fell during four 
hours in such abundance, that it would have filled the boat in a very short time, 
if we had not laboriously and unceasingly exerted ourselves to empty it. This rain, 
however, was not accompanied by any violent wind; but as the night came on the 
wind increased; and theisipall glimmering of light that remained was succeeded by 
profound darkness. 
“ The tempest increasing, we were obliged to lower our principal sail; and, as it 
was impossible to keep in a light, having neglected to contrive a lantern previous to 
our departure, we were no longer able to consult our little compass; we therefore 
lost our course, and could do nothing more than bear before the wind with the foresail. 
The darkness did not always remain the same, and the vane was sometimes percep¬ 
tible; though that was now of little consequence. The greatest danger seemed to 
arise from the construction of the boat, which was only decked at one end: but 
those of us who had taken the lead in planning the expedition, could never be per¬ 
suaded that it would not be accompanied with favourable weather and gentle gales. 
All attempts to find a reckoning was vain, and this night was alarming beyond 
