17
then arrived at a port where I embarked. We set sail, and having touched at several qorts of Terra Firma. and some of the eastern islands, we pat out to sea, and was seized by such a sudden gust of wind, as obliged the captain to furl his sails, and to make all other necessary precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But all was in vain, our endeavours took no effect, the sails were tore in a thousand pieces, and the ship was stranded, so that a great many of the merchants and seamen were drowned, and the cargo lost.
I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to get on a plank, and we were carried by the current to an island which lay before us. We walked from the shore, and advancing into the island, saw some houses to which we went; and as soon as we came thither, we were encompassed by a great number of blacks, who seized us, shared us among them, and carried us to their respective habitations
I and my five comrades were carried to one place; they made us sit down immediately, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs for us to eat. My comrades not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it themselves, consulting only the satisfying of their own hunger, fell to eating it with greediness. But I suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste it which happened well for me, for in a little time after, I perceived my companions had lost their senses, and (illegible text) when they spoke to me they knew not what they said.
The blacks fed us afterwards with rice prepared with oil of cocoas and my comrades who had lost their reason, eat of it greedily. I eat of it also, but very sparingly. The blacks gave us that herb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might not be aware of the sad destiny prepar-
