was on board the pirate, for we dare not keep it about us; one parcel in a butter pot they did not discover.—­Amidst the hurry with which I was obliged to go to the before-mentioned island, I fortunately snatched by vessel’s papers, and hid them in my bosom, which the reader will find was a happy circumstance for me.  My writing desk, with papers, accounts, &c., all Mr. Lord’s letters (the gentlemen to whom my cargo was consigned) and several others were taken and maliciously destroyed.  My medicine chest, which I so much wanted, was kept for their own use.  What their motive could be to take my papers I could not imagine, except they had hopes of finding bills of lading for some Spaniards, to clear them from piracy.  Mr. Bracket had some notes and papers of consequence to him, which shared the same fate.  My quadrant, charts, books and bedding were not yet taken, but I found it impossible to hide them, and they were soon gone from my sight.

[Illustration:  A Cave in the Caicos group of the West India Islands.]

Tuesday, January 1st, 1822—­A sad new-year’s day to me.  Before breakfast orders came for me to cut down the Exertion’s railing and bulwarks on one side, for their vessel to heave out by, and clean her bottom.  On my hesitating a little they observed with anger, “very well, captain, suppose you no do it quick, we do it for you.”  Directly afterwards another boat full of armed men came along side; they jumped on deck with swords drawn, and ordered all of us into her immediately; I stepped below, in hopes of getting something which would be of service to us; but the captain hallooed, “Go into the boat directly or I will fire upon you.”  Thus compelled to obey, we were carried, together with four Spanish prisoners, to a small, low island or key of sand in the shape of a half moon, and partly covered with mangrove trees; which was about one mile from and in sight of my vessel.  There they left nine of us, with a little bread, flour, fish, lard, a little coffee and molasses; two or three kegs of water, which was brackish; an old sail for a covering, and a pot and some other articles no way fit to cook in.  Leaving us these, which were much less than they appear in the enumeration, they pushed off, saying, “we will come to see you in a day or two.”  Selecting the best place, we spread the old sail for an awning; but no place was free from flies, moschetoes, snakes, the venomous skinned scorpion, and the more venomous santipee.  Sometimes they were found crawling inside of our pantaloons, but fortunately no injury was received.  This afternoon the pirates hove their vessel out by the Exertion and cleaned one side, using her paints, oil, &c. for that purpose.  To see my vessel in that situation and to think of our prospects was a source of the deepest distress.  At night we retired to our tent; but having nothing but the cold damp ground for a bed, and the heavy dew of night penetrating the old canvass—­the situation of the island being fifty miles from the usual track of friendly vessels, and one hundred and thirty-five from Trinidad—­seeing my owner’s property so unjustly and wantonly destroyed—­considering my condition, the hands at whose mercy I was, and deprived of all hopes, rendered sleep or rest a stranger to me.