the nearest land if possible, before we should entirely perish of such a languishing and hard death, for we were perishing with hunger and thirst: every moment we expected to be forced to come to that most horrible and shocking point of eating Human flesh, and become cannibals for want of food. Many were so weak that they could not work, nor get up from the place where they lay. We were several days in that awful and pitiful situation, exposed to all sorts of dangers and evils; in the most painful of my agonies I swore that if GOD spared me to put my feet upon Land, I would never go to Sea again. At last the LORD smiled on us, and spared us once more: a sea-man who was watching at the top of the mast, shouted, Land! Land[13]. Never was joy greater in our Hearts than that day, to see ourselves set free from dangers, and safely landed at that most desirable and appointed place; and found that it was Cayen near south America.

The Doctor went immediately on shore to provide food and refreshment, and ordered that no one should eat any thing without his orders; because, he said, "some will not be wise enough to content themselves with a little, and if our bodies which have been void for so long a time were filled all at once, it would undoubtedly cause our Death." So we were fed by degrees untill we recovered our former strength. We remained at Cayen about two months, and then departed to go back to Guadeloupe.

I was again hardened, and broke the Oath that I had made to GOD, by going again upon the Sea. About the eighteenth day that we were on the Sea we saw a Ship, and chased her; in the mean time that we were chasing, arms were prepared for the battle: and the Captain of Volunteers called me to take care of the arms which were upon a large box; so I kneeled down and clip'd a great quantity of pistols and muskets to prevent them from falling, and all their mouths were fixed towards my breast. Not long before I was in that posture, the Doctor who was below called me; I instantly quitted my post and ran to his orders: no sooner had I left my position in which I was before, than a pistol went off unexpected, and wounded the Captain of Volunteers in the knee. I was so surprised at this, that I thought, (and even was sure,) that it was GOD's mercy to spare me; for in the posture that I was as before mentioned, I could not have escaped being killed upon the spot[14].

The Ship that we were chasing, when near proved to be a large man of war, and we being too small to attack her, were forced to run away, and happily escaped.

I return, to the Captain of Volunteers, whose wound made such a progress that he was obliged to have his leg, and a part of his thigh cut off; and I, being assistant to the Doctor, assisted to hold his leg while he was performing the operation: all that did not prolong his life many days, for his time was come; he departed eight days after the amputation.

We proceeded on our voyage for Guadeloupe, and arrived safe there. Having had so many misfortunes I thought that the Ship was unlucky, and resolved to go no more with it; so I asked for my discharge, and it was granted; but before I sought for another place, I inquired about my Brother who did take pattern by me, and venture to Sea: I heard that he had had good luck, for he had received fifty pounds prize money.

My eldest Brother was in his place still, but a misfortune happened unto him while I was on shore; the Gentleman and the Lady where he was at; were at variance on his account, for his Master was jealous of him, and he was obliged to quit; having nothing to do, he determined to follow our example; and embarked in the same Ship where my other Brother was; they wanted me to go with them, saying, "if we perish, we shall perish in the arms of each other, and if we have good luck, we can work and live together in union:" but I could not be persuaded, I wanted to have my own way, for I knew that it was enough for me to bear my own misfortunes, without adding to those of my Brothers: so they both took leave of me, and went to seek their fortune.

A few weeks after their departure I embarked on board of a small Privateer, carrying only two swivels, and seventeen men: we sailed and cast Anchor at the Island of Marie-Galante, to take some provisions; and again went out for Sea. Soon after, we met with a large Merchant-Man; passing by we hoisted an English colour to deceive her, and having men on board that could speak the English Language perfectly well, we hailed her; she was come from Martinico and going to England, and had fourteen guns: our Captain said to us, "they think that we are English, but let her sail on, and when night comes we will attack her:" so we followed her at a distance, till the time was come to perform the intrepid design; coming near all was silent, and every one of our Men were ready to jump on board at the first signal; and when near enough orders were Given, and our wishes fulfiled; for we took her with very little resistance, and conveyed her to Curacao, a Dutch Island. The cargo consisted of five-hundred and fifty-four hogsheads of Sugar, twelve ditto of Coffee, and eighteen bales of Cotton; which when sold gave every one a prize of fourteen hundred dollars. Being young and foolish, I soon spent a great part of my Money with my comrades, in drinking, dancing, Gambling, &c.

I was sometimes intoxicated for a whole week, and every night at the ball room, along with bad company. I was two months in Curacao, and spent five-hundred and forty dollars; after which we proceeded with a larger Ship, which was ready for Sea, in which we sought for a better fortune. A few days after we were out, another prize fell into our hands, which we sent to the place above mentioned; and proceeded on our Voyage, and went to Bonaires, a dutch Island, to take some refreshment. After we quitted that place, we perceived that our Ship had a leak, for we had fourteen inches of water in the hold every hour, which forced us to enter into the Harbour of Porto-Cabello, a large Spanish City on the coast of the Meridional America: we were there two months; and proceeding further, we cast Anchor at Cocoa-madrilla, a Spanish Town on the same coast as before mentioned, and remained there but a few days: we went out and cruized for a long while, and having captured no Ships we went into the harbour of la Guaires, another Spanish City, to take some provision, for we were short of them.

During our stay there the Lieutenant of the Ship and two men went to take a walk on shore, and were taken up, and put in the inquisition, because they did not bow to the HOST: for as it was related to us by them, that when they were passing through the streets they saw a great procession of Clergymen, going with a large silver Cross, to give the Extreme-Unction to a sick person; they not knowing the rules of the Country, passed by, and took no notice: when they were examined, and found under French colours, the inquisitioner could do nothing at them, but release them.

We went out of that abominable Harbour with the design to go back to the happy Island of Guadeloupe.

On our way back we took two prizes, but were retaken again; so we went and cast Anchor at St. Martin, a French and Dutch Island, and were but a few days there; and straightway we sailed for Basse-Terre the Capital City of Guadeloupe, and from thence to Point-a-Pitre, where I Landed my little treasure which consisted of one hundred and twenty pounds; as I had a Cousin there who was a sober man, I deposited the money in his hands to begin a small trade; and I was determined not