ieces, and the ship was stranded; several of the merchants and
seamen were drowned, and the cargo was lost.

"I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to
get upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an island
which lay before us. There we found fruit and spring water, which
preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we had
been cast ashore and next morning, as soon as the sun was up, advancing
into the island, saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we
drew near, we were encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized
us and carried us to their respective habitations.

"I, and five of my comrades, were carried to one place; here they made
us sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to
eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it
themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with
greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste it,
which happened well for me; for in a little time after, I perceived my
companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me, they
knew not what they said.

"The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of
cocoa-nuts; and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it
greedily. I also partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us that
herb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might not
be aware of the sad destiny prepared for us; and they supplied us with
rice to fatten us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us as
soon as we grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured my
comrades, who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses being
entire, you may easily guess that instead of growing fat I grew leaner
every day. The fear of death under which I laboured caused me to fall
into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety; for the negroes,
having eaten my companions, seeing me to be withered, and sick, deferred
my death.

"Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of
what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a distance
from the houses and to make my escape. An old man, who saw me and
suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to return; but I
redoubled my speed, and quickly got out of sight. At that time there was
none but the old man about the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to
return till ni