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turn to the Pumps, but the Water ſtill encreaſed till the next Morning, when providentially we found the Leak at the Stern, near as low as the Keil, where no Carpenter could go out to repair it. Upon which the Carpenter with Cniſſels cut a Peice of the Ceiling and found it out, and applied the following Remedy to it, viz. He took a Piece of Beef and ſtopped the Leak, by nailing a Board above to keep it faſt. The Beef being always waſhed away in twenty-four Hours, he continued to repeat the Doſe, till eleven Tierces of our Beef was ſpent before we came to Land; nor durſt we eat any Beef ourſelves, as it was exhauſted for the Safety of our Lives in this Manner, and we were obliged to live on Bread and Water for the reſt of our Paſſage, which was about four weeks.
How little do thoſe who never was at Sea know the Hardſhips that Mariners are often reduce to! They are even apt to beleive Sailors gain their Money without Danger or Toil, when they ſee them ſpend it ſo laviſhly on ſhore in queſt of their Pleaſures. What Pity it is that Sailors, thoſe valuable members of Commerce, ſhould judge ſo ill, in ſpending what they gain thus at the peril of their Lives, perhaps all in one Night's Debauch with a Woman, abandoned to every Vice and loſt to all Senſe of Honour and Virtue.
Being freighted by Meſſrs. Jameſon and Ogilby, Merchants in Charles-town, and loaded with Rice, for Lisbon, we arrived at that Port, and for a Caution to others who may go there, to avoid the like Danger, I imprudently fell into, even after I was warned againſt it; know that it is againſt the Laws of Portugal (as it is a Roman Catholic Country) for a Britiſh Subject to carry a ſharp-pointed Knife aſhore.The.
