The ship foon separated, just before the mainmaft. The wind at the same time providentially fhifted, and blew off the fea, a circumftance that contributed much to the prefervation of thofe on board, who all got on the poop as being nearest to the fhore. The wind and furges impelling this part forward, it foon floated in thoal water; and by this fortunate incident most of them got safe on fhore.

Before this arduous bufinefs was well effected, night began to set in, and the natives having retired, feveral fires were lighted, and they fupped on what provisions they picked up on the fhore. Two tents were formed of the fails, and in them the ladies were left to repofe, while the men wandered about collecting fuch articles as they deemed ferviceable.

On the morning of the 5th the natives returned, and without ceremony carried off whatever fuited their fancy. This conduct excited a thousand uneafy fenfations; but as they ftill refrained from plundering the crew, their apprehenfions were fomewhat allayed.

Next day was employed in collecting together every article that might be useful in their journey to the Cape, to which they imprudently refolved to take their route; a refolution which involved them in complicated mifery, and which can be juftified on no wife principle. From the wreck they might eafily have built a veffel capable of containing them all; and by coafting along, they might have reached the nearest of the Dutch fettlements, with half the danger or risk to which they were now expofing themselves. But distress fometimes deprives men of all prefence of mind; and having just escaped the dangers of the

fea,

fea, they seem to have confidered land as the moft defirable alternative, without reflecting on the almost infuperable obftacles that lay in their way.

On examining their ftores, they found two casks of flour and a tub of pork had been washed on the beach, and some arrack, which was staved, left the natives should get at it, and by intoxication increase their natural ferocity.

Captain Coxon now called the furvivors together, and having divided the provifions among them, afked if they confented to his continuing the command, to which they unanimoufly agreed. He then proceeded to inform them, that he was in hopes of being able to reach fome Dutch fettlement in fifteen or fixteen days, and in this calculation he probably was not much mistaken, had not rivers intervened, which retarded their progrefs *.

Every thing being arranged, they fet out on their journey, leaving only an old Eaft-India foldier, who being lame, preferred trufting himself to the natives, till a more favourable opportunity fhould prefent itself of his getting away.

As they moved forward, they were followed by fome of the natives, while others ftayed at the wreck. Thofe who accompattied them, plundered them from time to time of what they liked, and fometimes threw ftones at them.

After advancing a few miles, they were met by a party of thirty of the natives, whofe hair was done up in a conical form, and their faces painted red. Among them was a man who spoke Dutch,

From fubfequent obfervations, it is con ectured that the Grofvenor must have been wrecked between the 27th and 28th degree of fouth latitude, and the Dutch colonies extend beyond the 314 degree.

and it afterwards appeared that his name was Trout, and that he was a runaway flave from the Cape, on account of fome crimes. When this perfon came up to the English, he enquired who they were, and whither they were going; and finding their country, and that they had been caft away, he informed them that their intended journey to the Cape would be attended with unspeakable difficulties from the natives, the wild beasts, and the nature of the country through which they were to pass.

Though this did not contribute to raise their fpirits, they tried to engage him as a guide; but no argument's could prevail on him to accept this office; nor would the natives, he said, suffer him, however ftrong his inclination might be.

Thus difappointed in the fervice of a man, who, had he been faithful, might have been of the most effential ufe, they pursued their journey for four or five days, during which the natives conftantly furrounded them in the day, taking from them whatever they pleafed, but invariably retired in the night.

As they proceeded, they faw many villages, which they carefully avoided, that they might be lefs exposed to the infults of the natives. At laft they came to a deep gully, where three of the Caffres met them, armed with lances, which they held feveral times to the captain's throat. This irritating him beyond all patience, instead of foothing them by prefents or addrefs, he wrenched a spear out of one of their hands, and broke it in two. Of this the natives feemed to take no notice, and went away; but next day, on coming to a large village they found these three men with three or four hundred of their country

men,

men, all armed with lances and targets, who stopped the English, and began to pilfer and infult them, and at last fell upon them and beat them.

Fear fuggefting that it was the intention of the natives to kill them, they formed the refolution of defending themselves to the laft extremity, and having placed the women, the children, and invalids at fome diftance, the remainder, to the number of eighty or ninety, engaged their opponents in a kind of running fight for upwards of two hours, when our countrymen gaining a rifing ground, where they could not be furrounded, a kind of parley took place.

During this unfortunate encounter, the probable caufe of their future deftruction, many were wounded on both fides, but none killed. A pacification taking place, the English cut the buttons from their coats and prefented them to the natives, on which they went away, and returned no

more.

The following night they were terrified with the noife of the wild beafts, and kept watch for fear of them and the natives both. How dreadful a fituation, especially for those who had been lately used to all the delicacies of the east!

When morning arrived, they were again joined by Trout, who had been on board the wreck, and had loaded himself with various articles of iron and copper, which he was now carrying to his kraal. He cautioned them against making any refiftance in future; for as they were not furnished with any weapons of defence, oppofition would only irritate and increase obstructions. With this advice he left them.

Having made fome progrefs during the day, they agreed to pafs the night near a deep gulley,

and it afterwards appeared that his name was Trout, and that he was a runaway flave from the Cape, on account of fome crimes. When this perfon came up to the English, he enquired who they were, and whither they were going; and finding their country, and that they had been caft away, he informed them that their intended journey to the Cape would be attended with unspeakable difficulties from the natives, the wild beasts, and the nature of the country through which they were to pass.

Though this did not contribute to raise their fpirits, they tried to engage him as a guide; but no argument's could prevail on him to accept this office; nor would the natives, he said, suffer him, however ftrong his inclination might be.

Thus difappointed in the service of a man, who, had he been faithful, might have been of the most effential use, they purfued their journey for four or five days, during which the natives conftantly furrounded them in the day, taking from them whatever they pleased, but invariably retired in the night.

As they proceeded, they faw many villages, which they carefully avoided, that they might be lefs exposed to the infults of the natives. At laft they came to a deep gully, where three of the Caffres met them, armed with lances, which they held feveral times to the captain's throat. This irritating him beyond all patience, instead of foothing them by prefents or addrefs, he wrenched a fpear out of one of their hands, and broke it in two. Of this the natives seemed to take no notice, and went away; but next day, on coming to a large village they found thefe three men with three or four hundred of their country

men,