Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/51

dead a-head; a hope-blasting wind. I continued nearly all last night on deck during a strong gale, it being better to see the worst than to imagine it. This is the sad seventy-eighth day, from the port of London. At three o'clock, p. m. saw, distant from us 10 miles, a large India-man; hailed her with a signal of distress. At four, the captain boarded her, the good ship Hamilton of Boston, from Canton 92 days, returning from a trading voyage round the world, manned and commanded by Captain Martyn and a fine, efficient crew of 30 men, and armed with 20 guns, musquetry, swords, and pistols, and a large magazine. Our captain now returned from the Hamilton, with his boat laden with bread, pork, and hams, tea, coffee, sugar, and rum. What a providential supply! What joy shone in the faces of all on board, who till now were greatly suffering, and constantly meditating on what should be their conduct in case of extremities. Captain {17} Martyn being told that a passenger, meaning myself, was very anxious to quit the Ruthy for his noble ship, instantly ran on deck, and through the mouth of a loud sounding brazen trumpet, said, "Sir, come on board, you are welcome; I shall charge you nothing, although yet 3,000 miles, in a direct course, to sail." Seeing I hesitated a little, he sent off his boat and first officers for me, and through them pressingly renewed his invitation. I now took my leave of the Ruthy, and returning with them, found my new captain a generous, gentlemanly man, having a noble vessel stored with pigs, poultry, turtles, and goats (for milk), all alive and fat, from Canton city. There was besides on board, a profusion of China sweet-*meats, Jamaica rum, old oily brandy and wine, and new bread, on table daily; and, at night, a Chinese bed of down to receive me, all from Asia, the Sandwich isles, and