provisions or
victuals: hereby, in a few days after they had quitted their ships, they
were reduced to most extreme necessity and hunger; but their hopes of
making their fortunes very soon, animating them for the present, they
contented themselves with a few green herbs, such as they could gather
on the banks of the river.

Yet all this courage and vigour lasted but a fortnight, when their
hearts, as well as bodies, began to fail for hunger; insomuch as they
were forced to quit the river, and betake themselves to the woods,
seeking out some villages where they might find relief, but all in vain;
for having ranged up and down the woods for some days, without finding
the least comfort, they were forced to return to the river, where being
come, they thought convenient to descend to the sea-coast where they
had left their ships, not having been able to find what they sought for.
In this laborious journey they were reduced to such extremity, that many
of them devoured their own shoes, the sheaths of their swords, knives,
and other such things, being almost ravenous, and eager to meet some
Indians, intending to sacrifice them to their teeth. At last they
arrived at the sea-coast, where they found some comfort and relief to
their former miseries, and also means to seek more: yet the greatest
part perished through faintness and other diseases contracted by hunger,
which also caused the remaining part to disperse, till at last, by
degrees, many or most of them fell into the same pit that Lolonois did;
of whom, and of whose companions, having given a compendious narrative,
I shall continue with the actions and exploits of Captain Henry Morgan,
who may deservedly be called the second Lolonois, not being unlike or
inferior to him, either in achievements against the Spaniards, or in
robberies of many innocent people.

CHAPTER IX

_The origin and descent of Captain Henry Morgan--His exploits, and the
most remarkable actions of his life._

CAPTAIN HENRY MORGAN was born in Great Britain, in the principality of
Wales; his father was a rich yeoman, or farmer, of good quality, even as
most who bear that name in Wales are known to be. Morgan, when young,
had no inclination to the calling of his father, and therefore left his
country, and came towards the sea-coasts to seek some other employment
more suitable to his aspiring humour; where he found several ships at
anchor, bound for Barbadoes. With these he resolved to go in the