130 CHAP. XXI.
NARRATIVE OF AN maca, intent on immediate mifchief, and that they were marching to the westward. In confequence of this information, a captain and fifty men were immediately detached, by water, to reconnoitre the banks near the Pinenburg Greek. This party returned upon the 8th, and confirmed the intelligence. Our indefatigable chief now again determined to purfue them; but the flaves who were to carry the ammunition and provisions had been fent home to their masters, nothing but skin and bones, to be exchanged for others, not yet arrived, and to be starved in their turn. I (hall therefore relate what happened the two following days, until the arrival of thefe unfortunate beasts of. burden; for fo they might with propriety be called. On the 9th were fold upon credit, and to the highest bidder, the effects of the deceafed Ensign Strows, when the poor foldiers, regardlefs of price, and only wishing to obtain some cloaths and refrefhments to keep (in the vulgar phrafe) foul and body together, actually paid at the rate of 700 per cent, and this infamous debt was accordingly Rated in their accounts. I have feen, for inRance, a private marine pay five (hillings for a pound of mouldered tobacco, that might be worth fix-pence, and double the prime value for a pair of old Rockings or fhoes. A fick man paid one guinea for a couple of meagre chickens; and for a broken bottle-cafe to hold his lumber, another paid a fimilar sum. Thus were thefe poor dying half-starved wretches deprived of the little property they had