ind was a happy circumstance for me. My writing desk,
with papers, accounts, &c., all Mr. Lord's letters (the gentlemen to
whom my cargo was consigned) and several others were taken and
maliciously destroyed. My medicine chest, which I so much wanted, was
kept for their own use. What their motive could be to take my papers I
could not imagine, except they had hopes of finding bills of lading for
some Spaniards, to clear them from piracy. Mr. Bracket had some notes
and papers of consequence to him, which shared the same fate. My
quadrant, charts, books and bedding were not yet taken, but I found it
impossible to hide them, and they were soon gone from my sight.

[Illustration: _A Cave in the Caicos group of the West India Islands._]

Tuesday, January 1st, 1822--A sad new-year's day to me. Before breakfast
orders came for me to cut down the Exertion's railing and bulwarks on
one side, for their vessel to heave out by, and clean her bottom. On my
hesitating a little they observed with anger, "very well, captain,
suppose you no do it quick, we do it for you." Directly afterwards
another boat full of armed men came along side; they jumped on deck with
swords drawn, and ordered all of us into her immediately; I stepped
below, in hopes of getting something which would be of service to us;
but the captain hallooed, "Go into the boat directly or I will fire upon
you." Thus compelled to obey, we were carried, together with four
Spanish prisoners, to a small, low island or key of sand in the shape of
a half moon, and partly covered with mangrove trees; which was about one
mile from and in sight of my vessel. There they left nine of us, with a
little bread, flour, fish, lard, a little coffee and molasses; two or
three kegs of water, which was brackish; an old sail for a covering, and
a pot and some other articles no way fit to cook in. Leaving us these,
which were much less than they appear in the enumeration, they pushed
off, saying, "we will come to see you in a day or two." Selecting the
best place, we spread the old sail for an awning; but no place was free
from flies, moschetoes, snakes, the venomous skinned scorpion, and the
more venomous santipee. Sometimes they were found crawling inside of
our pantaloons, but fortunately no injury was received. This afternoon
the pirates hove their vessel out by the Exertion and cleaned one side,
using her paints, oil, &c. for that purpose. To see my vessel in that
situation and to think o