of his limbs. The little sleep we got was in no way
refreshing, as we were constantly covered Avith the
sea and rain. The weather continuing, and no sun
affording the least prospect of getting our clothes
dried, 1 recommended to every one to strip and
wring them through the sea-water, by which means
they received a warmth that, while wet with rain-
water, they could not have." The shipping of seas
and constant baihng continued ; and though the men
were shivering with wet and cold, the commander
was under the necessity of informing them, that he
could no longer afford them the comfort they had
derived from the tea-spoonful of rum.
On the 13th and 14th the stormy weather and
100 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
heavy sea continued unabated, and on these days
they saw distant land, and passed several islands.
The sight of these islands, i't may well be supposed,
served only to increase the misery of their situation.
They were as men very little better than starving
with plenty ill their view; yet, to attempt procuring
any relief was considered to be attended with so
much danger, that the prolongation of life, even in
the midst of misery, was thought preferable, while
there remained hopes of being able to surmount
their hardships.
The whole day and night of the 15th were still
rainy ; the latter was dark, not a star to be seen by
which the steerage could be directed, and the sea
was continually breaking over the boat. On the
next day, the 16th, was issued for dinner an ounce
of salt pork, in addition to their miserable allowance
of one twenty-fifth part of a pound of bread. The
night was again truly horrible, with storms of
thunder, lightning, and rain ; not a star visible, so
that the steerage was quite uncertain.
(5n the morning of the 17th, at dawn of day, "1
found," says the commander, " every person com-
plaining, and some of them solicited extra allowance,
which 1 positively refused. Our situation was
miserable ; always wet, and suffering extreme cold
in the night, without the least shelter from the
weather. The little rum we had was of the greatest
service : when our nights were particularly distress-
ing, I generally served a tea-spoonful or two to
each person, and it was always joyful tidings when
they heard of my intentions. The night was again
n dark and dismal one, the sea constantly breaking
over us, and nothing but the wind and waves to
direct our steerage. It was my intention, if pos-
sible, to make the coast of New-Holland to the
southward of Endeavour Straits, being sensible that
it was necessary to preserve such a situation as
would make a southerlv wind a fair one ; that we
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. 101
might range along, the reefs till an opening sTiould be
found into smooth water, and we the sooner be abfe
to pick up some refreshments."
0:i the 18th the rain abated, when, at their com-
mander's recommendation, they all stripped and
wrung their clothes through the sea-water, from
which, as usual, they derived much warmth and re-
freshment; but every one complained of violent
pains in their bones. At night the heavy rain re-
commenced, with severe lightning, which obliged
them to keep baihng without intermission. The
same weather continued through the 19th and 20th ;
the rain constant — at times a deluge — the men al-
ways bailing; the commander, too, found it neces-
sary to issue for dinner only half an ounce of pork.
At dawn of day, Lieutenant Bligh states, that
some of his people seemed half-dead ; that their ap-
pearances were horrible; " and I could look," says
he, " no way, but I caught the eye of some one in
distress. Extreme hunger was now too evident, but
no one suffered from thirst, nor had we much incli-
nation to drink, that desire perhaps being satisfied
through the skin. The little sleep we got was in
the midst of water, and we constantly awoke with
severe cramps and pains in our bones. At noon the
sun broke out and revived every one.
" During the whole of the afternoon of the 21st
we were so covered with rain and salt water, that
we could scarcely see. We suffered extreme cold,
and every one dreaded the approach of night.
Sleep, though we longed for it, afforded no comfort;
for my own part, I almost lived without it. On the
22d our situation was extremely calamitous. We
were obliged to take the course of the sea, running
right before it, and watching with the utmost care,
as the least error in the helm would in a moment
have been our destruction. It continued thrnugh
ne day to blow hard, and the foam of the sea kept
runninsr over our stern and Quarters.
102 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
(( I
The misery we suffered this night exceeded the
preceding. The sea flew over us with great force,
and kept us bailing with horror and anxiety. At
dawn of day I found every one in a most distressed
condition, and I began to fear that another such
night would put an end to the lives of several, who
seemed no longer able to support their sufferings
I served an allowance of two tea-spoonfuls of rum;
after drinking which, and having wrung our clothes
and taken our breakfast of bread and water, we be-
came a little refreshed.
" On the evening of the 24th, the wind moderated
and the weather looked much better, Avhich rejoiced
all hands, so that they ate their scanty allowance
with more satisfaction than for some time past.
The night also was fair ; but being always wet Avith
the sea, we suffered much from the cold. I had the
pleasure to see a fine morningproduce some cheerful
countenances ; and for the first time during the last
fifteen days we experienced comfort from the
warmth of the sun. We stripped and hung up our
clothes to dry, which were by this time become so
threadbare, that they could not keep out either wet
or cold. In the afternoon we had many birds about
us, which are never seen far from land, such as
boobies and noddies."
As the sea now began to run fair, and the boat
shipped but little water, Lieutenant Bligh took the
opportunity to examine into the state of their
bread ; and it was found that, according to the pres-
ent mode of living, there was a sufficient quantity
remaining for twenty-nine days' allowance, by which
time there was every reason to expect Ihey would
be able to reach Timor. But as this was still un-
certain, and it was possible that, after all, tliey might
be obliged to go to Java, it was determined to pro-
portion the allowance, so as to make the stock hold
out six weeks. " I was apprehensive," he says,
** that this would be ill received, and that it would
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. 103
require my utmost resolution to enforce it ; for,
small as the quantity was which I intended to take
away for our future good, yet it might appear to my
people like robbing them of life ; and some who
were less patient than their companions, I expected
would very ill brook it. However, on my repre-
senting the necessity of guarding against delays that
might be occasioned by contrary winds, or other
causes, and promising to enlarge upon the allowance
as we got on, they cheerfully agreed to my pro-
posal." It was accordingly settled that every person
should receive one twenty-fifth part of a pound of
bread for breakfast, and the same quantity for dinner
as usual, but that the proportion for supper should
oe discontinued ; this arrangement left them forty-
three days' consumption.
On the 25th, about noon, some noddies came so
near to the boat that one of them was caught by
hand. This bird w^as about the size of a small pigeon.
'' I divided it," says Bligh, "with its entrails, into
eighteen portions, and by a well-knovni method at
sea, of ' Who shall have this?''* it was distributed,
with the allowance of bread and water for dinner,
and eaten up, bones and all, witj^salt water for sauce.
In the evening, several boobies flying near to us, we
had the good fortune to catch one of them. This
bird is as large as a duck. They are the most
presumptive proof of being near land of any sea-
fowl we are acquainted with. I directed the bird to
be killed for supper, and the blood to be given to
three of the people who were the most distressed
for want of food. The body, >vith the entrails, beak,
and feet, I divided into eighteen shares, and with the
allowance of bread, which I made a merit of
* One person turns his back on the object that is to be divided;
mother then points separately to the portions, at each of them asking
alouil, " Who shall have this 7" to which the first answers by naming
somebody. This impartial method of distribution gives every man an
oqual chance of the best share. Bligh used to speak of the great amuse
sent the poor people bad at the b,ak and^laws falling to his share.
104 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
granting, we made a good supper compared with our
usual fare.
" On the next da5% the 26th, we caught another
booby, so that Providence appeared to be reUeving
our wants in an extraordinary manner. The people
were overjoyed at this addition to their dinner,
which was distributed in the same manner as on the
preceding evening; giving the blood to those who
were the most in want of food. To make the bread
a little savoury, most of the men frequently dipped
it in salt water, but I generally broke mine into
small pieces, and ate it in my allowance of water,
out of a cocoanut shell, with a spoon; economically
avoiding to take too large a piece at a time, so that I
was as long at dinner as if it had been a much more
plentiful meal."
The weather was now serene, which, neverthe-
less, was not without its inconveniences, for, it
appears, they began to feel distress of a different
kind from that which they had hitherto been accus-
tomed to suffer. The heat of the sun was now so
powerful, that several of the people were seized
with a languor and faintness, w^hich made life indif-
ferent. But the litt^ circumstance of catching two
boobies in the evening, trifling as it may appear, had
the effect of raising their spirits. The stomachs of
these birds contained several flying-fish, and small
cuttle-fish, all of which w^ere carefully saved to be
divided for dinner the next day ; which were ac-
cordingly divided, with their entrails find the con-
tents of their maws, into eighteen portions, and, as
the prize was a very valuable one, it was distributed
as before, by calling out, " Who ahall Jxave thisV —
*^so that to-day," says the lieutenant, "with the
usual allow^ance of bread at breakfast and at dinner,
I was happy to see that every person thought he
had feasted." From the appearance of the clouds
in the evening, Mr. Bligh had no doubt they were
then near the land, and theDeocle amused themselves
THE OPEN-BOAT .NAVIGATION. 105
»
U'ith conversing on the probability of what they
would meet vvith on it.
Accordingly, at one in the morning of the 28th,
the person at the helm heard the sound of breai^ers.
It was the " barrier reef" which runs along the
eastern coast of New-Holland, through which it
now became the anxious object to discover a pas-
sage ; Mr. Bligh says this was now become abso-
lutely necessary, without a moment's loss of time.
The idea of getting into smooth water and finding
refreshments kept up the people's spirits. The sea
broke furiouslj'' over the reef in every part ; within,
th3 water was so smooth and calm that every man
already anticipated the heartfelt satisfaction he was
about to receive, as soon as he should have passed
the barrier. At length a break in the reef was dis-
covered, a quarter of a mile in width, and through
this the boat rapidly passed with a strong stream
running to the westward, and came immediately into
smooth water, and all the past hardships seemed at
once to be forgotten.
They now returned thanks to God for his generous
protection, and with much content took their misera-
ble allowance of the twenty-fifth part of a pound of
bread and a quarter of a pint of water for dinner.
The coast now began to show itself very distinctly,
and in the evening they landed on the sandy point
of an island, when it was soon discovered there were
oysters on the rocks, it being low water. The party
sent out to reconnoitre returned highly rejoiced at
having found plenty of oysters and fresh water. By
help of a small magnifying glass a fire was made,
and among the things that had been thrown into the
boat was a tind^rbox and a piece of brimstone, so
that in future they had the ready means of making a
fire. One of the men, too, had been so provident as
to bring av^^ay with him from the ship a copper-pot;
and thus with a mixture of oysters, bread, and pork,
a stew was made, of which each person received a
106 THE OPEN-BC^AT NAVIGATION.
full pint. It is remarked that the oysters grew so
fast to the rocks, that it was with great difficulty
they could be broken off; but they at length dis-
covered it to be the most expeditious way to open
them where they were fixed.
The general complaints among the people were a
dizziness in the head, great weakness in the joints,
and violent tenesmus, but none of them are stated
to have been alarming; and notwithstanding theii
sufferings/rom cold and hunger, all of them retained
marks of strength. Mr. Bligh had cautioned them
not to touch any kind of berry or fruit that they
might find ; yet it appears they were no sooner out
of sight than they began to make free with three
different kinds that grew all over the island, eating
without any reserve. The symptoms of having eaten
too much began at last to frighten some of them ;
they fancied they were all poisoned, and regarded
each other with the strongest marks of apprehen-
sion, uncertain what might be the issue of their im-
prudence : fortunately the fruit proved to be whole-
some and good.
" This day (29th May) being," says Lieutenant
Bligh, " the anniversary of the restoration of King
Charles 11., and the name not being inapplicable to
our present situation (for we were restored to fresh
life and strength), I named this 'Restoration Island;'
for I thought it probable that Captain Cook mighl
not have taken notice of it."
With oysters and palm-tops stewed together the
people now made excellent meals, without con
suming any of their bread. In the morning of the
30th Mr. Bligh saw with great delight a visible
alteration in the men for the better, and he sent them
away to gather oysters, in order to carry a stock of
them to sea, for he determined to put off again that
evening. They also procured fresh water, and filled
all their vessels to the amount of nearly sixty gal-
lons. On examining the bread, it was found there
still remained about thirtv-ei^ht days' allowance. .
THK OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. lO"?
Being- now ready for sea, every person was or-
dered to attend prayers ; but just as they were em-
barking, about twenty naked savages made their ap-
pearance, running and hallooing, and beckoning the
strangers to come to them ; but as each was armed
with a spear or lance, it was thought prudent to
hold no communication with them. They now pro-
ceeded to the northward, having the continent on
fheir left, and several^slands and reefs on their right.
On the 3 1st they landed on one of these islands,
io which was given the name of " Sunday." " I
sent out two parties," says Bligh, " one to the north-
ward and the other to the southward, to seek for
supplies, and others I ordered to stay by the boat.
On this occasion fatigue and weakness so far got the
better of their sense of duty, that some of the people
expressed their discontent at havmg worked harder
than their companions, and declared that they would
rather be without their dinner than go in search of
it. One person in particular went so far as to tell
me with a mutinous look, that he was as good a man
as myself. It was not possible for one to judge
where this might have an end, if not stopped in time ;
to prevent, therefore, such disputes in future, I deter-
mined either to preserve my command or die in the
attempt ; and seizing a cutlass, I ordered him to lay
hold of another and defend himself; on which he
called out that I was going to kill him, and imme-
diately made concessions. I did not allow this to
interfere further with the harmony of the boat's
crew, and every thing soon became quiet."
On this island they obtained oysters, and clams,
and dogfish ; also a small bean, which Nelson, the
botanist, pronounced to be a species of dolichos. On
the 1st of June they stopped in the midst of some
sandy islands, such as are known by the name of
keysj where they procured a few clams and beans.
Here Nelson was taken very ill with a violent heat
in his botvels, a loss of sight, great thirst, and an in
108 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
ability to walk. A little wine, which had carefully
been saved, with some pieces of bread soaked in it,
was given to him in small quantities, and lie soon
began to recover. The boatswain and carpenter
were also ill, and complained of headache and sick-
ness of the stomach. Others became shockingly
distressed with tenesmus ; in fact, there were few
without complaints.
A party was sent out by nj^ht to catch birds ;
they returned with only twelve noddies, but it is
stated, that had it not been for the folly and obsti-
nacy of one of the party, who separated from the
others and disturbed the birds, a great many more
might have been taken. The offender was Robert
Lamb, who acknowledged, when he got to Java,
that he had that night eaten nine raw birds, after he
separated from his two companions. The birds,
with a few clams, were the whole of the supplies
afforded at these small islands.
On the 3d of June, after passing several keys and
islands, and doubling Cape York, the nojth-eastern-
most point of New-Holland, at eight in the evening
the little boat and her brave crew once more launched
into the open ocean. " Miserable," says Lieutenant
Bligh, " as our situation was in every respect, I was
secretly surprised to see that it did not appear to
affect any one so strongly as myself; on the con-
trary, it seemed as if they had embarked on a voy-
age to Timor in a vessel sufficiently calculated for
safety and convenience. So much confidence gave
me great pleasure, and I may venture to assert that
to this cause our preservation is chiefly to be attri-
buted. I encouraged every one with hopes that
eight or ten days would bring us to a land of safety :
and, after praying to God for a continuance o\ his
most gracious protection, I served out an allowance
of water for supper, and directed our course to the
west-south-Avest.
" We had been just six days on the coast of New
THE OPENr-BOAT NAVIGATION. 109
Holland, in the course of which we found oysters,
a few clams, some birds, and water. But a benefit
probably not less than this was that of beinj^ re-
lieved from the fatigue of sitting constantly in the
boat, and enjoying good rest at night. These ad-
vantages certainly preserved our lives ; and small as
the supply was, I am very sensible how much it al-
leviated our distresses. Before this time nature must
have sunk under the extremes of hunger and fatigue.
Even in our present situation, we were most de-
plorable objects, but the hopes of a speedy relief
kept up our spirits. For my own part, incredible as
it may appear, I felt neither extreme hunger nor
thirst. My allowance contented me, knowing that
I could have no more." In his manuscript journal,
he adds, " This, perhaps, does not permit me to be
a proper judge on a story of miserable people like us
being at last driven to the necessity of destroying
one another for food ; but, if I may be allowed, I
deny the fact in its greatest extent. I say, I do not
believe that among us such a thing could happen,
but death through famine would be received in the
same way as any mortal disease."*
On the 5th a booby was caught by the hand, the
blood of which was divided among three of the
men who were weakest, and the bird kept for next
day's dinner; and on the evening of the Gth the al-
lowance for supper was recommenced, according to
a promise made when it had been discontinued.
On the 7th, after a miserably wet and cold night,
nothing more could be afforded than the usual al-
lowance for breakfast ; but at dinner each person
* If Bliirh here meant to deny the fact of men in extreme cases de-
Btroying c;ich other for the sake of appeasin<r hunger, he is greatly mis-
iakea. The fact was but too well established, and to a great extent, on
the rafl of the French frigate Meduse, when wrecked on the coast of
A.fric3, and also on the rock in the Mediterranean, when the Nautilua
frigate was lost. There may be a difference between men in danger of
perishing by famine when in robust health, and men like those of th'
Bonntv. worn by degrees to skeletons by protracted famine, who may
thus havo becomu equally indifferon^to life of death
I
110 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
had the luxury of an ounce of dried clams, which
consumed all that remained. The sea was running
hii^h and breaking over the boat the whole of this
day. Mr. Ledward, the surgeon, and Lawrence Le-
bogue, an old hardy seaman, appeared to be giving
way very fast. No other assistance could be given
to them than a tea-spoonful or two of wine, that had
been carefully saved for such a melancholy occasion,
which was not at all unexpected.
0n the 8th the weather was more moderate, and
a small dolphin was caught, which gave about two
ounces to each man : in the night it again blew
strong, the boat shipped much water, and they all
suffered greatly from wet and cold. The surgeon
and Lebogue still continued very ill, and the only
relief that could be afforded them was a small quan-
tity of wine, and encouraging them with the hope
that a very few days more, at the rate they were
then sailing, would bring them to Timor.
" In the morning of the 10th, after a very comfort-
less night, there was a visible alteration for the
worse," sa3^s Mr. Bligh, " in many of the people,
which gave me great apprehensions. An extreme
weakness, swelled legs, hollow and ghastly counte-
nances, a more than common inclination to sleep,
with an apparent debility of understanding, seemed
to me the melancholy presages of an approaching
dissolution. The surgeon and Lebogue, in particu-
lar, were most miserable objects. I occasionally
gave them a few tea-spoonfuls of wine out of the
little that remained, which greatly assisted them.
The hopes of being able to accomplish the voyage
was our principal support. The boatswain very in-
nocently told me that he really thought I looked
worse than any in the boat. The simplicity with
which he uttered such an opinion amused me, and I
returned him a better compliment."
On the 11th Lieutenant Bligh announced to his
urretched companions that he had no doubt they had
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. Ill
now passed tlie meridian of the eastern part of
Timor, a piece of intellig-ence that diffused universal
joy and satisfaction. Accordingly, at three in the
morning of the following day Timor was discovered
at the distance only of. two leagues from the shore.
" It is no-t possible for me," says this experienced
navigator, " to describe the pleasure which the
blessing of the sight of this land diffused among us.
It appeared scarcely credible to ourselves, that in
an open boat, and so poorly provided, we should
have been able to reach the coast of Timor in forty-
one days after leaving Tofoa, having in that time run
by our log a distance of three thousand six hundred
and eighteen nautical miles ; and that, notvvithstand
ing our extreme distress, no one should have perished
in the voyage."
On Sunday the 14th they came safely to anchor ii
Coupang Bay, where they vi^ere received with every
mark of kindness, hospitality, and humanity. The
houses of the principal people were thrown open for
their reception. The poor sufferers when landed
were scarcely able to walk ; their condition is de-
scribed as most deplorable. " The abilities of a
painter could rarely, perhaps, have been displayed to
more advantage than in the delineation of the two
groups of figures which at this time presented them-
selves to each other. An indifferent spectator, if
such could be found, would have been at a loss which
most to admire, the eyes of famine sparkling at im-
mediate relief, or the horror of their preservers at
the sight of so many spectres, whose ghastly counte-
nances, if the cause had been unknown, would rather
have excited terror than pity. Our bodies were
nothing but skin and bones, our limbs were full of
sores, and we were clothed in rags ; in this con-