get about one hundred and fifty
heaped upon that floating tomb; but he did not think of adding one
more to the number by descending himself, as he ought to have done,
but went peaceably away, and placed himself in one of the best boats.
There should have been sixty sailors upon the raft, and there were but
about ten. A list had been made out on the 4th, assigning each his
proper place: but this wise precaution being disregarded, every one
pursued the plan he deemed the best for his own preservation. The
precipitation with which they forced one hundred and fifty unfortunate
beings upon the raft was such, that they forgot to give them one
morsel of biscuit. However, they threw towards them twenty-five pounds
in a sack, while they were not far from the frigate; but it fell into
the sea, and was with difficulty recovered.

During this disaster, the governor of Senegal, who was busied in the
care of his own dear self, effeminately descended in an arm-chair into
the barge, where were already various large chests, all kinds of
provisions, his dearest friends, his daughters and his wife.
Afterwards the captain's boat received twenty-seven persons, among
whom were twenty-five sailors, good rowers. The shallop, commanded by
M. Espiau, ensign of the ship, took forty-five passengers, and put
off. The boat, called the Senegal, took twenty-five; the pinnace
thirty-three; and the yawl, the smallest of all the boats, took only
ten.

Almost all the officers, the passengers, the mariners and
supernumeraries, were already embarked--all, but our weeping family,
who still remained upon the boards of the frigate, till some
charitable souls would kindly receive us into a boat. Surprised at
this abandonment, I instantly felt myself roused, and, calling with
all my might to the officers of the boats, besought them to take our
unhappy family along with them. Soon after, the barge, in which were
the governor of Senegal and all his family, approached the Medusa, as
if still to take some passengers, for there were but few in it. I made
a motion to descend, hoping that the Misses Schmaltz, who had, till
that day, taken a great interest in our family, would allow us a place
in their boat; but I was mistaken: those ladies, who had embarked in a
mysterious incognito, had already forgotten us; and M. Lachaumareys,
who was still on the frigate, positively told me they would not embark
along with us. Nevertheless I ought to tell, what we learned
after