248 CHAP.
x.
NARRATIVE
OF
AN
all, had been carried upon poles by negro flaves in their hammocks: and during all this time we had discovered nothing. One thing is to be considered, that while the old gentleman himfelf went through all the above-mentioned hardships, (to which he seemed as invulnerable as a machine of iron or brafs) we had the less reafon to complain of bad ufage. In short, having as usual plunged in the river, to wash off the mire and blood occafioned by the fcratches, and having taken a refrefhing swim, I looked round for my negroes to erect a comfortable hut; but in this I was difappointed, as they were employed by Mr. Rughcop to build his kitchen, although he had as yet nothing to drefs in it. This piece of unpolitenefs I for once overlooked; and the rangers having made me a nice bed of manicole-branches on the ground, (there being no trees in the place to fling a hammock) and having lighted a blazing fire by the fide of it, I lay quietly down next to them on my green mattrefs, where, in a clear moonshine night and no rain, I fell found afleep. But about two hours before day-break I awaked, when the fire was out, the moon was down, and I almost dead with the cold dew and the damp that exhaled from the earth, being fo stiff and benumbed that I had fcarcely strength to crawl on hands and feet, and awake one of my fable companions; he, however, having kindled a new fire, I recruited fo as at fix o'clock to be able to rife, but with fuch excruciating pain in one of my fides that I could not avoid groaning aloud; but to prevent Fourgeoud and 3