Temple Bar; and T. Warner, at the Black Boy in Paternoster Row. 1720. 8vo. pp. 360. 2nd edition. 1737. 12mo. 3rd edition. 1768. 12mo.
"Bob Singleton, as he was familiarly called, knew nothing of his origin, having been trepanned when a child, and sold to a gipsey woman; who happening to be hanged, he was thrown upon the parish. At twelve years old he went to Newfoundland, and upon his return home was captured by a Turkish rover, but re-taken by the Portuguese, and carried to Lisbon. His master dying there, he engaged himself as cabin-boy in a Portuguese vessel bound to the East Indies, and became initiated in every vice. But degraded as he was, he could not but look with horror upon his shipmates, whom he describes as the most profligate of beings. However, 'he that is shipped with the devil, must sail with the devil;' so he continued his voyage. Upon his return from Goa, where he only escaped the inquisition by becoming a good Catholic, the vessel put into Madagascar; and a mutiny taking place amongst the seamen, twenty-seven of them, including young Singleton, were left upon shore. Here they were hospitably treated by the natives: but their new situation not sitting easy upon them, they longed for an opportunity of returning to Europe. Like men in despair, they wandered from one expedient to another; and at length committed themselves to the sea, in a vessel of their own construction. After a perilous voyage of twenty-four days, they reached the main land of Africa, but found themselves in a more barbarous country than that they had quitted. They had now to cross a large continent, which they performed upon foot; and we have a relation of many perilous adventures with wild beasts, and savage nations, as also, of the treasures they collected in their progress. Having at length