The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of
the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed
from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to
get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After
three years' expectation that things would mend, I accepted an
advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the
"Antelope," who was making a voyage to the South Sea.[5] We set sail
from Bristol, May 4, 1699; and our voyage at first was very prosperous.

It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with the
particulars of our adventures in those seas. Let it suffice to inform
him, that, in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven
by a violent storm, to the northwest of Van Diemen's Land.[6]

By an observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees and
2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labor and
ill food; the rest were in a very weak condition.

On the fifth of November, which was the beginning of summer in those
parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half
a cable's length of the ship;[7] but the wind was so strong, that we
were driven directly upon it, and immediately split. Six of the crew, of
whom I was one, having let down the boat into the sea, made a shift to
get clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about
three leagues, till we were able to work no longer, being already spent
with labor, while we were in the ship. We, therefore, trusted ourselves
to the mercy of the waves; and, in about half an hour, the boat was
overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my companions
in the boat, as well as those who escaped on the rock, or were left in