At last the storm ceased, but we found it had driven us-quite out of our course, and we knew not where we were.
On the 30th, Gustavus Dumally who was on deck cried out: ‘Land!’
At this we were all extremely rejoiced. On the 31st we reached it, and found it was the island of Trinidad.
We refitted our ship and got in a store of provisions and water, and set sail once more on the 5th of May. It would be endless to describe all our adventures in the South Atlantic Ocean. Suffice it to say that after many storms, in which we were driven quite out of our course and knew not in what part of the world we were, we at last discovered land.
We sailed along the coast for some time to find a good landing-place. We at last found one.
We landed on the 2nd of June 1793. We moored our battered ship in a small harbour and advanced up into the country. To our great surprise we found it cultivated. Grain of a peculiar sort grew in great abundance, and there were large plantations of palm-trees, and likewise an immense number of almond-trees. There were also many olives and large enclosures of rice.
We were greatly surprised at these marks of the land being inhabited. It seemed to be part of an immense continent.
After we had travelled about two miles we saw at a distance twenty men well armed. We immediately prepared for battle, having each of us a pistol, sword, and bayonet. We stood still and they came near. They seemed greatly surprised at us, and we heard one of them say: ‘What strange people!’
The Chief then said: ‘Who are you?’
Wellesley answered: ‘We were cast up on your shores by a storm and require shelter.’