North Latitude, and the Wind shifting, and the Currents, which set from the Seaward driving us ashore, it was found convenient to anchor in four or five Fathom Water, where we spent all the Night.
The Thirteenth, we perceiv'd our Water began to fall short, and therefore it was requisite to go ashore to fill some Casks. Monsieur de la Sale propos'd it to me to go and see it perform'd, which I accepted of, with six of our Gentlemen who offer'd their Service. We went into the Boat, with our Arms, the Boat belonging to the Bark la Belle follow'd ours, with five or six Men, and we all made directly for the Land.
We were very near the Shoar, when we discover'd a number of naked Men marching along the Banks, whom we suppos'd to be native Savages. We drew within two Musket Shots of the Land, and the Shore being flat, the Wind setting from the Offing, and the Sea running high, dropt our Anchors, for Fear of staving our Boats.[1]
Savages came to the Boat. When the Savages perceiv'd we had stopp'd, they made Signs to us with Skins, to go to them, shew'd us their Bows, which they laid down upon the Ground, and drew near to the Edge of the Shore; but because we could not get Ashore, and still they continued their Signals, I put my Handkerchief on the End of my Firelock, after the Manner of a Flag, and made Signs to them to come to us. They were some Time considering of it, and at last some of them ran into the Water up to their Shoulders, till perceiving that the Waves overwhelm'd them, they went out again, fetch'd a large Piece of Timber, which they threw into the Sea, plac'd themselves along both Sides of it, holding fast to it with one Arm, and swiming with the other; and in that Manner they drew near to our Boat.
Being in Hopes that Monsr. de la Sale, might get some Information from those Savages, we made no Difficulty of taking them into our Boat, one after another, on each Side,
- ↑ In the Fr. "notre chaloupe"—our boat.
