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women themselves frequently punched me with their feet, or beat me with any thing they had in their hands.
This ill treatment, however, did but increase my resolution of deserting: and I had still the happiness to believe that my God would ere long impart his gracious aid for my deliverance. Accordingly on a certain day in the tenth month of my captivity, being in quest of game, as usual we had uncommon success; and returning to a place much frequented by the tribe, on account of a spring which yielded excellent water, we had taken; and the poor Indians highly exulting in their good fortune, greatly overgorged themselves; after which a large quantity of plaintain liquor was prepared and every one of them took a hearty drink thereof, which greatly intoxicated the whole tribe both men and women. Our chief now ordered us all to sleep round the fire. I cannot say but that on this day they used me with greater decency than usual. However, this transient civility seemed greatly insufficient to counterbalance the inhuman treatment I daily experienced amongst them; therefore imagining I had now a favorable opportunity to effect my peaceable escape, I determined to weigh anchor, and endeavour to explore some happier clime.—Accordingly as soon as I judged the inebriated crew were pretty secure in the peaceful bands of sleep, I then softly arose, walked gently from amongst them, and being greatly favoured by
