he was not without hope of being able to save them all, and entreated them to be composed.

On sounding the pumps, no water was found in the hold; the ship's stern lying high on the rocks, and the fore part being considerably lower, it had all run forward. About ten minutes after the ship struck, the wind came off shore, which now created lively apprehensions of being driven out to sea, and deprived of the sole chance of safety.

The gunner was ordered to fire signals of distress; but on his attempting to get into the powder-room, he found it full of water; therefore the captain first ordered the mainmast to be cut away, and then the foremast. No effect, however, ensued; and the ship lying within three hundred yards of the shore, it proved impossible to save her.

The distraction of those on board at this time is not to be described; despair was seen in every countenance, and the utmost anarchy and confusion prevailed. Those most composed were employed in devising means to gain the shore, and set about framing a raft of such masts, yards, and spars, as could be got together. By this expedient there was a prospect of conveying the women, children, and sick, safely to land.

Meantime, a Lascar and two Italians attempted to swim ashore with the deep sea-line; one of the latter perished in the waves, though the others succeeded. By means of the small line, a much larger one was conveyed ashore, and by the aid of this one, a hawser. In drawing the hawser ashore, the two men were assisted by a great number of the natives, who had now crowded to the water's edge. The masts were soon drove in by

the surf and current, and whenever within reach were stripped of their hoops by the natives.

After the hawser was got out, it was fastened round the rocks by one end, and the other made fast to the capstan on board, by which it was hauled tight. Most of the people in the wreck had been employed in constructing a raft, which by this time was finished; a nine-inch hawser being fastened round it, they launched it overboard, and veered it away towards the stern of the ship, that the women and children might the more easily embark from the quarter gallery. Four men got upon it, in order to assist them, but although the hawser was new, the violence of the surf immediately snapped it in two, and the raft driving on shore, upset, by which three of the men were drowned.

Before the masts were cut away, the yawl and jolly-boat were hoisted out, but no sooner over the ship's side, than they were dashed to pieces.

All hands now began to do the best they could for themselves. Some had recourse to the hawser fastened ashore, attempting to get along by it hand over hand. Despair gave strength and resolution; several seamen gained the land by this difficult and hazardous expedient, while others, incapable of accomplishing it, dropped, and were drowned. Of these there were fifteen.

The ship now separated just before the mainmast; and the bow veering round came athwart the stern. The wind, at the same time, providentially shifted to its old quarter, and blew directly towards the land, a circumstance that contributed greatly towards saving the persons remaining on board; who all got on the poop as being nearest the shore. The wind then in conjunction with

in two.

the surges lifting them in, that part whereon they stood, rent asunder fore and aft, the deck splitting In this distressing moment, they crowded on the starboard quarter, which soon floated into shoal water, while the other parts continued to break off those heavy seas that would have washed them away. Thus every one on board, even the women and children, got safe ashore, excepting the cook's mate, who was intoxicated, and could not be prevailed on to leave the ship.

By the time the whole were landed, the day was far spent, and night came on apace. Luckily the natives, who retired with the setting sun, had left the embers of their fire, which afforded the English the means of lighting three others of wood collected from the wreck. They got some hogs and poultry that had been drove ashore, and made a repast.

A cask of beef, one of flour, and a leaguer of arrack, were found by those wandering along the shore, in quest of articles. These were delivered to the captain, who served out a proper allowance to each person. Of two sails, which had also been driven ashore, he ordered two tents to be made for the ladies to repose in during the ensuing night.

cy.

On the morning of the fifth, the natives, who were woolly-headed, and quite black, came down, and began to carry off whatever struck their fanA thousand apprehensions were excited for personal safety of the people, particularly in the women; but they were quelled by observing, that the natives contented themselves with plundering.

Next day was employed in collecting every thing that might be useful during a journey, which they intended to make to the Cape of Good

Hope. The captain prudently ordered two casks of spirits to be staved, lest the natives might become dangerous by getting intoxicated.

He then called the survivors of the shipwreck together, and having shared the provisions among them, represented, "that as on board he had been their commanding officer, he hoped they would still suffer him to continue his command." To which it was unanimously answered," by all means. He then proceeded to inform them, that from the best calculations he could make, he trusted to be able to reach some of the Dutch settlements in fifteen or sixteen days.

Encouraged by his words, they set off on the seventh. Mr Logie, the chief mate, having for some time been ill, was carried by two men in a hammock slung on a pole; and in this laborious occupation, all the men cheerfully took spell and spell. A man named Obrien having a swelled knee would not set out with his ship-mates, but staid behind. He said, that as it would be impossible for him to keep up with them, he would endeavour to get some lead and pewter from the wreck to make little trinkets to amuse the natives, hoping thereby to ingratiate himself with them, and learn their language, until he should be better able to get away.

The whole company then moved forward, and were followed by some of the natives, others staying by the wreck. They found a beaten path from village to village, and were followed for about three miles by the Caffres, who, from time to time, took whatever they chose from them, and sometimes threw stones at them. Soon afterwards, they met a party of thirty, whose hair was made up in the shape of a sugar loaf, and their faces paint

ed red. Among these was a Dutchman called Trout, who had committed murders among his countrymen, and had fled hither for concealment. On coming up to the English, he inquired who they were, and whither they were going; and on being told, he informed them that their proposed journey would be attended with unspeakable difficulties; that they had many nations to go through, and many deserts to pass, exclusive of the dangers which they would infallibly experience, from meeting numbers of wild beasts. This information depressed the party; they offered the man any money he would require, to conduct them to the Cape, but this he would not consent to do; alleging that he dreaded putting himself in the power of the Dutch; besides, having a wife and children among the natives, he was well assured that they would not consent to let him go, however much he might himself be inclined.

Finding their solicitations vain, they pursued their journey four or five days in the same manner. The natives constantly assembled about them in the day-time, and took whatever they chose; but as soon as the sun went down, they invariably retired. During their stay, however, they kept the party in continua, alarm by handling the ladies roughly, and exasperating their husbands and the people to acts of violence.

As they advanced, they saw many villages, but kept as far from them as possible, to avoid the rudeness of the inhabitants. Mr Logie, the first mate, was now so well recovered as to be able to proceed without assistance. They came to a deep gulley, where they met three natives, who held their lances several times to the captain's throat. At last being irritated, he caught hold of one of