have another furgeon under me, befides our two mates; that my falary fhould be double to the ufual pay; and that having experienced my knowledge in fea-affairs to be at leaft equal to his, he would enter into any engagement to follow my advice, as much as if I had fhared in the command.

He said so many other obliging things, and I knew him to be fo honeft a man, that I could not reject his propofal; the thirst I had of feeing the world, notwithstanding my past misfortunes, continuing as violent as ever. The only difficulty that remained, was to perfuade my wife, whofe confent however I at laft obtained by the profpect of advantage she propofed to her children.

We set out the 5th day of August, 1706, and arrived at Fort St. George the 11th of April, 1707. We stayed there three weeks to refresh our crew, many of whom were fick. From thence we went to Tonquin, where the captain refolved to continue fome time, becaufe many of the goods he intended to buy were not ready, nor could he expect to be difpatched in feveral months. Therefore, in hopes to defray fome of the charges he must be at, he bought a floop, loaded it with feveral forts of goods, wherewith the Tonquinefe ufually trade to the neighbouring islands, and putting fourteen men on board, whereof three were of the country, he appointed ine master of the floop, and gave me power to traffic, while he tranfacted his affairs at Tonquin.

We

7

We had not failed above three days, when, a great ftorm arifing, we were driven five days to the north-north-eaft, and then to the east; after which we had fair weather, but ftill with a pretty strong gale from the west. Upon the tenth day we were chaced by two pyrates, who foon overtook us; for my floop was fo deep laden, that the failed very flow, neither were we in a condition to defend ourfelves.

We were boarded about the fame time by both the pyrates, who entered furiously at the head of their men; but finding us all proftrate upon our faces (for fo I gave order) they pinioned us with strong ropes, and, fetting a guard upon us, went to search the floop.

I obferved among them a Dutchman, who feemed to be of fome authority, though he was not commander of either ship. He knew us by our countenances to be Englishmen, and jabbering to us in his own language, fwore we should be tied back to back, and thrown into the fea. I fpoke Dutch tolerably well; I told him who we were, and begged him in confideration of our being christians and proteftants, of neighbouring countries in strict alliance, that he would move the captains to take fome pity on us. This inflamed his rage, he repeated his threatenings, and turning to his companions, fpoke with great vehemence in the Japanese language, as I fuppofe, often ufing the word chriftianos.

The

The largest of the two pyrate fhips was commanded by a Japanese captain, who spoke a little Dutch, but very imperfectly. He came up to me, and after feveral questions, which I answered in great humility, he said we should not die. I made the captain a very low bow, and then turning to the Dutchman faid, I was forry to find more mercy in an heathen, than in a brother chriftian. But I had foon reason to repent those foolish words: for that malicious reprobate, having often endeavoured in vain to persuade both the captains that I might be thrown into the fea (which they would not yield to after the promise made me that I should not die) however prevailed fo far as to have a punishment inflicted on me, worse, in all human appearance, than death itself. My men .were fent by an equal divifion into both the pyrate fhips, and my floop new manned. As to myself, it was determined that I fhould be fet a-drift in a small canoe, with paddles and a fail, and four days provifions, which last the Japanese captain was fo kind to double out of his own ftores, and-would permit no man to fearch me. I got down into the canoe, while the Dutchman standing upon the deck loaded me with all the curfes and injurious terms his language could afford.

About an hour before we faw the pyrates I had taken an obfervation, and found we were in the latitude of 46 N. and of longitude 183. When I was at fome diftance from the pyrates, I discovered by my pocket-glass several islands

to

to the fouth-eaft. I fet up my fail, the wind being fair, with a defign to reach the nearest of those islands, which I made a fhift to do in about three hours. It was all rocky, however I got many birds eggs, and striking fire I kindled fome heath and dry fea-weed, by which I roasted my eggs. I eat no other sup❤ per, being refolved to fpare my provifions as much as I could. I paffed the night under the shelter of a rock, ftrewing fome heath under me, and flept pretty well.

The next day I failed to another island, and thence to a third and fourth, fometimes ufing my fail, and sometimes my paddles. But, not to trouble the reader with a particular account my diftreffes, let it fuffice, that on the fifth day I arrived at the laft ifland in my fight, which lay fouth-fouth-east to the former.

of

This island was at a greater diftance than I expected, and I did not reach it in less than five hours. I encompaffed it almost round, before I could find a convenient place to land in, which was a fmall creek about three times the wideness of my canoe. I found the island to be all rocky, only a little intermingled with tufts of grafs, and fweet-fmelling herbs. I took out my small provisions, and after having refreshed myself, I fecured the remainder in a cave, whereof there were great num→ bers, I gathered plenty of eggs upon the rocks, and got a quantity of dry fea-weed, and parched grafs, which I defigned to kindle the next day, and roaft my eggs as well

as

as I could (for I had about me my flint, fteel, match, and burning-glafs). I lay all night in the cave where I had lodged my provifions. My bed was the fame dry grafs and sea-weed which I intended for fewel. I slept very little, for the difquiets of my mind prevailed over my wearinefs, and kept me awake. I confidered how impoffible it was to preserve my life in fo defolate a place, and how miferable my end must be. Yet found myself so liftlefs and defponding, that I had not the heart to rife; and before I could get spirits enough to creep out of my cave, the day was far advanced. I walked a while among the rocks, the sky was perfectly clear, and the fun fo hot, that I was forced to turn my face from it when all on a fudden it became obfcure, as I thought, in a manner very different from what happens by the interpofition of a cloud. I turned back, and perceived a vaft opake body between me and the fun, moving forwards towards the island: it seemed to be about two miles high, and hid the fun fix or seven minutes, but I did not obferve the air to be much colder, or the sky more darkened, than if I had stood under the fhade of a mountain. As it approached nearer over the place where I was, it appeared to be a firm fubftance, the bottom flat, fmooth, and fhining very bright from the reflexion of the fea below. I ftood upon a heighth about two hundred yards from the fhore, and faw this vaft body defcending almoft to a parallel with me at less than an English