almoſt ſtarved themſelves, forbearing all ſorts of Food, unleſs a Mouthful or two of Bread the whole Day, ſo that thoſe who ſurvived were as weak as it was poſſible for Men to be and alive.
But if the diſmal Proſpect they ſet out with, gave them Anxiety, Trouble, or Pain, what muſt their Fears and Apprehenſions be, when they had not one Drop of Water left, or any other Liquor to moiſten or animate. This was their Caſe, when (by the working of Divine Providence, no doubt,) they were brought into Soundings, and at Night anchored in ſeven Fathom Water: This was an inexpreſſible Joy to them, and, as it were, fed the expiring Lamp of Life with freſh Spirits; but this could not hold long. When the Morning came, they ſaw Land from the Maſt-Head, but it was at ſo great a Diſtance, that it afforded but an indifferent Proſpect to Men who had drank nothing for the two laſt Days; however, they diſpatch’d their Boat away, and late the ſame Night it return’d, to their no ſmall Comfort, with a load of Water, informing them, that they had got off the Mouth of Meriwinga River on the Coaſt of Surinam.
One would have thought ſo miraculous an Eſcape ſhould have wrought ſome Reformation, but alaſs, they had no ſooner quenched their Thirſt, but they had forgot the Miracle, till Scarcity of Proviſions awakened their Senſes, and bid them guard againſt ſtarving; their allowance was very ſmall, and yet they would profanely ſay, That Providence which had gave them Drink, would, no doubt, bring them Meat alſo, if they would uſe but an honeſt Endeavour.
In purſuance of theſe honeſt Endeavours, they were ſteering for the Latitude of Barbadoes, with what little they had left, to look out for more, or Starve; and, in their Way, met a Ship that anſwered their Neceſſities, and after that a Brigantine; the former was called the Greyhound, belonging to
