Early one morning we came to an anchor under a little point of land, but pretty high; and the tide beginning to flow, we lay ready to go further in—­But Xury, whose youthful and penetrating eyes were sharper then mine, in a soft tone, desired me to keep far from land, lest we should be devoured, “For look yonder, mayter,” said he, “and see de dreadful monster fast asleep on de side of de hill.”  Accordingly looking where he pointed, I espied a fearful monster indeed.  It was a terrible great lion that lay on shore, covered as it were by a shade of a piece of the hill.  “Xury,” said I, “you shall go on shore and kill him.”  But the boy looked amazed:  “Me kill him!” says he, “he eat me at one mouth:”  meaning one mouthful.  Upon which I bid him lie still, and charging my biggest gun with two slugs, and a good charge of powder, I took the best aim I could to shoot him through the head, but his leg lying over his nose, the slug broke his knee-bone.  The lion awaking with the pain, got up, but soon fell down, giving the most hideous groan I ever heard:  but taking my second piece, I shot him through the head, and then he lay struggling for life.  Upon this Xury took heart and desired my leave to go on shore.  “Go then,” said I. Upon which taking a little gun in one hand, he swam to shore with the other, and coming close to the lion, put a period to his life, by shooting him again through the head.

But this was spending our ammunition in vain, the flesh not being good to eat.  Xury was like a champion, and comes on board for a hatchet, to cut of the head of his enemy:  but not having strength to perform it, he cut off and brought me a foot.  I bethought me, however, that his skin would be of use.  This work cost Xury and me a whole day:  when spreading it on the top of our cabin, the hot beams of the sun effectually dried it in two days time, and it afterwards served me for a bed to lie on.

And now we sailed southerly, living sparingly on our provisions, and went no oftener on shore than we were obliged for fresh water.  My design was to make the river Gambia or Senegal, or any where about the Cape de Verde, in hopes to meet some European ship.  If Providence did not so favour me, my next course was to seek for the islands, or lose my life among the Negroes.  And in a word, I put my whole stress upon this, “Either that I must meet with some ship or certainly perish.”

One day as we were sailing along, we saw people stand on the shore looking at us:  we could also perceive they were black and stark naked.  I was inclined to go on shore, but Xury cried, “No, no:”  however, I approached nearer, and I found they run along the shore by me a good way.  They had no weapons in their hands, except one, who held a long stick, which Xury told me was a lance, with which they could kill at a great distance.  I talked to them by signs and made them sensible I wanted something to eat:  they beckoned to me to stop my boat, while two of them ran up into the country, and in less than half an hour came back, and brought with them two pieces of dried flesh, and some corn, which we kindly accepted; and to prevent any fears on either side, they brought the food to the shore, laid it down, then went and stood a great way off till we fetched it on board, and then came close to us again.