On the evening of the 14th March, the Krooman fell into the sea.  This poor fellow, whose name was Yellow Will, called loudly to them for help, and although the vessel was not sailing at a great rate, he missed every thing that was thrown overboard to save him.  To have altered the ship’s course would have endangered the masts and sails, and their small boat was so leaky that it would not swim.  They had therefore no alternative, but were obliged to abandon him to his fate with the most painful feelings, and they heard his cries nearly an hour afterwards. [Footnote] There is nothing more distressing than an accident of this nature.  To see an unfortunate man grasping in vain at any thing which is thrown to him, as the ship passes by him, to see him struggling against his fate as he rises on the distant wave, which frequently conceals him from view, and to be unable to render him the least assistance, whilst his cries die away in the breeze, raise sensations which it is impossible to describe.  This man in the condition in which they then were, particularly, was a great loss to them, and was the best amongst the black people.

[Footnote:  We have given this as it is stated in Lander’s Narrative, but there is something highly improbable in the circumstance of the cries of a man, who could not swim, being heard for an hour after his immersion in the sea, and yet that during that time no effectual means could be devised for his deliverance.]

On the morning of the 15th, the weather was very hazy, which prevented them seeing the land, although they knew it to be at no great distance from them.  They were becalmed during the whole of the day, but found by the decrease of the depth, that they were drifting close on towards the shore.  At five in the afternoon, the ship was about a quarter of a mile from the land, discovered by three large hills of a sugar loaf appearance being close to them.  Finding by pieces of cork and other things that they threw into the water, that they were drifting fast on the breakers, which they could distinctly hear, they made an attempt to get the long boat out to save themselves, as they expected the ship would be very soon wrecked, but they found that they could not muster sufficient strength to lift her over the side.  At this critical moment, a breeze of wind from off the land saved them from destruction, and enabled them to get the vessel under command.

On the 16th March they arrived at Rio Janeiro, and on the following day paid their respects to Admiral Baker, the commander in chief on the South American station, and made known to him their situation and anxiety to return to England.  The admiral received them in that kind and hospitable manner, which is the peculiar characteristic of a British seaman.  He invited them to his table with his officers, and ordered them a passage in the William Harris, a government transport, which was to sail for England in a day or two.

Accordingly on the 20th they sailed for England, and on the 9th June arrived at Portsmouth, after a tedious voyage, and gladly landed with hearts full of gratitude for all their deliverance.