time I ferved a tea-fpoonful of rum to each perfon, FROM

WHICH WE ALL FOUND GREAT BENEFIT!

MONDAY, MAY 4. I divided five fmall cocoa nuts for our dinner, and every one seemed fatisfied. Served for fupper a few broken pieces of bread-fruit, and performed prayers.

The night turned out fair, and, having had tolerable reft, every one seemed confiderably better in the morning, and contentedly breakfasted on a few pieces of yams that were found in the boat. After breakfast we examined our bread, a great deal of which was damaged and rotten; this, nevertheless, we were glad to keep for use.

For dinner, I ferved fome of the damaged bread, and a quarter of a pint of water.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6. We discovered several fmall iflands. Those we were near appeared fruitful and hilly, fome very mountainous, and all of a great height. I durft not, however, ventùre to land, as we had no arms, and were lefs capable of defending ourfelves than we were at Tofoa.

Our allowance for the day was a quarter of a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and the meat, which did not exceed 3 X 2

two

two ounces to each perfon: it was received very contentedly, but we fuffered great drought.

To our great joy we hooked a fish, but we were miferably disappointed by its being loft in trying to get it into the boat.

I directed the course W. by N. for the night, and served to each person an ounce of the damaged bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, for supper.

As our lodgings were very miferable, and confined for want of room, I endeavoured to remedy the latter defect, by putting ourselves to watch and watch; fo that one half always fat up while the other lay down on the boat's bottom, or upon a chest exposed to the open air.

Our limbs were dreadfully cramped, for we could not stretch them out; and the nights were fo cold, and we fo conftantly wet, that, after a few hours fleep, we could scarce move.

THURSDAY, MAY 7. At dawn of day we difcovered land. The country appeared to be agreeably interspersed with high and low land, and in fome places covered with wood.

Being very wet and cold, I ferved a spoonful of rum

and

and a morfel of bread for breakfaft. At this time we obferved two large failing canoes coming swiftly after us along fhore, and, being apprehenfive of their intentions, we rowed with fome anxiety, fully fenfible of our weak and defenceless state. Only one of them gained upon us, which, however, by three o'clock in the afternoon gave over chase. If I may judge from the fail of these veffels, they are of a fimilar conftruction with those at the Friendly Iflands, which, with their fituation, gives reason to believe they are the fame kind of people. Whether thefe canoes had any hoftile intention against us must remain a doubt: perhaps we might have benefited by an intercourfe with them; but in our defenceless situation, to have made the experiment would have been risking too much.

At four o'clock there was much thunder and lightning, and heavy rain, when every perfon did his utmost to catch fome water, and we increased our stock to 34 gallons, befides quenching our thirst for the first time fince we had been at fea; but we paffed the night very miferably, for being extremly wet, and having no dry things to fhift or cover us, we experienced cold and fhiverings fcarce to be conceived.

FRIDAY, MAY 8. The allowance I iffued to-day,

was

For fupper I ferved a

was an ounce and a half of pork, a tea-spoonful of rum, half a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and an ounce of bread. THE RUM, THOUGH SO SMALL IN QUANTITY, WAS OF THE GREATEST SERVICE! quarter of a pint of water, and half an ounce of bread. I endeavoured to amuse my people by describing the fituation of New Guinea and New Holland, and gave them every information in my power, that in cafe any accident happened to me, those who survived might have some idea of what they were about, and be able to find their way to TIMOR, which at prefent they knew nothing of but the name.

SATURDAY, MAY 9. In the morning, a quarter of a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and fome of the decayed bread, was ferved for breakfaft; and for dinner I divided the meat of four cocoa-nuts, with the remainder of the rotten bread, which was only eatable by fuch diftreffed people. The wind had been moderate all day, in the SE. quarter, with fine weather; but, about nine o'clock in the evening, the clouds began to gather, and we had a prodigious fall of rain, with severe thunder and lightning. Being miferably wet and cold, I ferved to the people a tea-fpoonful of rum each, to enable them to bear their diftreffed fituation. The weather continued

extremely

extremely bad, and the wind increased; we spent a very miferable night, without fleep, except fuch as could be got in the midst of rain.

SUNDAY, MAY 10.

The day brought no relief but its light. The sea broke over us fo much, that two men were constantly baling; and we had no choice how to steer, being obliged to keep before the waves for fear of the boat filling.

The allowance now regularly served to each perfon, was one 25th of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, at eight in the morning, at noon, and at fun-fet.

To-day I gave about half an ounce of pork for dinner, which, though any one would have confidered only as a mouthful, was divided into feveral pieces, and was eat with great flowness.

A fishing line was generally towing from the ftern of the boat, but though we saw great numbers of fish, wè could never catch one.

12

The rain abated towards noon, but the wind continued very strong, with very fqually weather, and a high breaking fea, so that we were miferably wet, and fuffered great cold in the night.

MONDAY, MAY 11. In the morning at day-break,

I ferved