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gether for a ſhort time, and then went towards the ſhore. Captain Wilſon immediately waded into the water to meet them, and embracing them in the moſt friendly manner, led them to the ſhore, and preſented them to his officers and unfortunate companions. They were eight in number, two of whom were afterwards known to be brothers to the Rupack, or king, of the neighbouring iſlands, and one was a Malay, who had been ſhipwrecked in a veſſel belonging to a Chineſe, and had been kindly treated by the king, who he ſaid was a good man, and the people alſo were courteous.
This was very reviving news to the poor ſufferers, and the truth of it was confirmed by the ſubſequent behaviour of the natives, who diſplayed the utmoſt hoſpitality and good will towards them, and they grew every day more familiar with each other. Captain Wilſon, willing to maintain this good underſtanding, made a propoſition to his officers, which (as the author of the narrative obſerves) for boldneſs and wiſdom could only be equalled by the unanimity and cheerfulneſs diſplayed by the crew in according with it.
Every one who knows any thing of ſeamen, knows (continued the gentleman) that Grog is the ſolace and joy of their lives; that it ſoftens all their hardſhips, and cauſes even the horrors of war to paſs by them un-
