An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

But the Torment of their Drought was insufferable. Sometimes for a Week together they had not ⟨p. 25⟩one drop of fresh water. When they killed a Dolphin they would open his Belly and suck his blood a little to relieve their thirst. Yea, their thirst was so great that they fell to drinking of salt-water. Some drank several Gallons, but they found that it did not allay their thirst. They greedily drank their own Urine when they could make any. They would go over-board with a Rope fastened to their bodies, and put themselves into the water, hoping to find some refreshment thereby. When any of them stood to steer the Vessel, he would think a little to refresh himself by having his feet in a pail of Sea-Water. In this misery some of the Sea-men confessed that it was just with God thus to afflict them, in that they had been guilty of wasting good drink, and of abusing themselves therewith before they came to Sea. The divine Providence so ordered, that on February 7, they met with a Vessel at Sea, which happened to be a Guinea Man (Samuel Richard Master) their Boat was become leaky, that they could not go aboard, if it had been to save their lives. But the Master of the other Vessel understanding how it was with them, very courteously sent his own Boat to them, with ten pieces of Guinea Beef, two ankers of fresh water, and four bushels of Guinea Corn, whereby ⟨p. 26⟩they were sustained until they arrived at Barbados; being weak and spent with their hardships, but within a fortnight they were all re••vered, and came the next Summer to New England. This Account I received from the Mate of the Vessel, whose Name is Joseph But••er.

But the Torment of their Drought was insufferable. Sometimes for a Week together they had not ⟨p. 25⟩one drop of fresh water. When they killed a Dolphin they would open his Belly and suck his blood a little to relieve their thirst. Yea, their thirst was so great that they fell to drinking of salt-water. Some drank several Gallons, but they found that it did not allay their thirst. They greedily drank their own Urine when they could make any. They would go over-board with a Rope fastned to their bodies, and put themselves into the water, hoping to find some refreshment thereby. When any of them stood to steer the Vessel, he would think a little to refresh himself by having his feet in a pail of Sea-Water. In this misery some of the Sea-men confessed that it was just with God thus to afflict them, in that they had been guilty of wasting good drink, and of abusing themselves therewith before they came to Sea. The divine Providence so ordered, that on February 7, they met with a Vessel at Sea, which hapned to be a Guiny Man (Samuel Richard Master) their Boat was become leaky, that they could not go aboard, if it had been to save their lives. But the Master of the other Vessel understanding how it was with them, very courteously sent his own Boat to them, with ten pieces of Guiny Beef, two ankors of fresh water, and four bushels of Guiny Corn, whereby