The ocean / By P. H. Gosse.

  • Gosse, Philip Henry, 1810-1888.
Date:
[pref. 1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ocean / By P. H. Gosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    355/388 (page 331)
    tions were then issued to keep the boat away, and a rope, with a bowline-knot at one end, was thrown to the junk, into which signs were made for each man to place himself, and then plunge into the water, whence he was dragged into the boat, and eventually, in like manner, to the ship. Thus were eighteen persons rescued from the very grasp of death, at a moment when every ray of hope ap- peared to be utterly extinguished. Their gratitude was boundless : they almost worshipped the officers, the crew, and the vessel; prostrated themselves, kissed the feet of the former, and the very planks, of the latter. * * * * “ After being on board five days, we made Pulo Aor, where we took in water, and so desirous were those simple-hearted people of testifying their gra- titude, that they would not permit the men to carry it, but filled the casks themselves ; and at parting, knelt down and kissed each man’s feet with the fer- vour of devotion. Here we separated from seven- teen men who had been nine days at sea upon a miserable wreck, water-logged, without water to drink, and scarcely food to eat. One of them, an old man, died on the preceding evening, from the effects of fatigue and exhaustion ; the others, I doubt not, have long ere this time reached their homes, and taught their friends and children to bless the Englishmen and the English ship, which, under Providence, snatched them from a watery grave, and returned them to their affections.”* The principal object of commercial enterprise with * Unit. Serv. Journ. 1837, iii. 512.