ssed between these isles and that of Palma,
about three o'clock in the afternoon.

Previous to our leaving France, I had taken care to apprise the Captain
of the danger to which we should be exposed, in these latitudes, from
the violence of the currents. I remarked to him, that every time I had
passed that way, I found cause to fear our being windbound on the coasts
of Barbary. This advice, the result of experience, should have met with
attention from Captain le Turc; I therefore again repeated it, the
moment I perceived the sea began to assume a clearer tinge, and inquired
if he did not intend to sound. _What are you afraid of?_ said he, _the
land! we are more than eighty leagues from it._

Allow me here to express my disapprobation of that immoderate
self-conceit and confidence, for which the captains of trading vessels,
especially those who visit these coasts, are so remarkable. However
important an advice may be, they are not disposed to pay any regard to
it; and of whatever kind the impending dangers appear, so much
confidence have they in their own abilities, that they are better
pleased to repair damage than prevent it.

The under captain made me a very similar reply with his superior. Alas!
too soon they experimentally found my fears were far from groundless!

At midnight, I was awakened by a violent motion of the ship, and,
thinking we were aground, I immediately leaped on deck. Judge my
surprise, when I observed a kind of creek formed by the rocks. The
mariners were all sound asleep. I quickly awaked them:--_Save
yourselves_, cried I, _we are near the shore!_ The captain got up in
great consternation; and in his alarm, in which his officers partook,
ordered them to steer towards the rocks. The vessel thus directed, and
hurried at the same time by the force of contending currents, struck
thrice on the sands, and remained immoveable.

Suddenly a horrid cry was heard; the masts were shaken; and the sails
being violently shattered, were torn to pieces. The terror became
universal, and the cries of the mariners were blended with the horrid
noise of the roaring waves, enraged as it were that their course should
be stopped by the rocks and the vessel, between which they were to pass.
So great was the consternation that no one thought of doing any thing
for his preservation. O, my wife!--O, my children!--they cry to one
another, raising their hands to heaven. Meantime, they cut the masts by
the board, in order, i