ve been supposed to do): for who would have supposed
we were sailed on to the southward, to the truly Barbarian coast, where
whole nations of negroes were sure to surround us with their canoes and
destroy us; where we could not go on shore but we should be devoured by
savage beasts, or more merciless savages of human kind.

But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I changed my course, and
steered directly south and by east, bending my course a little towards
the east, that I might keep in with the shore; and having a fair, fresh
gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I made such sail that I believe by
the next day, at three o'clock in the afternoon, when I first made the
land, I could not be less than one hundred and fifty miles south of
Sallee; quite beyond the Emperor of Morocco's dominions, or indeed of any
other king thereabouts, for we saw no people.

Yet such was the fright I had taken of the Moors, and the dreadful
apprehensions I had of falling into their hands, that I would not stop,
or go on shore, or come to an anchor; the wind continuing fair till I had
sailed in that manner five days; and then the wind shifting to the
southward, I concluded also that if any of our vessels were in chase of
me, they also would now give over; so I ventured to make to the coast,
and came to an anchor in the mouth of a little river, I knew not what,
nor where, neither what latitude, what country, what nation, or what
river. I neither saw, nor desired to see any people; the principal thing
I wanted was fresh water. We came into this creek in the evening,
resolving to swim on shore as soon as it was dark, and discover the
country; but as soon as it was quite dark, we heard such dreadful noises
of the barking, roaring, and howling of wild creatures, of we knew not
what kinds, that the poor boy was ready to die with fear, and begged of
me not to go on shore till day. "Well, Xury," said I, "then I won't; but
it may be that we may see men by day, who will be as bad to us as those
lions." "Then we give them the shoot gun," says Xury, laughing, "make
them run wey." Such English Xury spoke by conversing among us slaves.
However, I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and I gave him a dram
(out of our patron's case of bottles) to cheer him up. After all, Xury's
advice was good, and I took it; we dropped our little anchor, and lay
still all night; I say still, for we slept none; for in two or three
hours we saw vast great creature