Page:Surprising adventures of John Roach.pdf/7

 who might have made great profit by dealing with these people in an honest way; for the natives having acquired experience by the injuries done them, will not trust an Englishman upon an account; which is a great hinderance to the individuals and just trader.—However our treacherous commander regarded not the welfare of those who might come after him, but greatly exulted in his noble atchievement, and the gains which he had made.

After leaving Nombre de Dios, we stood about fifty leagues to the westward; but being in great want of fuel, we anchored in a large bay by the mouth of a river, in order to procure some.—I was immediately ordered on shore, with five negroes with hatchets and other implements, to cut fire-wood. We accordingly landed, but we had not advanced from the water side, till I was greatly surprized on beholding all the negroes suddenly take to their heels, and haste towards the boat; and alas! my surprize was turned into the greatest confusion, when on looking around, to see the cause of their flight, I perceived a party of haggard Indians hasting towards me. I was too near them to effect a retreat; for had I attempted it, I perceived that a shower of fatal arrows would probably have sealed my instant doom. They consequently seized me, and immediately stript me of all my apparel, reducing me, in a sew seconds, to perfect nakedness,