ed us. Some of us
found some small pieces of powder, which made, when put into the mouth,
a kind of coolness. One plan generally employed was to put into a hat a
quantity of sea-water, with which we washed our faces for a while,
repeating it at intervals. We also bathed our hair, and held our hands
in the water.[19] Misfortune made us ingenious, and each thought of a
thousand means to alleviate his sufferings. Emaciated by the most cruel
privations, the least agreeable feeling was to us a happiness supreme.
Thus we sought with avidity a small empty phial which one of us
possessed, and in which had once been some essence of roses; and every
one as he got hold of it respired with delight the odour it exhaled,
which imparted to his senses the most soothing impressions. Many of us
kept our ration of wine in a small tin cup, and sucked it out with a
quill. This manner of taking it was of great benefit to us, and allayed
our thirst much better than if we had gulped it of at once.

[Footnote 19: People in a similar situation as that described
here, have found great benefit by soaking their clothes in the
sea, and then dressing themselves with them. This means was not
resorted to by the sufferers on the fatal raft.

Mungo Park when much afflicted by thirst in the Desert, found
great relief by keeping a pebble in his mouth.--Trans.]

Three days passed in inexpressible anguish. So much did we despise life,
that many of us feared not to bathe in sight of the sharks which
surrounded our raft; others placed themselves naked upon the front of
our machine, which was under water. These expedients diminished a little
the ardour of their thirst. A species of molusca, known to seamen by the
name of _gatere_, was sometimes driven in great numbers on our raft; and
when their long arms rested on our naked bodies, they occasioned us the
most cruel sufferings. Will it be believed, that admist these terrible
scenes, struggling with inevitable death, some of us uttered
pleasantries which made us yet smile, in spite of the horrors of our
situation? One, besides others, said jestingly, "_If the brig is sent to
search for us, pray God it has the eyes of Argus_," in allusion to the
name of the vessel we presumed would be sent to our assistance. This
consolatory idea never left us an instant, and we spoke of it
frequently.

On the 16th, reckoning we were very near land, eight of the most
determined among us resolved to end