As we naturally are fond of Life, I return’d Thanks to Providence for my Escape, and thought myself extreamly happy, tho’ thrown on an unknown Coast, and destitute of every thing necessary to sustain me:  But I trusted in that Goodness which had preserved, and which I hoped would provide for me.  To despond, I thought, would be mistrusting the Bounty of our Creator, and might be the ready way to plunge me into the Miseries Men naturally apprehend in my Circumstances.  I therefore heartily recommended me to the Divine Protection, and enter’d the Woods which lay along the Coast.

The Storm, which seem’d rais’d for the Destruction of those Enemies of Mankind, and Shame of human Nature, ceas’d in few Hours after the Vessel perish’d.  I found in the Woods all sorts of Indian Fruits, as, Guavers, Cushoes, Sowresops, Oranges, _&c._ with which I appeased my Hunger.  I was desirous, yet fearful of discovering, whether I was in a desolate or inhabited Country, and whether I was on the Continent, or some Island.

I wandered in the Woods till Sun-set, and then apprehending Danger from wild Beasts, I climb’d a tall Tree, where I sat, tho’ I could not sleep, till Morning.  By the time it had been dark about an Hour, I was cruelly terrified by hearing human Voices in the Air; for tho’ I did not understand, I plainly heard these Words:  Sup gravimiaco caputasco deumorian; with others which I could not retain.

Let any Man suppose himself in my Circumstances, and he will much easier form an Idea, than I describe the Agony I was in on this surprizing Accident.  The Sun was two Hours high before I durst descend; but seeing nothing to apprehend, I came down, prosecuted my Journey, as I had begun, Eastward.  In three Hours, or thereabout, I came to the Extremity of the Wood, which was bounded by a large Meadow, enamell’d with the most beautiful-coloured Flowers, and hedg’d on the three other Sides with Limes, and with large Orange-Trees, placed at equal Distances in the Fence.  This, with the Prospect I had of Corn Fields, made me conclude the Country inhabited by a civiliz’d People.

I cross’d the Meadow, highly delighted with the agreeable Prospect which lay before me.  To avoid trampling on, and doing Damage to the Corn, I turn’d a little to the Northward, in hopes of falling in with some Village, or meeting with some or other of the Inhabitants.  I found here very rich Pastures, and large Flocks of Sheep, intermix’d with Deer; the Sheep were, as in Jamaica, cover’d with short Hair, like that of a Greyhound; and the Deer, which I wonder’d at instead of flying from, came up to me, and gazed, as if I was a Creature which they were not accustomed to the Sight of.  The Sheep following their Example, I was so hemm’d in, that, had I not made my way with a Stick I broke out of a Hedge, I don’t know how I should have got clear of them.