year. Her arrival at length in the river of Tulliar, relieved us from the most painful anxiety. We got her up to the town, and kept a guard over her, to prevent the natives setting fire to her, which they certainly would have done (for the iron work) had it been at any distance from the King's residence. And now, at a consultation of the officers, it was agreed, that I should go to Mosambique to procure a vessel, and that every person should exert himself to get the boat in readiness as soon as possible. From want of tools, &c. the carpenters were unable to do any thing more than put a false keel upon her, and with the burthen boards rose her about five inches forward. As to sails we managed tolerably well. Most fortunately a compass had been put in the boat the evening of the 20th of August, and a quadrant had been picked up in the beach, but we could not procure a chart, or a single book of navigation; a small geographical grammar, which I obtained from one of the soldiers, was in the end the saving of our lives. By the 12th of September, having got every thing ready, I sailed from Tulliar bay, having with me the fourth officer, four seamen, and Mr. de Souza, a passenger, who, from his knowledge of the Portuguese language, offered to accompany me. For two days we made pretty good progress to the northward, having pleasant westerly winds, but then it shifted to N. N. E. and never returned again fair. What added considerably to our disappointment was, that our small stock of provisions, which consisted of cakes made of Indian corn and beef, proved entirely rotten and maggoty; so that our whole subsistence was some raw sweet potatoes, and sugar cane, with half a pint of water a man per day; for though we had about 25 gallons of it, when we sailed, yet owing to a great part of it being kept in calibashes, many of them had broke with the motion of the boat. Thus situated, on the 20th of September we made the coast of Africa, nearly in the latitude 18° S. the currents having set us considerably further to the westward than we imagined. For three days, we endeavoured to get to the northward, but could gain nothing, the wind keeping continually in the N. E. and by that time having but a very slender stock of water left, it was judged imprudent to persist any longer in the design of reaching Mosambique in the condition we were; accordingly we bore away for a Portuguese settlement named Sofala, situated in 20 south latitude, to which our little book directed us. I cannot help remarking in this place, how unfortunate it was for us all, that the only book of charts saved from the wreck, should be deficient in but one chart, and that to be the one most wanted, viz. of the Mosambique channel; as at the time that we relinquished the intention of getting to Mosambique, we were not more than 20 miles distant from a sea-port named Killeman, where vessels are at all times trading to the capital. Had we known this, it would have been the means of procuring immediate relief for our distressed shipmates, and thereby have prevented the loss of so many lives, occasioned by their long stay on the island. Ignorant as we were, I believe nothing but the dread of absolute starving, would have induced us to land on any part of the coast, though we afterwards found our fears were imaginary, notwithstanding that barbarous idea, which the Portuguese have endeavoured to instil into the minds of the natives, that all other European nations are canibals, and do not scruple to eat black people. But to return, in our run for Sofala, we put into two rivers, in both of which we imagined it to lay; in the last, meeting some inhabitants who spoke Portuguese, they advised us to apKk 2

VOL. II.

prize the Governor of our wish to reach the place. On receiving no tice of this, he instantly dispatched a letter, with a most seasonable supply of victuals, and a pilot to conduct us to Sofala, where we arrived the 29th of September. By the means of Mr. de Souza, we made the Governor fully acquainted with the unhappy disaster that had befallen us, and at the same time requested his advice and assistance, in what manner it would be proper for us to act. Our reception was perfectly humane and kind; he desired us not to think for a few days of any thing but recruiting ourselves, and at the same time furnished us with cloaths, which he observed our situation so much required; though still there was a shyness in his behaviour, which we could not account for. I am inclined to think, and we were all of the same opinion, that he certainly doubted our veracity, and took us for the crew of some French ship come to kidnap the natives, (a practice, as I have been informed, not uncommon with that nation) though our ragged and squalid appearance by no means justified such an apprehension. In a little time, however, these suspicions vanished, and he informed us of the state of the place. That there was annually but one vessel came there, that she had sailed about a month before, and would not arrive again till June; that as the N. E. monsoon was set in, it would be impracticable to reach Mosambique at that time; but that if we chose, he would give us guides, and what was necessary to undertake a journey to Senna, a settlement of theirs inland, from whence we might have an opportunity of getting to the capital; though at the same time he represented the undertaking in so unfavourable a light, together with the length of time likely to intervene before any occasion might present itself, for us to proceed further, that on mature deliberation we declined all thoughts of it, and turned our attention to a boat he had, about the size of an Indiaman's long boat, which we made application for; this he made some scruple of granting, on account of the payment, which was soon set aside by our offering to grant a bill on the Honourable Company for the amount; this he declined, and at length gave us the boat. It was our intention to proceed to Delegoa bay, which, with very moderate winds, we might have accomplsihed in a week. At this time of the year we knew there must be some South-sea ships, as there are generally thirty or forty sail in a year. Had we been so fortunate as to effect this, it would have been an easy matter to have engaged one, or, if necessary, two of them, to transport our people from Madagascar to the Cape of Good Hope, for which place it was my instructions to procure a vessel, had I reached Mosambique. In case we should not succeed in the first project, we had determined to make for the Cape, and most probably some ship would have picked us up, before we reached it. Many people, I am aware, will condemn this as a mad and rash undertaking, but when the motive, and also the alternative, is viewed, perhaps we may stand excused. Having, through the Governor, procured every thing requisite for our voyage, we sailed the 12th of October, but ill luck still hung over us; we had been only three days at sea, in which time we had constantly foul winds, and not proceeded more than forty miles, when the boat proved so extremely leaky, that with our utmost exertions, we could scarcely keep her above water. I will not attempt to describe the various and frequent escapes from imminent danger we experienced till we regained Sofala, which was not till the 20th of October, though so little distant from it. Our reception now was widely different to that on our first

arrival; indeed we were perfectly astonished at it, as no cause appeared for such behaviour......the Governor scarcely deigning to speak to us, sent for me and Mr. Wilton, the fourth officer, and without ever enquiring into the reason of our putting back, or with what difficulties we had met, gave us to understand, that he was preparing to dispatch some letters for Killeman, and that we must immediately prepare to accompany the person who carried them. It was in vain that we represented our debilitated and sickly state, from the various and unremitting fatigue we had lately undergone.......it was in vain we urged the necessity of rest to repair our broken constitutions...he continued inexorable. We next applied to him for some kind of conveyance; he offered to us a sort of palanquin, but positively refused any assistance to Mr. de Souza, or the seamen. This was rejected with indignation by us, and having provided ourselves with some cloth to purchase subsistence on our journey, we left Sofala on the first of November. I was totally at a loss to account for a conduct so repugnant to the principles of humanity, and as it is directly opposite to the treatment we experienced at other Portuguese settlements, nothing would have determined me to mention it, but a due regard to truth, and impartiality, which I hope will be found to characterise this narrative. This knowledge I afterwards acquired of his character, removed my surprize excited at his inhospitable behaviour, as it appears that such acts are congenial to his nature. By the 20th of November, we had travelled upwards of 200 miles, through a miserable tract of country, very thinly inhabited, (probably the consequence of the Slave Trade at Mosambique) sometimes for forty miles, not a hut or creature to be seen; the precautions we took of surrounding ourselves with fire at night, prevented any accident from the numerous species of wild beasts, with which the country abounds. But now the excessive heat of the climate, added to the fatigue we experienced in being obliged to travel during the heat of the day, wholly overpowered us, and for a fortnight we remained in a most deploreable state, when the Governor of Senna hearing we were on the way, dispatched palanquins for us, and on the sixth of December we arrived there. Here every care and attention was paid to us, and we received what medical assistance the place afforded; but, notwithstanding, two of the seamen, and Mr. Wilton, fourth Mate, a most worthy, active, and able young officer, died during our stay. On the first notice of a vessel being ready to sail, the remainder of our party left Senna, and in a few days arrived at Killeman, where we embarked on board a sloop, and the 12th of February, 1793, M. de Souza and myself reached Mosambique, five months after leaving Madagascar......On our arrival there, we immediately waited upon the Governor, and detailed to him the loss of the Winterton, as well as every circumstance that had occurred since our departure from the island of Madagascar. I informed him likewise, that I had been deputed by my unfortunate shipmates and friends, to solicit the aid of the Mosambique Government; I requested him therefore, as much in an official, as in an individual capacity, to send a vessel for the relief of those in whose behalf I intreated his assistance. He answered, that he felt every inclination to relieve my companions, but was prcvented from acting up to his intentions, as there was no ship belonging to her Majesty, the Queen of Portugal, in the harbour. In this situation of affairs, I judged myself, empowered from the official employment I alled, in the name of the Honourable East India Company, to freight a

vessel to the island of Madagascar; and the liberal conduct, and active aid of the Governor, enabled me soon to equip the ship for her intended voyage. I may here observe, that as a French ship was about to sail for the Mauritius, on board of which Mr. de Souza intended to take his passage, I embraced the opportunity of entrusting to his care official letters to your Honourable Court, as well as to the different presidencies in India, stating the melancholy loss of the Winterton, and the exertions that had hitherto been made, to alleviate the sufferings of the survivors, and to lessen the burthens of those pungent sorrows in which I had left them involved. The first of March I sailed from Mosambique; and, after a tedious passage of 23 days, anchored in St. Augustine's bay. I repaired immediately to Tulliar, to apprise my unfortunate companions, that a vessel was afrived, and ready for their reception. I must again be permitted to observe that my abilities are unequal (and perhaps the power of human language is inadequate) to paint the miserable state in which I found them. Oppressed with mental affliction, their calamities were increased, by the appearance of a contagious fever; being destitute of medicines to alleviate its effects, and deprived of the necessaries of life, the number of the people, including passengers, was diminished to 130, though near double that number was saved from the wreck ; under circumstances so peculiarly severe, it was ten days before their embarkation was completed, although I used all my exertions to expe dite so desirable an event. With this unhappy remnant of my friends, I sailed from Madagascar the third of April, and on the 11th returned to Mosambique, losing seven people by the way. I should be wanting in gratitude, as well as deficient in regard to truth, to which I have hitherto adhered with all possible exactness, did I not take this oppor tunity of representing to your Honourable Court, the flattering reception we met with, from the Governor and inhabitants of Mosambique, who surveyed our forlorn condition, with sentiments that do honour to his humanity, prepared an hospital for our sick, and vied with each other in every soothing attention to the ladies: though the sick received every medical assistance possible to be procured, yet the unsalubrious climate of Mosambique retarded the establishment of their health; and during a stay of two months there, about thirty more of my companions died, whilst I had the mortification to observe, that the sickness of the survi vors continued. As no ship belonging to the Government of Portugal had arrived in the harbour, the Governor was as inadequate to procure us a vessel, as he was when my requisition regarding this interesting subject was formerly made; I therefore, in conjunction with Mr. Dun, Purser of the Winterton, and Lieut. Brownrigg, of his Majesty's 75th regiment, was reduced to the alternative of again freighting a private vessel in the name of the Honourable East India Company, in order to transport us to Madras. On the 10th of June we took our final leave of Mosambique; and on the 13th anchored at Joanna, with an intention of procuring provisions, and furnishing ourselves with other conveniencies; having accomplished our ends, we left the island the 19th, after experiencing from its generous inhabitants every aid in their power, and every attention which humanity could dictate. It was at this period when we concluded every difficulty surmounted, a fond but delusive hope began to dawn upon our minds, and we anticipated a safe and ex peditious passage to Madras, when, on the seventh of July, in the lat. five deg. 40 minutes North, and lon. 63 east, we were captured by

PLEASURE ARISING FROM BOOKS.

263 the le Mutin, a French privateer from the isle of France. We were entirely ignorant of the commencement of hostilities between Great-Britain and France, by which our vexatious disappointment encreased. Having taken Lieut. Brownrigg, myself, with 22 seamen and soldiers, on board the privateer, they put an officer, with some of their own people into our vessel, with orders to conduct her to the Mauritius. The privateer afterwards proceeded on her cruize, and on the 15th of July entered the road of Tutecorin, where she engaged a Dutch Indiaman (the Ceylon, Captain Muntz), and after an action of about 15 minutes, was captured. Being thus again at liberty, I repaired to Pallamcotah, whither, in a short time, an order came to prepare a boat for our conveyance to Madras, where I arrived August 20th, 1793, twelve months after our unfortunate shipwreck.'

T the head of all the pleasures which offer themselves to the man of

A education, may confidently be placed that derived from book

no other can stand in competition with it. Imagine that we had it in our power to call up the shades of the greatest and wisest men that ever existed, to converse with us on the most interesting topics......what a privilege should we think it! how superior to all common enjoyments! ......but in a well-furnished library we, in fact, possess this. We can question Xenophon and Cæsar on their campaigns, make Demosthenes and Cicero plead before us, join in the audiences of Socrates and Plato, and receive demonstrations from Euclid and Newton. In books we have the choicest thoughts of the ablest men in their best dress. We can at pleasure exclude dulness, and open our doors to good sense alone. It is needless to repeat the high commendations that have been bestowed on the study of letters by persons who had free access to every other source of gratification. Instead of quoting Circero to you, I shall in plain terms give you the result of my own experience on this subject. Without books I have never been able to pass a single day to my entire satisfaction; with them no day has been so dark as not to have its plea

sure.

Even pain and sickness have for a time been charmed away by them. Sweet pliability of man's spirit,' cried Sterne, on relating an occurrence of this kind in his Sentimental Journey, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments!'

Such occurrences have afforded me full proof both of the possibility of being cheaply pleased, and of the consequence it is of to the sum of human felicity, not to neglect minute attentions to make the most of life as it passes,