DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0065
ISLE OF PINES.
49
him his whole family, (that is to say) his wife and one son of
about twelve years of age, and one daughter of about four-
teen years, two maid-servants, one negro female slave, and
myself, who went under him as bis book-keeper; with this
company, on Monday the third of April next following, (hav-
ing all necessaries for house-keeping, when we should come
there), we embarked ourselves in the good ship the India Mer-
chant, of about 450 tons burthen, and having a good wind,
we, on the 14th day of May, had sight of the Canaries, and
not long after of the Isles Cape Vert or Verd, where taking
in such things as were necessary for our voyage, and some
fresh provisions, we steering our course south, and a point
east, about the first of August, came within sight of the Island
of St. Heilen, where we took in some fresh w ater ; we then
set our faces for the Cape of Good Hope, where, by God’s
blessing, after some sickness, whereof some of our company
died, though none of our family; and hitherto we had met
with none but calm weather, yet so it pleased God, when we
were almost in sight of St. Lawrence, an island so called,
one of the greatest in the world, as mariners say, we were
overtaken and dispersed by a great storm of wind, which
continued with such violence many days, that io»mg all hope
of safety, being out of our own knowledge, and w'hether we
shall fall on flats Or rocks, uncertain in the nights, not having
the least benefit of the light, we feared most, alwaxs wishing
for day, and then for laud—but it came too soon for our
good ; for, about the first of October, our fears having made
us forget how the time passed to a certainty, we, about the
break of day, discerned laud (but what we knew not,) the
land seemed high and rocky, and the sea continued still very
stormy and tempestuous, insomuch as there seemed no hope
of safety, but looked suddenly to peush. As we grew near
land, perceiving no safety in the ship, which we looked would
suddenly be beat in pieces ; the captain, my master, and
some others got into the long-boat, thinking by that means
to save their lives; and presently after, all the seamen cast
VOL. VI, e
49
him his whole family, (that is to say) his wife and one son of
about twelve years of age, and one daughter of about four-
teen years, two maid-servants, one negro female slave, and
myself, who went under him as bis book-keeper; with this
company, on Monday the third of April next following, (hav-
ing all necessaries for house-keeping, when we should come
there), we embarked ourselves in the good ship the India Mer-
chant, of about 450 tons burthen, and having a good wind,
we, on the 14th day of May, had sight of the Canaries, and
not long after of the Isles Cape Vert or Verd, where taking
in such things as were necessary for our voyage, and some
fresh provisions, we steering our course south, and a point
east, about the first of August, came within sight of the Island
of St. Heilen, where we took in some fresh w ater ; we then
set our faces for the Cape of Good Hope, where, by God’s
blessing, after some sickness, whereof some of our company
died, though none of our family; and hitherto we had met
with none but calm weather, yet so it pleased God, when we
were almost in sight of St. Lawrence, an island so called,
one of the greatest in the world, as mariners say, we were
overtaken and dispersed by a great storm of wind, which
continued with such violence many days, that io»mg all hope
of safety, being out of our own knowledge, and w'hether we
shall fall on flats Or rocks, uncertain in the nights, not having
the least benefit of the light, we feared most, alwaxs wishing
for day, and then for laud—but it came too soon for our
good ; for, about the first of October, our fears having made
us forget how the time passed to a certainty, we, about the
break of day, discerned laud (but what we knew not,) the
land seemed high and rocky, and the sea continued still very
stormy and tempestuous, insomuch as there seemed no hope
of safety, but looked suddenly to peush. As we grew near
land, perceiving no safety in the ship, which we looked would
suddenly be beat in pieces ; the captain, my master, and
some others got into the long-boat, thinking by that means
to save their lives; and presently after, all the seamen cast
VOL. VI, e