"There were hogs kept in pens on the Gun-deck for their own use; and I
have seen the prisoners watch an opportunity, and with a tin pot steal
the bran from the hogs' trough, and go into the Galley and when they
could get an opportunity, boil it over the fire, and eat it, as you,
Sir, would eat of good soup when hungry. This I have seen more than
once, and there are now living besides me, who can bear testimony to
the same fact. There are many other facts equally abominable that I
could mention, but the very thought of those things brings to my
recollection scenes the most distressing.
"When I reflect how many hundreds of my brave and intrepid countrymen
I have seen, in all the bloom of health, brought on board of that
ship, and in a few days numbered with the dead, in consequence of the
savage treatment they there received, I can but adore my Creator that
He suffered me to escape; but I did not escape, Sir, without being
brought to the very verge of the grave.
"This was the second time I was on board, which I shall mention more
particularly hereafter. Those of us who had money fared much better
than those who had none. I had made out to save, when taken, about
twenty dollars, and with that I could buy from the bumboats, that were
permitted to come alongside, bread, fruit, etc.; but, Sir, the
bumboatmen were of the same kidney as the officers of the Jersey and
we got nothing from them without paying through the nose for it, and I
soon found the bottom of my purse; after which I fared no better than
the rest.
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