DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0066
50
kirby’s wonderful museum.
themselves overboard, thinking to save their lives by swim-
ming ; only myself, my master’s daughter, the two maids, and
the negro, were left on board, for we could not swim; but
those that left us might as well have tarried with us, for we
saw them, or most of them, perish, ourselves now ready after
to follow their fortune; but God was pleased to spare our
lives, as it were by a miracle, though to further sorrow ; for
when we came against the rocks, our ship having endured two or
three blows against the rocks (being now broken and quite foun-
dered in the waters,) we having with much ado gotten ourselves
on the bowsprit, which, being broken off, was driven by the
waves into a small creek, wherein fell a little river, which being
encompassed by the rocks, was sheltered from the wind, so that
we had an opportunity to land ourselves (though almost drown-
ed,) in all, four persons, besides the negro. When we were got
upon the rock, we could perceive the miserable wrack to our
great terrour. I had in my pocket a little tinder-box and
steel and flint, to strike fire at any time, upon occasion,
which served now to good purpose, for its being so close,
preserved the tinder dry; with this, and the help of some
old rotten wood, which we got together, we kindled a fire,
and dryed ourselves ; which done, I left my female company,
and went to see if I could find any of our ship’s company,
that were escaped, but cotdd hear of none, though I hooted
and made all the noise I could; neither could I perceive the
footsteps of any living creature (save a few birds and other
fowls.) At length, it drawing towards the evening, I went
back to my company, who were very much troubled for
want of me—I being now all their stay in this lost condition.
We were at first afraid that the wild people of the country
might find us out, although we saw no footsteps of any, not
so much as a path; the woods round about being full of
briers and brambles : we also stood in fear of wild beasts-
of such also we saw none, nor sign of any. But above all,
and that we had greatest reason to fear, was to be starved to
death for want of food; but God had otherwise provided for
kirby’s wonderful museum.
themselves overboard, thinking to save their lives by swim-
ming ; only myself, my master’s daughter, the two maids, and
the negro, were left on board, for we could not swim; but
those that left us might as well have tarried with us, for we
saw them, or most of them, perish, ourselves now ready after
to follow their fortune; but God was pleased to spare our
lives, as it were by a miracle, though to further sorrow ; for
when we came against the rocks, our ship having endured two or
three blows against the rocks (being now broken and quite foun-
dered in the waters,) we having with much ado gotten ourselves
on the bowsprit, which, being broken off, was driven by the
waves into a small creek, wherein fell a little river, which being
encompassed by the rocks, was sheltered from the wind, so that
we had an opportunity to land ourselves (though almost drown-
ed,) in all, four persons, besides the negro. When we were got
upon the rock, we could perceive the miserable wrack to our
great terrour. I had in my pocket a little tinder-box and
steel and flint, to strike fire at any time, upon occasion,
which served now to good purpose, for its being so close,
preserved the tinder dry; with this, and the help of some
old rotten wood, which we got together, we kindled a fire,
and dryed ourselves ; which done, I left my female company,
and went to see if I could find any of our ship’s company,
that were escaped, but cotdd hear of none, though I hooted
and made all the noise I could; neither could I perceive the
footsteps of any living creature (save a few birds and other
fowls.) At length, it drawing towards the evening, I went
back to my company, who were very much troubled for
want of me—I being now all their stay in this lost condition.
We were at first afraid that the wild people of the country
might find us out, although we saw no footsteps of any, not
so much as a path; the woods round about being full of
briers and brambles : we also stood in fear of wild beasts-
of such also we saw none, nor sign of any. But above all,
and that we had greatest reason to fear, was to be starved to
death for want of food; but God had otherwise provided for