be built by Indians; as for
our parts, we were forced to take shelter under a great tree, where we made
a large fire, but it rain'd so hard, that it had almost cost us our lives;
an invalid died that very night on the spot. Before I left the ship I went
to my cabin for my journal, but could not find it; I believe it is
destroyed with the rest, for there is not one journal to be produced, we
have good reason to apprehend there was a person employ'd to destroy them;
I afterwards found part of the master's journal along shore, tore to
pieces: Whatever is related in this book, preceding the loss of the Wager,
is extracted from a journal belonging to a gentleman, lately an officer on
board the Pearl. After we lost sight of the Pearl, I was obliged to have
recourse to my memory, which I believe has been very faithful to me. From
the time we were ship-wreck'd, the carpenter and myself were exceeding
careful in writing each day's transactions: Had other persons taken the
same care, there would be no necessity of imposing upon the publick a
partial and inconsistent narrative, instead of a faithful relation of
facts.

On the 16th, the weather very boisterous and a great sea, the boatswain
wanted a boat, but finding no appearance of any coming aboard, brought a
quarter-deck gun, a four pounder, to bear on the captain's hut, and fir'd
two shot, which went just over the captain's tent. This day, being resolv'd
to contrive something like a house, to secure us from the inclemency of the
rain, and severity of the weather, we hawl'd up the cutter, and propping
her up, we made a tolerable habitation. As for food, this island produces
none; nor is there any vegetable upon it but cellery, which grows here in
abundance, and is of great use to us, the men being in general very much
troubled with the scurvy.

On the 17th of May, being Whitsunday, got several wild fowls, and plenty of
muscles, limpets, and other shell-fish, which we find very refreshing,
having subsisted a long time on nothing but salt provisions.

The 18th, went on board the ship, to see if it was possible to come at any
provisions; got out of the Lazaretto two casks of flour and some wine,
which were very useful.

On the 19th, went aboard again to scuttle the decks, in order to get some
beef and pork out of the hold; we also scuttled the carpenter's store-room
for nails and other things of service.

The 20th, cut away the gunnel to get the long-boat out, which was done.