At noon, I observed the latitude of this island to be 11 deg. 47' S. The
main land extended towards the N W, and was full of white sand-hills:
another small island lay within us, bearing W by N 1/4 N, three leagues
distant. My situation being very low, I could see nothing of the reef
towards the sea.
[Sidenote: Tuesday 2.]
Tuesday, June the 2d. The first part of this day we had some light
showers of rain; the latter part was fair, wind from the S E, blowing
fresh.
Rest was now so much wanted, that the afternoon was advantageously spent
in sleep. There were, however, a few not disposed to it, and those I
employed in dressing some clams to take with us for the next day's
dinner; others we cut up in slices to dry, which I knew was the most
valuable supply we could find here. But, contrary to our expectation,
they were very scarce.
[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 2.]
Towards evening, I cautioned every one against making too large a fire,
or suffering it after dark to blaze up. Mr. Samuel and Mr. Peckover had
the superintendence of this business, while I was strolling about the
beach to observe if I thought it could be seen from the main. I was just
satisfied that it could not, when on a sudden the island appeared all in
a blaze, that might have been seen at a much more considerable distance.
I ran to learn the cause, and found it was occasioned by the imprudence
and obstinacy of one of the party, who, in my absence, had insisted on
having a fire to himself; in making which the flames caught the
neighbouring grass and rapidly spread. This misconduct might have
produced very serious consequences, by discovering our situation to the
natives; for, if they had attacked us, we must inevitably have fallen a
sacrifice, as we had neither arms nor strength to oppose an enemy. Thus
the relief which I expected from a little sleep was totally lost, and I
anxiously waited for the flowing of the tide, that we might proceed to
sea.
I found it high-water at half past five this evening, whence I deduce
the time, on the full and change of the moon, to be 58' past 10 in the
morning: the rise is nearly five feet. I could not observe the set of
the flood; but imagine it comes from the southward, and that I have been
mistaken at Restoration Island, as I find the time of high-water
gradually later as we advance to the northward.
At Restoration Island, high water, full and change, 7^h 10'
Sunday Island, 9 19
Here, 10 58
[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 2.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account