DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0358
320
kirby’s wonderful museum.
overboard, and endeavoured to overset the boat, saying, we
should all die together: but we prevented this desperate act,
by beating him off with our paddles. At last he prayed to
be taken on board, which we did at the stern, and the next
morning it pleased God to prevent our design being carried
into execution; for on the 23d, about four P. M. we saw
the land bearing N. about eight leagues; at six A. M. on
the 24th, we were within four leagues ; we now found there
was a strong current against us. At ten A. M. we ap-
peared to be no nearer; at eleven A. M. we saw a sloop to
the westward plying to windward: we immediately stood for
her, and hoisted a handkerchief on a pole as a signal of dis-
tress. She soon after hove to, but finding we made no way,
she stood towards us, and thanks to God, about four P. M.
was alongside. They threw us a rope, which we caught;
but had not strength sufficient left to hold the boat. One of
the sailors jumped into our boat, and assisted us : we now
found ourselves so weak, that we could not stand, and were
obliged to be lifted on deck, where we lay suffering the
greatest pains, the skin being all peeled from off our shoul-
ders, hips, &c. The ship was a Spaniard, belonging to
Cuba; they took all the care of us in their power, and we
began soon to recover our strength. Their strongest liquor
was water, and their food jerked beef and plantains; and
though we ate sparingly of their green food, it had nearly
cost us our lives. They had no boat on board, and fancy-
ing ours, hoisted it on deck. About ten P. M. it began to
blow a gale, with heavy rain, and continued so all night.
In the morning of the 25th we found that we had lost one
of our purses, with about five pounds in gold dust and coin,
which but the day before was considered of no value; but
we now found the want of it. The gale continued, and our
new bark became little better than a wreck. On the 29th,
about six A. M. we w'ere obliged to bear away, and at the
same time shipped a heavy sea ; and our mainsail being but
half hoisted, and not reefed, fell in it, and set us on our
kirby’s wonderful museum.
overboard, and endeavoured to overset the boat, saying, we
should all die together: but we prevented this desperate act,
by beating him off with our paddles. At last he prayed to
be taken on board, which we did at the stern, and the next
morning it pleased God to prevent our design being carried
into execution; for on the 23d, about four P. M. we saw
the land bearing N. about eight leagues; at six A. M. on
the 24th, we were within four leagues ; we now found there
was a strong current against us. At ten A. M. we ap-
peared to be no nearer; at eleven A. M. we saw a sloop to
the westward plying to windward: we immediately stood for
her, and hoisted a handkerchief on a pole as a signal of dis-
tress. She soon after hove to, but finding we made no way,
she stood towards us, and thanks to God, about four P. M.
was alongside. They threw us a rope, which we caught;
but had not strength sufficient left to hold the boat. One of
the sailors jumped into our boat, and assisted us : we now
found ourselves so weak, that we could not stand, and were
obliged to be lifted on deck, where we lay suffering the
greatest pains, the skin being all peeled from off our shoul-
ders, hips, &c. The ship was a Spaniard, belonging to
Cuba; they took all the care of us in their power, and we
began soon to recover our strength. Their strongest liquor
was water, and their food jerked beef and plantains; and
though we ate sparingly of their green food, it had nearly
cost us our lives. They had no boat on board, and fancy-
ing ours, hoisted it on deck. About ten P. M. it began to
blow a gale, with heavy rain, and continued so all night.
In the morning of the 25th we found that we had lost one
of our purses, with about five pounds in gold dust and coin,
which but the day before was considered of no value; but
we now found the want of it. The gale continued, and our
new bark became little better than a wreck. On the 29th,
about six A. M. we w'ere obliged to bear away, and at the
same time shipped a heavy sea ; and our mainsail being but
half hoisted, and not reefed, fell in it, and set us on our