SUADED, WHEN I SAW THE BIRDS EAT THEM WITHOUT EXPERIENCING ANY HURT *.

SATURDAY, MAY 30. In the morning I discovered a visible alteration in our company for the better, and I fent them away again to gather oyfters. We had 38 days allowance, according to the laft mode of iffuing the 25th of a pound at breakfast and at dinner, and two pounds of pork left. This article, which I did not keep under lock and key as I did the bread, had been pilfered by fome inconfiderate perfon, but every one denied having any knowledge of this act; I therefore refolved to put it out of their power for the future, by sharing what remained for our dinner.

While the party was out picking up oysters, I got the boat in readiness for fea, and filled all our waterveffels, which amounted to nearly 60 gallons. On this occafion, fatigue and weakness so far got the better of their sense of duty, that fome of the people expreffed their difcontent at having worked harder than their

*This is a strong evidence of accumulated irritability in the fibre, vide page 546. Perfons, fays Dr. BEDDOES, who have been shut up in a coalwork from the falling in of the fides of a pit, and have had nothing to eat for four or five days, will be as much intoxicated by a bason of broth, as an ordinary perfon by three or four quarts of strong beer.

I

companions,

companions, and declared that they would rather be without their dinner than go in search of it. One perfon, in particular, went fo far as to tell me, with a mutinous look, that he was as good a man as myself.” It was not poffible for me to judge where this might have an end, if not stopped in time; therefore, to prevent such disputes in future, I determined either to preferve my command, or die in the attempt: and, feizing a cutlass, I ordered him to take hold of another and defend himself; on which he called out I was going to kill him, and humbly implored forgiveness. I did not allow this to interfere further with the harmony of the boat's crew, and every thing foon became quiet.

JUNE 1. NELSON, who had been out with others in search of provisions, was obliged to be brought back, fupported by two men. His complaint was a violent heat in his bowels, a loss of fight, much drought, and an almost total inability to walk. This I found was occafioned by his being unable to fupport the heat of the fun, and his attempting to do more than his strength was equal to. It was now that the little wine, which I had fo carefully faved, became of real ufe. I gave it in very fmall quantities, with fome pieces of bread foaked in it; and he foon began to recover. The boatswain

and carpenter also were ill, and complained of head-ach, and fickness of the ftomach.

Towards evening I cautioned every one against making too large a fire, or fuffering it after dark to blaze up. Mr. SAMUEL had the fuperintendence of this business, while I was strolling about the beach to obferve if I thought it could be feen from the main. I was juft fatisfied that it could not, when on a fudden the whole country appeared in a blaze, that might have been difcerned at a much more confiderable distance. I ran to learn the cause, found that it was occafioned by the obftinacy and imprudence of one of the party, who, in my absence, had infisted on increasing the fire, in doing which the flames caught the neighbouring grass, and rapidly spread. This misconduct might have produced very ferious confequences, by difcovering our fituation to the natives; for, if they had attacked us, we had neither arms nor ftrength to oppose an enemy. Thus the relief which I expected from a little fleep on fhore was totally loft, and I anxiously waited for the flowing of the tide, that we might proceed to sea.

We had now remained just fix days on the coast of New Holland, where we found oyfters, a few clams,

fome

fome fall fruits, birds, and water.

But perhaps a benefit nearly equal to this we received, by having been relieved from the irksomeness of being constantly in a crowded boat, and by obtaining good reft at night.

These advantages certainly preferved our lives; and, small as the supply was, I am very sensible how much it alleviated our diftreffes. By this time nature would have funk under the extremes of hunger and fatigue. Some would have ceased to struggle for a life that only promised wretchedness and mifery; and others, though poffeffed of more bodily ftrength, muft foon have followed their unfortunate companions. Even in our present fituation, we were most deplorable objects; but the hopes of a speedy relief kept up our spirits. I was fecretly surprised to fee that my men feemed as if they had embarked on a voyage to TIMOR in a veffel calculated for fafety and convenience. So much confidence gave me great pleasure, and I may venture to affert, that to this cause our preservation is chiefly to be attributed. For my own part, incredible as it may appear,

Robert Lamb, when he came to Java, acknowledged that, in one of the foraging parties, he had feparated from his companions, and had eat nine birds raw, which he had caught.

+

I FELT NEITHER EXTREME HUNGER NOR THIRST *.

My allowance contented me, knowing that I could have

no more.

JUNE 4. We were now launched into the open ocean, and I ferved one 25th of a pound of bread, and an allowance of water, for breakfast, and the fame for dinner, with an addition of fix oysters to each perfon.

JUNE 5. Six oyfters were, as yesterday, ferved to each man, in addition to the ufual allowance of bread and water. In the evening, a few boobies came about us, one of which I caught with my hand. With the allowance of bread I feryed a quarter of a pint of water for fupper, and to fome, who were moft in need, half a pint. In the course of the night, being conftantly wet with the fea, we fuffered much cold and fhiverings.

JUNE 6. At day-light I found that fome of the clams, which had been hung up to dry for sea store, were stolen; but every one folemnly denied having any knowledge of it. In the afternoon, I took an opportunity of examining our ftore of bread, and found re