CHAPTER 9

I thus took a final leave of Georgia; for the treatment I had received in it disgusted me very much against the place; and when I left it and sailed for Martinico I determined never more to revisit it. My new captain conducted his vessel safer than my former one; and, after an agreeable voyage, we got safe to our intended port. While I was on this island I went about a good deal, and found it very pleasant: in particular I admired the town of St. Pierre, which is the principal one in the island, and built more like an European town than any I had seen in the West Indies. In general also, slaves were better treated, had more holidays, and looked better than those in the English islands. After we had done our business here, I wanted my discharge, which was necessary; for it was then the month of May, and I wished much to be at Montserrat to bid farewell to Mr. King, and all my other friends there, in time to sail for Old England in the July fleet. But, alas! I had put a great stumbling block in my own way, by which I was near losing my passage that season to England. I had lent my captain some money, which I now wanted to enable me to prosecute my intentions. This I told him; but when I applied for it, though I urged the necessity of my occasion, I met with so much shuffling from him, that I began at last to be afraid of losing my money, as I could not recover it by law: for I have already mentioned, that throughout the West Indies no black man's testimony is admitted, on any occasion, against any white person whatever, and therefore my own oath would have been of no use. I was obliged, therefore, to remain with him till he might be disposed to return it to me. Thus we sailed from Martinico for the Grenades. I frequently pressing the captain for my money to no purpose; and, to render my condition worse, when we got there, the captain and his owners quarrelled; so that my situation became daily more irksome: for besides that we on board had little or no victuals allowed us, and I could not get my money nor wages, I could then have gotten my passage free to Montserrat had I been able to accept it. The worst of all was, that it was growing late in July, and the ships in the islands must sail by the 26th of that month. At last, however, with a great many entreaties, I got my money from the captain, and took the first vessel I could meet with for St. Eustatia. From thence I went in another to Basseterre in St. Kitts, where I arrived on the 19th of July. On the 22d, having met with a vessel bound to Montserrat, I wanted to go in her; but the captain and others would not take me on board until I should advertise myself, and give notice of my going off the island. I told them of my haste to be in Montserrat, and that the time then would not admit of advertising, it being late in the evening, and the captain about to sail; but he insisted it was necessary, and otherwise he said he would not take me. This reduced me to great perplexity; for if I should be compelled to submit to this degrading necessity, which every black freeman is under, of advertising himself like a slave, when he leaves an island, and which I thought a gross imposition upon any freeman, I feared I should miss that opportunity of going to Montserrat, and then I could not get to England that year. The vessel was just going off, and no time could be lost; I immediately therefore set about, with a heavy heart, to try who I could get to befriend me in complying with the demands of the captain. Luckily I found, in a few minutes, some gentlemen of Montserrat whom I knew; and, having told them my situation, I requested their friendly assistance in helping me off the island. Some of them, on this, went with me to the captain, and satisfied him of my freedom; and, to my very great joy, he desired me to go on board. We then set sail, and the next day, the 23d, I arrived at the wished-for place, after an absence of six months, in which I had more than once experienced the delivering hand of Providence, when all human means of escaping destruction seemed hopeless. I saw my friends with a gladness of heart which was increased by my absence and the dangers I had escaped, and I was received with great friendship by them all, but particularly by Mr. King, to whom I related the fate of his sloop, the Nancy, and the causes of her being wrecked. I now learned with extreme sorrow, that his house was washed away during my absence, by the bursting of a pond at the top of a mountain that was opposite the town of Plymouth. It swept great part of the town away, and Mr. King lost a great deal of property from the inundation, and nearly his life. When I told him I intended to go to London that season, and that I had come to visit him before my departure, the good man expressed a great deal of affection for me, and sorrow that I should leave him, and warmly advised me to stay there; insisting, as I was much respected by all the gentlemen in the place, that I might do very well, and in a short time have land and slaves of my own. I thanked him for this instance of his friendship; but, as I wished very much to be in London, I declined remaining any longer there, and begged he would excuse me. I then requested he would be kind enough to give me a certificate of my behaviour while in his service, which he very readily complied with, and gave me the following:

I left Georgia for the last time. The treatment I had received there had filled me with disgust for the place. When I sailed for Martinico, I decided never to return to Georgia. My new captain handled his vessel more safely than my former captain had. After a pleasant voyage, we arrived safely at our intended port. While on the island, I explored a good deal and found it very pleasant. I especially admired St. Pierre, the island’s main town. It was built more like a European town than any I had seen in the West Indies. In general, enslaved people were also treated better, had more holidays, and looked healthier than those in the English islands. After we finished our business here, I wanted to be discharged from the vessel. My discharge was necessary because it was already May. I was eager to reach Montserrat and say goodbye to Mr. King and all my other friends there. I wanted to arrive in time to sail for Old England with the July fleet. But, alas, I had put a great obstacle in my own way. It nearly cost me my passage to England that season. I had lent my captain some money, and I now needed it to carry out my plans. I explained my need to him and asked him to repay me. But despite my urgent appeals, he avoided paying me so often that I began to fear losing my money. I could not recover the money through the law. As I have already mentioned, throughout the West Indies, no black person could testify against any white person on any occasion. So my own sworn testimony would have been useless. I therefore had to remain with the captain until he chose to repay me. So we sailed from Martinico for the Grenades. I repeatedly pressed the captain for my money, but without success. To make matters worse, when we arrived, the captain quarrelled with the vessel’s owners. My situation grew more distressing every day. Those of us aboard were given little or no food, and I could get neither my money nor my wages. Besides, I could have obtained a free passage to Montserrat then, if I had been able to accept it. Worst of all, it was getting late in July. The ships in the islands had to sail by the 26th of that month. At last, however, after many appeals, I got my money from the captain. I took the first vessel I could find for St. Eustatia. From there, I took another vessel to Basseterre in St. Kitts, where I arrived on July 19. On the 22nd, I found a vessel bound for Montserrat and wanted to sail on it. But the captain and others refused to let me aboard until I publicly advertised my departure from the island. I explained my urgent need to reach Montserrat and said there was no time to place an advertisement. It was late in the evening, and the captain was about to sail. But he insisted that the advertisement was necessary and said he would not take me without it. His refusal left me deeply troubled. Every free black man leaving an island had to submit to this degrading requirement of advertising himself like a slave. I considered the requirement a gross injustice to any free man. If I were forced to comply, I feared I would miss this chance to reach Montserrat. Then I would not be able to reach England that year. The vessel was just about to leave, and there was no time to lose. So, with a heavy heart, I immediately looked for someone who would help me meet the captain’s demands. Luckily, within a few minutes, I found some gentlemen from Montserrat whom I knew. I explained my situation and asked for their friendly help in leaving the island. Some of them went with me to the captain and convinced him that I was free. To my great joy, he told me to come aboard. We then set sail, and the next day, the 23rd, I reached Montserrat, where I had longed to be. I had been away for six months. During that time, I had more than once experienced the saving hand of Providence. On those occasions, all human means of escaping destruction had seemed hopeless. I saw my friends with a joyful heart. My absence and the dangers I had escaped made my joy still greater. All my friends welcomed me warmly, especially Mr. King. I told him the fate of his sloop, the Nancy, and explained what had caused the wreck. I now learned, to my great sorrow, that his house had been washed away during my absence. A pond had burst at the top of a mountain opposite the town of Plymouth. The flood swept away much of the town. Mr. King lost a great deal of property and nearly lost his life. I told him I intended to go to London that season and had come to visit him before leaving. The good man expressed great affection for me and sorrow at my departure. He strongly urged me to stay. He insisted that, since all the gentlemen there respected me greatly, I could do very well. Before long, he said, I could have land and slaves of my own. I thanked him for this sign of his friendship. But I very much wanted to be in London, so I declined to stay any longer and asked his forgiveness. I then asked him to give me a certificate describing my conduct while in his service. He readily agreed and gave me the following:

Having obtained this, I parted from my kind master, after many sincere professions of gratitude and regard, and prepared for my departure for London. I immediately agreed to go with one Capt. John Hamer, for seven guineas, the passage to London, on board a ship called the Andromache; and on the 24th and 25th I had free dances, as they are called, with some of my countrymen, previous to my setting off; after which I took leave of all my friends, and on the 26th I embarked for London, exceedingly glad to see myself once more on board of a ship; and still more so, in steering the course I had long wished for. With a light heart I bade Montserrat farewell, and never had my feet on it since; and with it I bade adieu to the sound of the cruel whip, and all other dreadful instruments of torture; adieu to the offensive sight of the violated chastity of the sable females, which has too often accosted my eyes; adieu to oppressions (although to me less severe than most of my countrymen); and adieu to the angry howling, dashing surfs. I wished for a grateful and thankful heart to praise the Lord God on high for all his mercies!

Having obtained this, I said goodbye to my kind master after many sincere expressions of gratitude and affection. Then I prepared to leave for London. I immediately arranged passage to London with Captain John Hamer for seven guineas, aboard a ship called the Andromache. On the 24th and 25th, before leaving, I held what are called free dances with some of my countrymen. Afterward, I said goodbye to all my friends, and on the 26th I boarded the ship for London. I was extremely glad to be aboard a ship once more. I was even happier to be heading in the direction I had so long wished to go. With a light heart, I said farewell to Montserrat, and I have never set foot there since. In leaving Montserrat, I also said goodbye to the sound of the cruel whip and all other dreadful instruments of torture. I said goodbye to the horrifying sight of Black women being sexually violated, something I had witnessed far too often. I said goodbye to oppression, although I had suffered less severely than most of my countrymen. And I said goodbye to the angry, howling, crashing surf. I wished for a grateful and thankful heart to praise the Lord God on high for all his mercies!

We had a most prosperous voyage, and, at the end of seven weeks, arrived at Cherry-Garden stairs. Thus were my longing eyes once more gratified with a sight of London, after having been absent from it above four years. I immediately received my wages, and I never had earned seven guineas so quick in my life before; I had thirty-seven guineas in all, when I got cleared of the ship. I now entered upon a scene, quite new to me, but full of hope. In this situation my first thoughts were to look out for some of my former friends, and amongst the first of those were the Miss Guerins. As soon, therefore, as I had regaled myself I went in quest of those kind ladies, whom I was very impatient to see; and with some difficulty and perseverance, I found them at May's-hill, Greenwich. They were most agreeably surprised to see me, and I quite overjoyed at meeting with them. I told them my history, at which they expressed great wonder, and freely acknowledged it did their cousin, Capt. Pascal, no honour. He then visited there frequently; and I met him four or five days after in Greenwich park. When he saw me he appeared a good deal surprised, and asked me how I came back? I answered, 'In a ship.' To which he replied dryly, 'I suppose you did not walk back to London on the water.' As I saw, by his manner, that he did not seem to be sorry for his behaviour to me, and that I had not much reason to expect any favour from him, I told him that he had used me very ill, after I had been such a faithful servant to him for so many years; on which, without saying any more, he turned about and went away. A few days after this I met Capt. Pascal at Miss Guerin's house, and asked him for my prize-money. He said there was none due to me; for, if my prize money had been 10,000 £. he had a right to it all. I told him I was informed otherwise; on which he bade me defiance; and, in a bantering tone, desired me to commence a lawsuit against him for it: 'There are lawyers enough,' said he, 'that will take the cause in hand, and you had better try it.' I told him then that I would try it, which enraged him very much; however, out of regard to the ladies, I remained still, and never made any farther demand of my right. Some time afterwards these friendly ladies asked me what I meant to do with myself, and how they could assist me. I thanked them, and said, if they pleased, I would be their servant; but if not, as I had thirty-seven guineas, which would support me for some time, I would be much obliged to them to recommend me to some person who would teach me a business whereby I might earn my living. They answered me very politely, that they were sorry it did not suit them to take me as their servant, and asked me what business I should like to learn? I said, hair-dressing. They then promised to assist me in this; and soon after they recommended me to a gentleman whom I had known before, one Capt. O'Hara, who treated me with much kindness, and procured me a master, a hair-dresser, in Coventry-court, Haymarket, with whom he placed me. I was with this man from September till the February following. In that time we had a neighbour in the same court who taught the French horn. He used to blow it so well that I was charmed with it, and agreed with him to teach me to blow it. Accordingly he took me in hand, and began to instruct me, and I soon learned all the three parts. I took great delight in blowing on this instrument, the evenings being long; and besides that I was fond of it, I did not like to be idle, and it filled up my vacant hours innocently. At this time also I agreed with the Rev. Mr. Gregory, who lived in the same court, where he kept an academy and an evening-school, to improve me in arithmetic. This he did as far as barter and alligation; so that all the time I was there I was entirely employed. In February 1768 I hired myself to Dr. Charles Irving, in Pall-mall, so celebrated for his successful experiments in making sea water fresh; and here I had plenty of hair-dressing to improve my hand. This gentleman was an excellent master; he was exceedingly kind and good tempered; and allowed me in the evenings to attend my schools, which I esteemed a great blessing; therefore I thanked God and him for it, and used all my diligence to improve the opportunity. This diligence and attention recommended me to the notice and care of my three preceptors, who on their parts bestowed a great deal of pains in my instruction, and besides were all very kind to me. My wages, however, which were by two thirds less than I ever had in my life (for I had only 12l. per annum) I soon found would not be sufficient to defray this extraordinary expense of masters, and my own necessary expenses; my old thirty-seven guineas had by this time worn all away to one. I thought it best, therefore, to try the sea again in quest of more money, as I had been bred to it, and had hitherto found the profession of it successful. I had also a very great desire to see Turkey, and I now determined to gratify it. Accordingly, in the month of May, 1768, I told the doctor my wish to go to sea again, to which he made no opposition; and we parted on friendly terms. The same day I went into the city in quest of a master. I was extremely fortunate in my inquiry; for I soon heard of a gentleman who had a ship going to Italy and Turkey, and he wanted a man who could dress hair well. I was overjoyed at this, and went immediately on board of his ship, as I had been directed, which I found to be fitted up with great taste, and I already foreboded no small pleasure in sailing in her. Not finding the gentleman on board, I was directed to his lodgings, where I met with him the next day, and gave him a specimen of my dressing. He liked it so well that he hired me immediately, so that I was perfectly happy; for the ship, master, and voyage, were entirely to my mind. The ship was called the Delawar, and my master's name was John Jolly, a neat smart good humoured man, just such an one as I wished to serve. We sailed from England in July following, and our voyage was extremely pleasant. We went to Villa Franca, Nice, and Leghorn; and in all these places I was charmed with the richness and beauty of the countries, and struck with the elegant buildings with which they abound. We had always in them plenty of extraordinary good wines and rich fruits, which I was very fond of; and I had frequent occasions of gratifying both my taste and curiosity; for my captain always lodged on shore in those places, which afforded me opportunities to see the country around. I also learned navigation of the mate, which I was very fond of. When we left Italy we had delightful sailing among the Archipelago islands, and from thence to Smyrna in Turkey. This is a very ancient city; the houses are built of stone, and most of them have graves adjoining to them; so that they sometimes present the appearance of church-yards. Provisions are very plentiful in this city, and good wine less than a penny a pint. The grapes, pomegranates, and many other fruits, were also the richest and largest I ever tasted. The natives are well looking and strong made, and treated me always with great civility. In general I believe they are fond of black people; and several of them gave me pressing invitations to stay amongst them, although they keep the franks, or Christians, separate, and do not suffer them to dwell immediately amongst them. I was astonished in not seeing women in any of their shops, and very rarely any in the streets; and whenever I did they were covered with a veil from head to foot, so that I could not see their faces, except when any of them out of curiosity uncovered them to look at me, which they sometimes did. I was surprised to see how the Greeks are, in some measure, kept under by the Turks, as the negroes are in the West Indies by the white people. The less refined Greeks, as I have already hinted, dance here in the same manner as we do in my nation. On the whole, during our stay here, which was about five months, I liked the place and the Turks extremely well. I could not help observing one very remarkable circumstance there: the tails of the sheep are flat, and so very large, that I have known the tail even of a lamb to weigh from eleven to thirteen pounds. The fat of them is very white and rich, and is excellent in puddings, for which it is much used. Our ship being at length richly loaded with silk, and other articles, we sailed for England.

We had a very successful voyage and reached Cherry-Garden stairs after seven weeks. After more than four years away, my longing eyes once again enjoyed the sight of London. I received my wages immediately. Never before had I earned seven guineas so quickly. When I left the ship, I had thirty-seven guineas altogether. I was now entering a completely new stage of life, but one full of hope. My first thought was to look for some of my old friends, especially the Miss Guerins. So, as soon as I had refreshed myself, I went looking for those kind ladies. I was very eager to see them. With some difficulty and persistence, I found them at May's-hill, Greenwich. They were very pleasantly surprised to see me, and I was overjoyed to meet them again. I told them my story, which greatly astonished them. They readily admitted that their cousin, Capt. Pascal, had behaved dishonorably. He visited them often at that time, and four or five days later I met him in Greenwich park. He seemed very surprised to see me and asked how I had returned. I answered, 'In a ship.' He replied dryly, 'I suppose you did not walk back to London on the water.' His manner showed no regret for his treatment of me. I saw little reason to expect any kindness from him. So I told him he had treated me very badly after my many years of faithful service. Without another word, he turned and walked away. A few days later, I met Capt. Pascal at Miss Guerin's house and asked him for my prize money. He said I was owed nothing. Even if my prize money had amounted to £10,000, he claimed the right to all of it. I told him I had been informed otherwise. He challenged me to do anything about it and mockingly urged me to sue him. 'There are plenty of lawyers,' he said, 'who will take the case, and you had better try it.' I told him I would, which made him very angry. Out of respect for the ladies, however, I said no more and never again demanded what was rightfully mine. Some time later, these friendly ladies asked what I planned to do and how they could help me. I thanked them and said I would be their servant if they wished. If not, my thirty-seven guineas would support me for a while. I would be very grateful if they could recommend someone to teach me a trade to earn my living. They replied very politely that they were sorry they could not take me on as their servant. They asked what trade I wanted to learn. I said hairdressing. They promised to help me learn it. Soon afterward, they recommended me to a gentleman I already knew, Capt. O'Hara. He treated me very kindly and found me a master hairdresser in Coventry-court, Haymarket, with whom he placed me. I stayed with this man from September until the following February. During that time, a neighbor in the same court taught the French horn. He played so beautifully that I was charmed and arranged for him to teach me. He began giving me lessons, and I soon learned all three parts. The evenings were long, and I took great pleasure in playing the instrument. Besides enjoying it, I disliked being idle, and playing filled my spare hours harmlessly. At the same time, I arranged to study arithmetic with the Rev. Mr. Gregory. He lived in the same court, where he ran an academy and an evening school. He taught me as far as barter calculations and alligation, the calculation of mixtures. So throughout my time there, I was fully occupied. In February 1768, I went to work for Dr. Charles Irving in Pall-mall. He was famous for his successful experiments in making seawater fresh. Working for him gave me plenty of hairdressing practice to improve my skill. He was an excellent employer, extremely kind and good-tempered. He allowed me to attend my lessons in the evenings, which I considered a great blessing. I therefore thanked both God and him, and worked hard to make the most of the opportunity. My hard work and attention earned the interest and care of my three teachers. They, in turn, took great pains to teach me, and all were very kind. However, my wages were two-thirds lower than any I had earned before, at only £12 a year. I soon found they could not cover the added cost of my teachers and my own necessary expenses. By then, only one of my original thirty-seven guineas remained. So I thought it best to return to sea to earn more money. I had been trained for that work and had so far done well in it. I also very much wanted to see Turkey, and I now decided to fulfill that wish. Accordingly, in May 1768, I told the doctor I wanted to return to sea. He raised no objection, and we parted on friendly terms. That same day, I went into the city to look for an employer. I was extremely fortunate in my search. I soon heard of a gentleman whose ship was going to Italy and Turkey. He wanted a man who could dress hair well. I was overjoyed and immediately went aboard his ship, as directed. The ship was fitted out with great taste, and I already expected considerable pleasure from sailing in her. The gentleman was not aboard, so I was directed to his lodgings. I met him there the next day and gave him a demonstration of my hairdressing. He liked my work so much that he hired me immediately. I was perfectly happy, for the ship, the captain, and the voyage were all exactly to my liking. The ship was called the Delawar, and my employer's name was John Jolly. He was a neat, smart, good-humored man, just the sort I wished to serve. We sailed from England that July, and our voyage was extremely pleasant. We visited Villa Franca, Nice, and Leghorn. In all these places, I was charmed by the richness and beauty of the countryside. I was also struck by the many elegant buildings. We always had plenty of exceptionally good wines and rich fruits there, which I greatly enjoyed. I often had opportunities to satisfy both my appetite and my curiosity. My captain always stayed ashore in these places, giving me chances to explore the surrounding countryside. I also learned navigation from the mate, a subject I greatly enjoyed. After leaving Italy, we sailed delightfully among the Archipelago islands and then onward to Smyrna in Turkey. Smyrna is a very ancient city. Its houses are built of stone, and most have graves beside them, sometimes making them look like churchyards. Food is very plentiful in the city, and good wine costs less than a penny a pint. The grapes, pomegranates, and many other fruits were also the richest and largest I had ever tasted. The local people were good-looking and strongly built, and they always treated me very politely. In general, I believe they are fond of black people. Several urged me to stay among them. Yet they keep the franks, or Christians, separate and do not allow them to live directly among them. I was astonished to see no women in any of their shops and very few in the streets. Whenever I did see women, they were veiled from head to foot, so I could not see their faces. Sometimes, however, curiosity led some of them to uncover their faces to look at me. I was surprised to see the Greeks held down by the Turks to some extent. Their treatment resembled that of black people by white people in the West Indies. As I have already mentioned, the less refined Greeks here dance in the same way as people in my nation. Overall, I liked both the place and the Turks extremely well during our stay of about five months. I could not help noticing one very remarkable thing there. The sheep have flat tails so large that even a lamb's tail can weigh eleven to thirteen pounds. I have known them to reach those weights. The fat from these tails is very white and rich. It is excellent in puddings and widely used for that purpose. At last, with our ship richly loaded with silk and other goods, we sailed for England.

In May 1769, soon after our return from Turkey, our ship made a delightful voyage to Oporto in Portugal, where we arrived at the time of the carnival. On our arrival, there were sent on board to us thirty-six articles to observe, with very heavy penalties if we should break any of them; and none of us even dared to go on board any other vessel or on shore till the Inquisition had sent on board and searched for every thing illegal, especially bibles. Such as were produced, and certain other things, were sent on shore till the ships were going away; and any person in whose custody a bible was found concealed was to be imprisoned and flogged, and sent into slavery for ten years. I saw here many very magnificent sights, particularly the garden of Eden, where many of the clergy and laity went in procession in their several orders with the host, and sung Te Deum. I had a great curiosity to go into some of their churches, but could not gain admittance without using the necessary sprinkling of holy water at my entrance. From curiosity, and a wish to be holy, I therefore complied with this ceremony, but its virtues were lost on me, for I found myself nothing the better for it. This place abounds with plenty of all kinds of provisions. The town is well built and pretty, and commands a fine prospect. Our ship having taken in a load of wine, and other commodities, we sailed for London, and arrived in July following. Our next voyage was to the Mediterranean. The ship was again got ready, and we sailed in September for Genoa. This is one of the finest cities I ever saw; some of the edifices were of beautiful marble, and made a most noble appearance; and many had very curious fountains before them. The churches were rich and magnificent, and curiously adorned both in the inside and out. But all this grandeur was in my eyes disgraced by the galley slaves, whose condition both there and in other parts of Italy is truly piteous and wretched. After we had stayed there some weeks, during which we bought many different things which we wanted, and got them very cheap, we sailed to Naples, a charming city, and remarkably clean. The bay is the most beautiful I ever saw; the moles for shipping are excellent. I thought it extraordinary to see grand operas acted here on Sunday nights, and even attended by their majesties. I too, like these great ones, went to those sights, and vainly served God in the day while I thus served mammon effectually at night. While we remained here there happened an eruption of mount Vesuvius, of which I had a perfect view. It was extremely awful; and we were so near that the ashes from it used to be thick on our deck. After we had transacted our business at Naples we sailed with a fair wind once more for Smyrna, where we arrived in December. A seraskier or officer took a liking to me here, and wanted me to stay, and offered me two wives; however I refused the temptation. The merchants here travel in caravans or large companies. I have seen many caravans from India, with some hundreds of camels, laden with different goods. The people of these caravans are quite brown. Among other articles, they brought with them a great quantity of locusts, which are a kind of pulse, sweet and pleasant to the palate, and in shape resembling French beans, but longer. Each kind of goods is sold in a street by itself, and I always found the Turks very honest in their dealings. They let no Christians into their mosques or churches, for which I was very sorry; as I was always fond of going to see the different modes of worship of the people wherever I went. The plague broke out while we were in Smyrna, and we stopped taking goods into the ship till it was over. She was then richly laden, and we sailed in about March 1770 for England. One day in our passage we met with an accident which was near burning the ship. A black cook, in melting some fat, overset the pan into the fire under the deck, which immediately began to blaze, and the flame went up very high under the foretop. With the fright the poor cook became almost white, and altogether speechless. Happily however we got the fire out without doing much mischief. After various delays in this passage, which was tedious, we arrived in Standgate creek in July; and, at the latter end of the year, some new event occurred, so that my noble captain, the ship, and I all separated.

In May 1769, soon after our return from Turkey, our ship made a delightful voyage to Oporto in Portugal. We arrived during the carnival. When we arrived, a list of thirty-six rules was sent aboard, with very heavy penalties for breaking any of them. None of us even dared to board another vessel or go ashore until the Inquisition had searched our ship. They searched for everything illegal, especially bibles. Any bibles handed over, along with certain other things, were sent ashore until the ships were ready to leave. Anyone found hiding a bible was to be imprisoned, flogged, and sent into slavery for ten years. I saw many magnificent sights here, particularly the garden of Eden. Many clergy and laypeople went there in procession, arranged by rank, carrying the consecrated host and singing Te Deum. I was very curious to enter some of their churches. But I could not gain admission without the required sprinkling of holy water at the entrance. Out of curiosity, and a wish to be holy, I therefore took part in this ceremony. But its powers were lost on me, for I found myself no better for it. This place has an abundant supply of all kinds of food. The town is well built and pretty, with a fine view. After our ship took on a cargo of wine and other goods, we sailed for London, arriving that July. Our next voyage was to the Mediterranean. The ship was prepared again, and we sailed in September for Genoa. Genoa is one of the finest cities I ever saw. Some buildings were made of beautiful marble and looked most splendid. Many had very unusual fountains in front of them. The churches were rich and magnificent, with elaborate decorations both inside and out. But to my eyes, the sight of the galley slaves marred all this grandeur. Their condition, both there and elsewhere in Italy, is truly pitiful and wretched. We stayed in Genoa for several weeks, buying many different things we needed at very low prices. Then we sailed to Naples, a charming and remarkably clean city. Its bay is the most beautiful I ever saw, and its breakwaters for shipping are excellent. I thought it extraordinary that grand operas were performed here on Sunday nights, and even attended by their majesties. I too, like these great people, went to those performances. I worshipped God in vain by day, while at night I truly served mammon, the god of worldly wealth. While we were here, mount Vesuvius erupted, and I had a clear view of the eruption. It was extremely terrifying. We were so near that ash from the volcano often lay thick on our deck. After finishing our business at Naples, we sailed once more for Smyrna with a favorable wind, arriving in December. A seraskier, or officer, took a liking to me here. He wanted me to stay and offered me two wives, but I refused the temptation. The merchants here travel in caravans, or large groups. I have seen many caravans from India, with several hundred camels loaded with different goods. The people in these caravans have quite brown skin. Among other goods, they brought large quantities of locusts, a kind of edible pod, sweet and pleasant to eat. These pods resemble French beans in shape, but are longer. Each kind of goods is sold in a separate street. I always found the Turks very honest in their dealings. They allow no Christians into their mosques or churches, which I regretted very much. Wherever I went, I always enjoyed seeing the different ways people worshipped. The plague broke out while we were in Smyrna, so we stopped loading goods until the outbreak was over. The ship was then loaded with a rich cargo, and we sailed for England around March 1770. One day during the voyage, an accident nearly burned the ship. A black cook was melting some fat when he tipped the pan into the fire below deck. Flames immediately blazed up, reaching very high beneath the platform on the foremast. The poor cook turned almost white with fright and could not speak at all. Fortunately, however, we put out the fire without much damage. After various delays during this tiresome voyage, we arrived in Standgate creek in July. Toward the end of the year, something new happened, so that my noble captain, the ship, and I all parted.

In April 1771 I shipped myself as a steward with Capt. Wm. Robertson of the ship Grenada Planter, once more to try my fortune in the West Indies; and we sailed from London for Madeira, Barbadoes, and the Grenades. When we were at this last place, having some goods to sell, I met once more with my former kind of West India customers. A white man, an islander, bought some goods of me to the amount of some pounds, and made me many fair promises as usual, but without any intention of paying me. He had likewise bought goods from some more of our people, whom he intended to serve in the same manner; but he still amused us with promises. However, when our ship was loaded, and near sailing, this honest buyer discovered no intention or sign of paying for any thing he had bought of us; but on the contrary, when I asked him for my money he threatened me and another black man he had bought goods of, so that we found we were like to get more blows than payment. On this we went to complain to one Mr. M'Intosh, a justice of the peace; we told his worship of the man's villainous tricks, and begged that he would be kind enough to see us redressed: but being negroes, although free, we could not get any remedy; and our ship being then just upon the point of sailing, we knew not how to help ourselves, though we thought it hard to lose our property in this manner. Luckily for us however, this man was also indebted to three white sailors, who could not get a farthing from him; they therefore readily joined us, and we all went together in search of him. When we found where he was, I took him out of a house and threatened him with vengeance; on which, finding he was likely to be handled roughly, the rogue offered each of us some small allowance, but nothing near our demands. This exasperated us much more; and some were for cutting his ears off; but he begged hard for mercy, which was at last granted him, after we had entirely stripped him. We then let him go, for which he thanked us, glad to get off so easily, and ran into the bushes, after having wished us a good voyage. We then repaired on board, and shortly after set sail for England. I cannot help remarking here a very narrow escape we had from being blown up, owing to a piece of negligence of mine. Just as our ship was under sail, I went down into the cabin to do some business, and had a lighted candle in my hand, which, in my hurry, without thinking, I held in a barrel of gunpowder. It remained in the powder until it was near catching fire, when fortunately I observed it and snatched it out in time, and providentially no harm happened; but I was so overcome with terror that I immediately fainted at this deliverance.

In April 1771, I signed on as a steward with Capt. Wm. Robertson aboard the Grenada Planter. I was once again trying my fortune in the West Indies. We sailed from London for Madeira, Barbadoes, and the Grenades. At the last of these places, I had some goods to sell. Once again, I met the same kind of West India customers I had dealt with before. A white man who lived on the island bought goods worth several pounds from me. As usual, he made many fine promises, but he had no intention of paying me. He had also bought goods from some of our other crew members and intended to treat them the same way. Still, he kept putting us off with promises. When our ship was loaded and nearly ready to sail, this honest buyer showed no sign of paying any of us. Instead, when I asked for my money, he threatened me and another black man whose goods he had bought. We realized we were more likely to get blows than payment. So we went to complain to Mr. M'Intosh, a justice of the peace. We told him about the man's wicked tricks and begged him to help us recover what we were owed. But because we were black, although free, we could get no justice. Our ship was just about to sail, and we did not know what to do. Still, we thought it unfair to lose our property this way. Luckily for us, the man also owed money to three white sailors, who could not get a penny from him. They readily joined us, and we all went looking for him together. When we found him, I took him out of a house and threatened him with revenge. Seeing that he was likely to be treated roughly, the scoundrel offered each of us a small sum. But his offers came nowhere near what we demanded. This made us even angrier, and some wanted to cut his ears off. But he begged desperately for mercy. At last we granted him mercy, after stripping him completely. We then let him go, and he thanked us, glad to escape so easily. He wished us a good voyage and ran into the bushes. We returned aboard and shortly afterward sailed for England. I must mention here how narrowly we escaped being blown up because of my own carelessness. Just as our ship got underway, I went down to the cabin to attend to some business. I had a lighted candle in my hand. In my hurry, without thinking, I held the candle inside a barrel of gunpowder. The candle remained in the powder until the powder was close to catching fire. Fortunately, I noticed and snatched the candle out in time. Through God's protection, no harm was done. But I was so overcome with terror at this narrow escape that I immediately fainted.

In twenty-eight days time we arrived in England, and I got clear of this ship. But, being still of a roving disposition, and desirous of seeing as many different parts of the world as I could, I shipped myself soon after, in the same year, as steward on board of a fine large ship, called the Jamaica, Captain David Watt; and we sailed from England in December 1771 for Nevis and Jamaica. I found Jamaica to be a very fine large island, well peopled, and the most considerable of the West India islands. There was a vast number of negroes here, whom I found as usual exceedingly imposed upon by the white people, and the slaves punished as in the other islands. There are negroes whose business it is to flog slaves; they go about to different people for employment, and the usual pay is from one to four bits. I saw many cruel punishments inflicted on the slaves in the short time I stayed here. In particular I was present when a poor fellow was tied up and kept hanging by the wrists at some distance from the ground, and then some half hundred weights were fixed to his ancles, in which posture he was flogged most unmercifully. There were also, as I heard, two different masters noted for cruelty on the island, who had staked up two negroes naked, and in two hours the vermin stung them to death. I heard a gentleman I well knew tell my captain that he passed sentence on a negro man to be burnt alive for attempting to poison an overseer. I pass over numerous other instances, in order to relieve the reader by a milder scene of roguery. Before I had been long on the island, one Mr. Smith at Port Morant bought goods of me to the amount of twenty-five pounds sterling; but when I demanded payment from him, he was going each time to beat me, and threatened that he would put me in goal. One time he would say I was going to set his house on fire, at another he would swear I was going to run away with his slaves. I was astonished at this usage from a person who was in the situation of a gentleman, but I had no alternative; I was therefore obliged to submit. When I came to Kingston, I was surprised to see the number of Africans who were assembled together on Sundays; particularly at a large commodious place, called Spring Path. Here each different nation of Africa meet and dance after the manner of their own country. They still retain most of their native customs: they bury their dead, and put victuals, pipes and tobacco, and other things, in the grave with the corps, in the same manner as in Africa. Our ship having got her loading we sailed for London, where we arrived in the August following. On my return to London, I waited on my old and good master, Dr. Irving, who made me an offer of his service again. Being now tired of the sea I gladly accepted it. I was very happy in living with this gentleman once more; during which time we were daily employed in reducing old Neptune's dominions by purifying the briny element and making it fresh. Thus I went on till May 1773, when I was roused by the sound of fame, to seek new adventures, and to find, towards the north pole, what our Creator never intended we should, a passage to India. An expedition was now fitting out to explore a north-east passage, conducted by the Honourable John Constantine Phipps, since Lord Mulgrave, in his Majesty's sloop of war the Race Horse. My master being anxious for the reputation of this adventure, we therefore prepared every thing for our voyage, and I attended him on board the Race Horse, the 24th day of May 1773. We proceeded to Sheerness, where we were joined by his Majesty's sloop the Carcass, commanded by Captain Lutwidge. On the 4th of June we sailed towards our destined place, the pole; and on the 15th of the same month we were off Shetland. On this day I had a great and unexpected deliverance from an accident which was near blowing up the ship and destroying the crew, which made me ever after during the voyage uncommonly cautious. The ship was so filled that there was very little room on board for any one, which placed me in a very aukward situation. I had resolved to keep a journal of this singular and interesting voyage; and I had no other place for this purpose but a little cabin, or the doctor's store-room, where I slept. This little place was stuffed with all manner of combustibles, particularly with tow and aquafortis, and many other dangerous things. Unfortunately it happened in the evening as I was writing my journal, that I had occasion to take the candle out of the lanthorn, and a spark having touched a single thread of the tow, all the rest caught the flame, and immediately the whole was in a blaze. I saw nothing but present death before me, and expected to be the first to perish in the flames. In a moment the alarm was spread, and many people who were near ran to assist in putting out the fire. All this time I was in the very midst of the flames; my shirt, and the handkerchief on my neck, were burnt, and I was almost smothered with the smoke. However, through God's mercy, as I was nearly giving up all hopes, some people brought blankets and mattresses and threw them on the flames, by which means in a short time the fire was put out. I was severely reprimanded and menaced by such of the officers who knew it, and strictly charged never more to go there with a light: and, indeed, even my own fears made me give heed to this command for a little time; but at last, not being able to write my journal in any other part of the ship, I was tempted again to venture by stealth with a light in the same cabin, though not without considerable fear and dread on my mind. On the 20th of June we began to use Dr. Irving's apparatus for making salt water fresh; I used to attend the distillery: I frequently purified from twenty-six to forty gallons a day. The water thus distilled was perfectly pure, well tasted, and free from salt; and was used on various occasions on board the ship. On the 28th of June, being in lat. 78, we made Greenland, where I was surprised to see the sun did not set. The weather now became extremely cold; and as we sailed between north and east, which was our course, we saw many very high and curious mountains of ice; and also a great number of very large whales, which used to come close to our ship, and blow the water up to a very great height in the air. One morning we had vast quantities of sea-horses about the ship, which neighed exactly like any other horses. We fired some harpoon guns amongst them, in order to take some, but we could not get any. The 30th, the captain of a Greenland ship came on board, and told us of three ships that were lost in the ice; however we still held on our course till July the 11th, when we were stopt by one compact impenetrable body of ice. We ran along it from east to west above ten degrees; and on the 27th we got as far north as 80, 37; and in 19 or 20 degrees east longitude from London. On the 29th and 30th of July we saw one continued plain of smooth unbroken ice, bounded only by the horizon; and we fastened to a piece of ice that was eight yards eleven inches thick. We had generally sunshine, and constant daylight; which gave cheerfulness and novelty to the whole of this striking, grand, and uncommon scene; and, to heighten it still more, the reflection of the sun from the ice gave the clouds a most beautiful appearance. We killed many different animals at this time, and among the rest nine bears. Though they had nothing in their paunches but water yet they were all very fat. We used to decoy them to the ship sometimes by burning feathers or skins. I thought them coarse eating, but some of the ship's company relished them very much. Some of our people once, in the boat, fired at and wounded a sea-horse, which dived immediately; and, in a little time after, brought up with it a number of others. They all joined in an attack upon the boat, and were with difficulty prevented from staving or oversetting her; but a boat from the Carcass having come to assist ours, and joined it, they dispersed, after having wrested an oar from one of the men. One of the ship's boats had before been attacked in the same manner, but happily no harm was done. Though we wounded several of these animals we never got but one. We remained hereabouts until the 1st of August; when the two ships got completely fastened in the ice, occasioned by the loose ice that set in from the sea. This made our situation very dreadful and alarming; so that on the 7th day we were in very great apprehension of having the ships squeezed to pieces. The officers now held a council to know what was best for us to do in order to save our lives; and it was determined that we should endeavour to escape by dragging our boats along the ice towards the sea; which, however, was farther off than any of us thought. This determination filled us with extreme dejection, and confounded us with despair; for we had very little prospect of escaping with life. However, we sawed some of the ice about the ships to keep it from hurting them; and thus kept them in a kind of pond. We then began to drag the boats as well as we could towards the sea; but, after two or three days labour, we made very little progress; so that some of our hearts totally failed us, and I really began to give up myself for lost, when I saw our surrounding calamities. While we were at this hard labour I once fell into a pond we had made amongst some loose ice, and was very near being drowned; but providentially some people were near who gave me immediate assistance, and thereby I escaped drowning. Our deplorable condition, which kept up the constant apprehension of our perishing in the ice, brought me gradually to think of eternity in such a manner as I never had done before. I had the fears of death hourly upon me, and shuddered at the thoughts of meeting the grim king of terrors in the natural state I then was in, and was exceedingly doubtful of a happy eternity if I should die in it. I had no hopes of my life being prolonged for any time; for we saw that our existence could not be long on the ice after leaving the ships, which were now out of sight, and some miles from the boats. Our appearance now became truly lamentable; pale dejection seized every countenance; many, who had been before blasphemers, in this our distress began to call on the good God of heaven for his help; and in the time of our utter need he heard us, and against hope or human probability delivered us! It was the eleventh day of the ships being thus fastened, and the fourth of our drawing the boats in this manner, that the wind changed to the E.N.E. The weather immediately became mild, and the ice broke towards the sea, which was to the S.W. of us. Many of us on this got on board again, and with all our might we hove the ships into every open water we could find, and made all the sail on them in our power; and now, having a prospect of success, we made signals for the boats and the remainder of the people. This seemed to us like a reprieve from death; and happy was the man who could first get on board of any ship, or the first boat he could meet. We then proceeded in this manner till we got into the open water again, which we accomplished in about thirty hours, to our infinite joy and gladness of heart. As soon as we were out of danger we came to anchor and refitted; and on the 19th of August we sailed from this uninhabited extremity of the world, where the inhospitable climate affords neither food nor shelter, and not a tree or shrub of any kind grows amongst its barren rocks; but all is one desolate and expanded waste of ice, which even the constant beams of the sun for six months in the year cannot penetrate or dissolve. The sun now being on the decline the days shortened as we sailed to the southward; and, on the 28th, in latitude 73, it was dark by ten o'clock at night. September the 10th, in latitude 58-59, we met a very severe gale of wind and high seas, and shipped a great deal of water in the space of ten hours. This made us work exceedingly hard at all our pumps a whole day; and one sea, which struck the ship with more force than any thing I ever met with of the kind before, laid her under water for some time, so that we thought she would have gone down. Two boats were washed from the booms, and the long-boat from the chucks: all other moveable things on the deck were also washed away, among which were many curious things of different kinds which we had brought from Greenland; and we were obliged, in order to lighten the ship, to toss some of our guns overboard. We saw a ship, at the same time, in very great distress, and her masts were gone; but we were unable to assist her. We now lost sight of the Carcass till the 26th, when we saw land about Orfordness, off which place she joined us. From thence we sailed for London, and on the 30th came up to Deptford. And thus ended our Arctic voyage, to the no small joy of all on board, after having been absent four months; in which time, at the imminent hazard of our lives, we explored nearly as far towards the Pole as 81 degrees north, and 20 degrees east longitude; being much farther, by all accounts, than any navigator had ever ventured before; in which we fully proved the impracticability of finding a passage that way to India.

After twenty-eight days, we arrived in England, and I was free of the ship. But I still had a wandering spirit and wanted to see as much of the world as possible. So, later that same year, I signed on as steward aboard a fine, large ship called the Jamaica. Captain David Watt commanded her. We sailed from England in December 1771 for Nevis and Jamaica. I found Jamaica a very fine, large island, well populated and the most important of the West India islands. There were vast numbers of black people there. As usual, I found white people taking terrible advantage of them, and enslaved people were punished as on the other islands. Some black people earned their living by flogging slaves. They went from person to person looking for work, usually receiving between one and four bits. During my short stay, I saw many cruel punishments inflicted on enslaved people. In particular, I saw a poor man tied up and left hanging by his wrists some distance above the ground. Weights of about fifty pounds each were then attached to his ankles. While hanging like this, he was flogged without mercy. I also heard about two slaveholders on the island who were known for their cruelty. They had tied two naked black people to stakes, and insects stung them to death within two hours. I heard a gentleman I knew well tell my captain about a sentence he had passed. He had condemned a black man to be burned alive for attempting to poison an overseer. I will pass over many other examples and offer the reader some relief with a milder scene of dishonesty. Soon after I arrived, a Mr. Smith at Port Morant bought twenty-five pounds sterling worth of goods from me. But whenever I demanded payment, he was ready to beat me and threatened to put me in jail. At one time, he would say I intended to burn down his house. At another, he would swear I intended to run away with his slaves. I was astonished to receive such treatment from someone who held the position of a gentleman. But I had no choice and was forced to submit. When I reached Kingston, I was surprised by the number of Africans who gathered on Sundays. They met especially at a large, spacious place called Spring Path. There, people from each African nation gathered and danced in the style of their own country. They still kept most of their native customs. They buried their dead with food, pipes, tobacco, and other things in the grave, just as in Africa. Once our ship had taken on her cargo, we sailed for London, arriving the following August. Back in London, I visited my kind former master, Dr. Irving, who offered to employ me again. I was now tired of the sea and gladly accepted. I was very happy to live with this gentleman once more. Every day, we worked to shrink old Neptune's kingdom by purifying salt water and making it fresh. I continued this work until May 1773, when the promise of fame stirred me to seek new adventures. Near the North Pole, I hoped to find something our Creator never intended us to find: a passage to India. An expedition was being prepared to explore a northeast passage. The Honourable John Constantine Phipps, later Lord Mulgrave, commanded it aboard his Majesty's warship, the Race Horse. My master was eager for the expedition to earn a good reputation, so we prepared everything for our voyage. I accompanied him aboard the Race Horse on May 24, 1773. We went to Sheerness, where his Majesty's warship the Carcass joined us under Captain Lutwidge. On June 4, we sailed toward our destination, the pole. By June 15, we were off Shetland. That day, I unexpectedly escaped an accident that nearly blew up the ship and killed the crew. Afterward, I was unusually cautious throughout the voyage. The ship was so crowded that there was very little room for anyone, leaving me in an awkward position. I had decided to keep a journal of this unusual and interesting voyage. But the only place I could write was the little cabin where I slept, which served as the doctor's storeroom. This small space was packed with flammable materials, especially tow, or loose fibers. It also contained aquafortis, a strong acid, and many other dangerous things. Unfortunately, one evening while writing my journal, I needed to take the candle out of its lantern. A spark touched a single strand of tow, and all the rest caught fire. Immediately, the whole place was ablaze. I saw nothing before me but immediate death and expected to be the first to die in the flames. The alarm spread at once, and many people nearby rushed to help put out the fire. All this time, I stood in the middle of the flames. My shirt and neckerchief were burned, and I was nearly suffocated by smoke. But through God's mercy, help came just as I was almost giving up hope. Some people brought blankets and mattresses and threw them over the flames. The fire was soon put out. The officers who knew about the accident severely scolded and threatened me. They strictly ordered me never to take a light into that room again. Indeed, my own fears made me obey for a little while. But I could not write my journal anywhere else aboard the ship. At last, I was tempted to sneak into the same cabin with a light again, though I felt considerable fear. On June 20, we began using Dr. Irving's equipment to turn salt water into fresh water. I tended the distilling equipment and often purified between twenty-six and forty gallons a day. The distilled water was perfectly pure, pleasant to drink, and free of salt. It was used for various purposes aboard the ship. On June 28, at latitude 78 degrees, we reached Greenland. I was surprised to see that the sun did not set. The weather now became extremely cold. As we sailed northeast, our intended course, we saw many very tall and remarkable mountains of ice. We also saw many enormous whales. They came close to our ship and blew water very high into the air. One morning, vast numbers of sea-horses, or walruses, surrounded the ship, neighing exactly like ordinary horses. We fired harpoon guns among them to catch some, but caught none. On June 30, the captain of a Greenland ship came aboard and told us three ships had been lost in the ice. Nevertheless, we continued on our course until July 11, when a solid, impenetrable mass of ice stopped us. We sailed along the ice from east to west for more than ten degrees of longitude. On July 27, we reached 80 degrees, 37 minutes north, and 19 or 20 degrees east of London. On July 29 and 30, we saw a continuous plain of smooth, unbroken ice stretching to the horizon. We secured the ship to a piece of ice eight yards and eleven inches thick. We generally had sunshine and constant daylight. The light gave a cheerful, fresh quality to the whole striking, grand, and unusual scene. Adding to its beauty, sunlight reflected from the ice gave the clouds a wonderful appearance. We killed many different animals at this time, including nine bears. Although their stomachs contained nothing but water, all the bears were very fat. Sometimes we lured them toward the ship by burning feathers or skins. I thought their meat was coarse, but some of the crew enjoyed it very much. Once, some of our men in a boat shot and wounded a walrus. The animal immediately dived and soon surfaced with several others. Together, the walruses attacked the boat. The men could barely keep them from breaking through its sides or overturning it. But a boat from the Carcass came to help ours. The walruses scattered after wrenching an oar from one of the men. One of the ship's boats had suffered a similar attack before, but fortunately no harm had been done. Although we wounded several walruses, we caught only one. We remained in that area until August 1. Then loose ice drifting in from the sea trapped both ships completely. Our situation became dreadful and alarming. By August 7, we greatly feared the ships would be crushed to pieces. The officers held a council to decide how best to save our lives. They decided we should try to escape by dragging our boats across the ice toward the sea. But the sea was farther away than any of us thought. This decision filled us with deep sadness and overwhelmed us with despair, because we had little hope of escaping alive. Still, we sawed through some of the surrounding ice to protect the ships, keeping them in a kind of pond. Then we began dragging the boats toward the sea as best we could. But after two or three days of work, we had made very little progress. Some of us lost all courage. Seeing the disasters surrounding us, I truly began to consider myself lost. During this hard work, I fell into a pond we had made among some loose ice and nearly drowned. But providentially, some people nearby immediately helped me, and I escaped drowning. Our terrible condition kept us constantly afraid of dying in the ice. Gradually, I began to think about eternity as I never had before. Every hour brought fears of death. I shuddered at the thought of meeting death, that grim king of terrors, in my then natural spiritual state. I greatly doubted whether I would enjoy a happy eternity if I died in that state. I had no hope of living much longer. We could see that we would not survive long on the ice after leaving the ships. The ships were now out of sight, several miles from the boats. Our appearance had become truly pitiful, with every face pale and downcast. Many who had previously blasphemed now called on the good God of heaven for help in our distress. In our greatest need, he heard us. Against all hope or human probability, he delivered us! The ships had been trapped for eleven days, and we had been dragging the boats for four. Then the wind changed to east-northeast. The weather immediately grew mild, and the ice broke up toward the sea, which lay southwest of us. Many of us returned aboard. With all our strength, we hauled the ships into every stretch of open water we could find. We also set as much sail as possible. Now that success seemed possible, we signaled to the boats and the remaining men. This felt like a reprieve from death. Happy was the man who first reached either ship or the first boat he came across. We continued in this way until we reached open water again, about thirty hours later. Our joy and gladness were beyond measure. As soon as we were out of danger, we anchored and made repairs. On August 19, we sailed away from this uninhabited edge of the world. Its harsh climate provides neither food nor shelter. Not a tree or shrub of any kind grows among its barren rocks. Everything is one vast, desolate waste of ice. Even six months of constant sunlight each year cannot penetrate or melt it. The sun was now sinking lower, and the days shortened as we sailed south. On August 28, at latitude 73 degrees, it was dark by ten at night. On September 10, between latitudes 58 and 59 degrees, we encountered a violent gale and high seas. In ten hours, the ship took on a great deal of water. We had to work extremely hard at all the pumps for an entire day. One wave struck harder than anything of the kind I had ever experienced. It left the ship submerged for some time, and we thought she would sink. Two boats were washed from the booms, and the longboat was swept from its supports. Everything else that could move on deck was washed away too. These losses included many unusual objects of different kinds that we had brought from Greenland. To lighten the ship, we also had to throw some of our guns overboard. At the same time, we saw another ship in great distress, with her masts gone. But we could not help her. We now lost sight of the Carcass until September 26, when we saw land near Orfordness. The Carcass rejoined us off that place. From there, we sailed for London and reached Deptford on September 30. So ended our Arctic voyage, much to the joy of everyone aboard, after four months away. At great risk to our lives, we had explored nearly as far as 81 degrees north and 20 degrees east. By all accounts, we had gone much farther than any navigator had ever ventured before. In doing so, we fully proved that finding a passage to India by that route was impracticable.