Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1Grey, George
History
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1
Grey, George
Natural history -- Australia -- Western Australia; Western Australia -- Discovery and exploration
The men continued working hard at the boats, and it appeared that their
task would be concluded this day. I once more started to look for water
and to examine the island; but our search was again unsuccessful. On
measuring the distance that the sea had risen I found that it had spread
up in the direction of our boats fifty-three yards above high water mark;
but what will give a better idea of the hurricane is the circumstance of
my catching a cormorant on the beach, about seven o'clock on the morning
of the 1st, and during the height of the storm, the bird not even
attempting to fly, being in appearance completely appalled at the
violence of the wind. It was reported to me at night that another hour's
work in the morning would render the boats fit for sea.
Sunday March 3.
The men had slept but little during the night for they were oppressed
with thirst; and when I rose in the morning I saw evident symptoms of the
coming of another roasting day. They were busy at the boats as soon as
they could see to work, whilst Mr. Smith and myself ascended the cliffs
to get a view towards the main. When I looked down upon the calm and
glassy sea I could scarcely believe it was the same element which within
so short a period had worked us such serious damage. To the north-east we
could see the lofty white sandhills in Lyell's Range; to the eastward
nothing was visible; yet this was the point to which I had determined to
steer, for several reasons. In the first place, the land in that
direction had never been visited; and secondly, I had found the shores of
Dorre Island covered with great forest trees, which must have been washed
across the bay, and which from their size could only have been brought
out from the continent by some large and rapid stream, which we at this
moment would gladly have seen as there was only about a pint and half of
water per man left.
SAIL FOR THE MAIN.
When we returned to breakfast I found the boats nearly ready for sea, and
about eleven o'clock they
had been all hauled down, the stores stowed away, and everything made
ready for launching, and off we went, not a little rejoiced at the
prospect of soon having an abundant supply of that liquid on which our
lives depended. There was scarcely any wind but that little was right aft
so that between sailing and pulling we made about five knots an hour. The
boats were however so heavily laden that the men found it very laborious
work, for they were exposed to the rays of a burning sun and had nothing
to drink but half a pint of water, which was all I could allow them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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