The villagers of East Prawle played a part in the drama of yet another wreck off the infamous Point.

The Dutch East Indiaman, De Boot, was dashed to pieces on Gull Rock in thick mist and a heavy swell in the early hours of a morning in October l738. Two of the 80 crew on board were instantly swept to their death and the 40 canon disappeared into the sea as the ship began to break up. The 650 ton wooden vessel, built in the early l700s, was bound for Rotterdam from Batvia, carrying a cargo of tea into which was packed thousands of pieces of Chinese Ming porcelian.

But, unbeknown to his crew, Captain Van Duijnen's duty was to save a far more valuable secret cargo - twelve boxes containing precious uncut diamonds and rubies alleged to be worth £250,000. The seas were getting heavier and huge rollers smashed into the sinking ship. The captain gave orders to abandon ship and organised a chain of sailors to carry the cargo from ship to shore, aided by the villagers who soon appeared on the scene to help (or perhaps help themselves!)

The last to leave the ship and up to his neck in water, the captain struggled with the remaining heavy box. Seeing his predicament, one of the locals who was braver - and perhaps wiser - than the rest, waded out into the heaving sea as yet another wave crashed over the captain's head. Fearing for his life, the captain placed the precious box into the outstretched hands of the waiting man who promptly waded safely ashore - and disappeared into the mist, never to be seen again.

As for the Ming porcelain, sadly none survived but at low tide, the seabed could be seen glistening from tiny fragments of blue and white - some of which, if you're lucky, can still be found at the foot of Gull rock today.