and it relished so well, that we never gave ourselves the trouble to boil
it when we ate it, but either broiled it or ate it dry. But our main
difficulty about fresh water still remained; for we had no vessel to put
any into, much less to keep any for our going to sea.

But our first voyage being only to coast the island, we resolved to
venture, whatever the hazard or consequence of it might be, and in order to
preserve as much fresh water as we could, our carpenter made a well athwart
the middle of one of our canoes, which he separated from the other parts of
the canoe, so as to make it tight to hold the water and covered so as we
might step upon it; and this was so large that it held near a hogshead of
water very well. I cannot better describe this well than by the same kind
which the small fishing-boats in England have to preserve their fish alive
in; only that this, instead of having holes to let the salt water in, was
made sound every way to keep it out; and it was the first invention, I
believe, of its kind for such an use; but necessity is a spur to ingenuity
and the mother of invention.

It wanted but a little consultation to resolve now upon our voyage. The
first design was only to coast it round the island, as well to see if we
could seize upon any vessel fit to embark ourselves in, as also to take
hold of any opportunity which might present for our passing over to the
main; and therefore our resolution was to go on the inside or west shore of
the island, where, at least at one point, the land stretching a great way
to the north-west, the distance is not extraordinary great from the island
to the coast of Africa.

Such a voyage, and with such a desperate crew, I believe was never made,
for it is certain we took the worst side of the island to look for any
shipping, especially for shipping of other nations, this being quite out of