To catch them was a very easy task, but to
undertake to deprive each individual captive of life, as rapidly as
they could have been taken, would have been a more herculean task for
each individual daily, than the destruction of 3000 Philistines by
Sampson of old. To throw them overboard would have been but a small
relief, as they would probably add to the impurities of the boiler, by
being deposited in it the first time it was filled up for cooking our
unsavory mess. What then was to be done with them? A general
consultation was held, and it was determined to deprive them of their
liberty. This being agreed upon, the prisoners immediately went to
work, for their comfort and amusement, to make a liberal contribution
of those migratory creatures, who were compelled to colonize for a
time within the boundaries of a large snuff box appropriated for the
purpose. There they lay, snugly ensconced, of all colors, ages, and
sizes, to the amount of some hundreds, waiting for orders.
"British recruiting officers frequently came on board, and held out to
the prisoners tempting offers to enlist in his Majesty's service; not
to fight against their own country, but to perform garrison duty in
the island of Jamaica.
"One day an Irish officer came on board for this purpose, and not
meeting with much success among the prisoners who happened to be on
deck, he descended below to repeat his offers.
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