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with abundance of Tears, represented to me the Dangers of the Sea; but finding it was too late to detain me, she swoon'd in my Arms. I then began to wish my self free, and could not forbear shedding some Tears. The Captain who was present at this Interview, being afraid my Mother's Tears would move him so much as to part with me, like a good Man that wou'd avoid Temptation, went down to his Cabbin, and gave Orders to bring me aboard by force. His Orders were obey'd, and my Mother was left as dead upon the Shore. I had no sooner got aboard, but I was set about some of the hardest Work of the Ship, and was comforted by being told it would make me forget my Mother. This I bore very patiently, having no Body to accuse but my self for my Sufferings. The Reader must excuse me if in this Voyage I do not give him an Account of our Courses, since I being unacquainted with sailing, and fully griev'd for my Mother, did not much mind them.
On the 12th of August following, we arriv'd at Teneriffe, being driven thither by stress of Weather, for our Design was to land at Palma, to take in Sugar; we got into Santa Cruz Bay, which is to the North East of the land, and rode in 17 Fathom of Water. The Storm continued for some Days after we had providentially cast Anchor; during which Time, my Curiosity and Rashness prompted me to ascend the Peak.
My Conversation with Sailors, and their Reports, had given me such strange and pleasing Ideas of remote Countries, during my stay in Dublin, especially of Teneriffe, (altho' they vary'd a little in their Computations; and many, I am persuaded, have affirm'd that they have been at the Top of the Mountain, when they never were within 1000 Leagues of the Island) that I resolv'd to be an Eye-witness of what T had heard.
The
