to be feen; and in fix days reached the Schwart River, as they afterwards learned, on the banks of which they took up their abode for the night.

At laft the country began to affume a fortile and cultivated afpect, and fome huts appeared at a diftance from the fhore. While they were contemplating with pleasure this change of profpects, the grafs, in their vicinity, took fire, and fpread with great rapidity.

They were all alert in trying to extinguish it, left this involuntary mifchief fhould provoke the refentment of the natives, or the blaze call them to the spot.

Next morning they swam over the river in fafety, and foon discovered a dead whale lying on the beach. Thus fupplied with plenty of food, they purposed refting here for a few days, could they have found fresh water; but that necessary article being wanting, they cut up as much of the whale as they could carry, and proceeded on their route. In a fhort time, however, they came to a thicket where they met with water; and here they halted and repofed.

Next morning four of the party went back to the whale for a larger fupply; De Laffo and the boy Price being left in charge of the fire. As Price was fearching for fuel, he perceived two men with guns, and being intimidated at the fight, retired haftily to the fire, while the agreeable intruders pursued him. These men belonged to a Dutch fettlement in the neighbourhood, and were in search of fome ftrayed cattle. One of them, named John Battores, fuppofed to be a Fortuguese, was able to converfe with the Italian, De Laffo, fo as to be understood; a circumftance as fortunate as it was little to be expected. VOL. X. Battores,

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Battores, having learned the outline of their melancholy story, attended them to the whale, where their companions were employed in cutting away the fleth. Affected at the fight of these miferable objects, he defired them to throw away what they had been collecting, and promifed them better fare when he reached the habitation to which he belonged.

In vain fhall we attempt to describe the sensations of the fhipwrecked wanderers, on receiving this intelligence, and that they were now within four hundred miles of the Cape. The extravagant effects of their joy, according as they operated on different fyftems, are scarcely to be conceived: every faculty feemed in a state of convulfive agitation. One man laughed, another cried, and a third danced with transport.

On reaching the houfe of Mynheer Chriftopher Rooftoff, to whom Battores was bailiff, they were treated with the kindeft attention. The mafter, on being made acquainted with their diftreffes, ordered fome bread and milk to be fet before them; but, acting rather on principles of humanity than prudence, he furnished them fuch a quantity, that their weak ftomachs being overloaded, they had almost killed themselves. After their meal, facks were fpread on the ground for them to repofe on.

It had been fo long fince they had known any thing of the calculation of time, that they were unacquainted even with the name of the month; but the kalendar of mifery was now complete and they were given to understand, that the day of their deliverance was the 29th of November fo that one hundred and feventeen days had rolled away their melancholy hours fince they were

fhipwrecked; a period of fuffering almoft unparalleled, and during which they had often been miraculously preferved.

Next morning, Mynheer Rooftoff killed a fheep for the entertainment of his guests; and another Dutchman, of the name of Quin, whọ lived at the distance of a few miles, arrived with a cart and fix horfes, to convey the party towards the Cape. The boy, Price, being lame, from the hardships he had undergone, was detained at Rooftoff's houfe, who kindly undertook his cure, and promised to fend him after the reft, when he was recovered.

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The remainder, getting into the cart, reached Quin's houfe, who hofpitably entertained them for fome days. They were afterwards forwarded from one fettlement to another, in carts, till they arrived at Swellendam, about a hundred miles from the Cape. Wherever they paffed, they experienced the humanity of the farmers, and had their wants relieved with no fparing hand.

At Swellendam they were detained till orders fhould be received from the governor at the Cape, in regard to their future deftiny, Holland and Great Britain being at that time at war. At length two of the party were ordered to be forwarded to the Cape, in order to be examined; while the reft were to remain at Swellendam. Accordingly Wormington and Leary proceeded to the Cape, where, having been ftrictly interrogated, they were put on board a Dutch man of war, lying in the bay, with orders to be fet to work. While in this fituation, Wormington having discovered fome fraudulent practices carrying on by the boatfwain, imprudently threatened to give information to his fuperiors, on which Leary and P 2 Worm

Wormington being defired to step into a boat, were inftantly conveyed on board à Danish Eaft Indiaman, juft ready to fail; and, by this fortunate incident, firft reached their native land.

But to return to the fate of the reft. Though the flames of war were raging between the two nations, the Dutch government at the Cape, on being informed of the particulars of the lofs of the Grosvenor, fet a brilliant example of humanity, and fent out a large party in queft of the unhappy wanderers.

This detachment confifted of one hundred Europeans and three hundred Hottentots, attended by a great number of waggons, each drawn by eight bullocks. The command was given to Captain Muller, who had orders to proceed, if poffible, to the wreck, and load with fuch articles as might be faved.

De Laffo and Evans were engaged as guides; but Hynes, being ftill very weak, was left at Swellendam. This party was well provided with fuch articles as were moft likely to enfure their favourable reception among the natives, and procure the liberty of the unfortunate persons whom they might pick up in their way. They proceeded with fpirit and alacrity, till the Caffres, in confequence of the diffentions between them and the colonifts, interrupted the expedition. In their progrefs, they found Thomas Lewis, who had been abandoned by his companions, as formerly mentioned, William Hatterly and another. Hatterly was fervant to the fecond mate, and had kept company with that party till he alone furvived. Thus the fate of one divifion was afcertained.

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At other places on the road, they met with feven Lafcars, and two black women, one of whom was fervant to Mrs. Logie, the other to Mrs. Hofea. From these women they learned, that foon after the party to which Hynes attached himself, parted from the captain and the ladies, they also took separate routes, the latter intending to join the Lafcars: but the fate of either, after this feparation, was unknown, and ever will be fo. They indeed faw the captain's coat on one of the natives; but whether he died or was killed, can never be discovered.

After the enmity of the natives impeded the progrefs of the waggons, fome of the party travelled fifteen days on horfeback, in profecution of their plan; but the Caffres continuing to harafs them, they were obliged to return, after being abfent about four months.

Captain Muller reached Swellendam with the three Englishmen, the feven Lafcars, and two black women, the boy Price, and the two guides, De Laffo and Evans. The people of colour were detained at Swellendam; but the Englith were forwarded to the Cape, where, after being examined, they were permitted to take their paffage to Europe on board a Danifh fhip, the captain of which promised to land them in England; but, except Price, who was fet on thore at Weymouth, they were all carried to Copenhagen; from whence, at last, they found their way to England.

Such was the termination of the adventures of thefe unfortunate fhipwrecks; but enquiries as to the fate of the captain and his party, did not reft here. Though it is probable, that before the firft Dutch expedition could have reached them,