第11章

After this Stop we made on to the Southward continually for ten or twelve Days，living very sparing on our Provisions，which began to abate very much，and going no oftner into the Shoar than we were oblig'd to for fresh Water；my Design in this was to make the River Gambia or Sennegall，that is to say，any where about the Cape de Yerd，where I was in hopes to meet with some European Ship，and if I did not，I knew not what Course I had to take，but to seek out for the Islands，or perish there among the Negroes. I knew that all the Ships from Europe，which sail'd either to the Coast of Guiney，or to Brasil，or to the East-Indies，made this Cape or those Islands；and in a word，I put the whole of Fortune upon this Single Point，either that I must meet with some Ship，or must perish.

When I had pursued this Resolution about ten Days longer，as I have said，I began to see that the Land was inhabited，and in two or three Places as we sailed by，we saw People stand upon the Shoar to look at us，we could also perceive they were quite Black and Stark-naked. I was once inclin'd to ha' gone on Shoar to them；but Xury was my better Councellor，and said to me，no go，no go；however I hal'd in nearer the Shoar that I might talk to them，and I found they run along the Shoar by me a good way；I observ'd they had no Weapons in their Hands，except one who had a slender Stick，which Xury said was a Lance，and that could throw them a great way with good aim；so I kept at a distance，but talk'd with them by Signs as well as I could particularly made Signs for some thing to Eat，they to me to stop my Boat，and that they would Meat；upon this I lower'd the top of my Sail，and lay two of them run up into the Country，and in less Hour came back and brought with them two Pieces of dry Flesh and some Corn，such as is the Produce of their Country，but we neither knew what the one the other ever we were willing to accept it，but how to come at it next Dispute，for I was not for venturing on Shore to and they were as much affraid us；but they took a safe way for us all，for they brought it to the Shore and laid it down，and went and stood a great way off till we fetch'd it on Board，and then came close to us again.

We made Signs of Thanks to them，for we had nothing to make them amends；but an Opportunity offer'd that very Instant to oblige them wonderfully，for while we were lying by the Shore，came two mighty Creatures one pursuing the other，（as we took it） with great Fury，from the Mountains towards the Sea；whether it was the Male pursuing the Female，or whether they were in Sport or in Rage，we could not tell，any more than we could tell whether it was usual or strange，but I believe it was the latter；because in the first Place，those ravenous Creatures seldom appear but in the Night；and in the second Place，we found the People terribly frighted，especially the Women. The Man that had the Lance or Dart did not fly from them，but the rest did；however as the two Creatures ran directly into the Water，they did not seem to offer to fall upon any of the Negroes，but plung'd themselves into the Sea and swam about as if they had come for their Diversion；at last one of them began to come nearer our Boat than at first I expected，but I lay ready for him，for I had loaded my Gun with all possible Expedition，and bad Xury load both the other；as soon as he came fairly within my reach，I fir'd，and shot him directly into the Head；immediately he sunk down into the Water，but rose instantly and plunged up and down as if he was struggling for Life；and so indeed he was，he immediately made to the Shore，but between the Wound which was his mortal Hurt，and the strangling of the Water，he dyed just before he reach'd the Shore.

It is impossible to express the Astonishment of these poor Creatures at the Noise and the Fire of my Gun；some of them were even ready to dye for Fear，and fell down as Dead with the very Terror. But when they saw the Creature dead and sunk in the Water，and that I made Signs to them to come to the Shore；they took Heart and came to the Shore and began to search for the Creature，I found him by his Blood staining the Water，and by the help of a Rope which I flung round him and gave the Negroes to hawl，they drag'd him on Shore，and found that it was a most curious Leopard，spotted and fine to an admirable Degree，and the Negroes held up their Hands with Admiration to think what it was I had kill'd him with.

The other Creature frighted with the flash of Fire and the Noise of the Gun swam on Shore，and ran up directly to the Mountains from whence they came，nor could I at that Distance know what it was. I found quickly the Negroes were eating the Flesh of this Creature，so I was willing to have them take it as a Favour from me，which when I made Signs to them that they might take him，they were very thankful for，immediately they fell to work with him，and tho' they had no Knife，yet with a sharpen'd Piece of Wood they-took off his Skin as readily，and much more readily than we cou'd have done with a Knife；they offer'd me some of the Flesh，which I declined，making as if I would give it them，but made Signs for the Skin，which they gave me very freely，and brought me a great deal more of their Provision，which tho' I did not understand，yet I accepted；then I made Signs to them for some Water，and held out one of my Jarrs to them，turning it bottom upward，to shew that it was empty，and that I wanted to have it filled. They call'd immediately to some of their Friends，and there came two Women and brought a great Vessel made of Earth，and burnt as I suppose in the Sun；this they set down for me，as before，and I sent Xury on Shore with my Jarrs，and filled than all three：The Women were as stark Naked as the Men.