246 KENNEDY^S EXPEDITION. 



determined^ well considering* all circumstances, to 

 return to the sliip; which we did, coming- out on the 

 beach under mangToves, at the ver^^ spot we told 

 Jackey to come out at on our leaving-. We arrived 

 at the ship at twelve minutes before four p.m. 

 During- our absence the men in the boat had seen 

 on the beach from fifty to one hundred natives. 

 We saw none. The day has been very hot, and we 

 are in a iix, surrounded by reefs, and some little 

 anxiety is existing* as to how we shall g-et out ag-ain. 

 We have determined to proceed to Weymouth Bay, 

 and in so doing- I have taken everything- into 

 consideration. We have eig-ht men to attend to at 

 Weymouth Bay. In all probabilit}^ the three men 

 here are dead, for when Jackey left them, Costig'an 

 was nearly dead, and Luff was very ill. The cloak 

 taken from the canoe shews that the blacks have 

 found their camp, and had we g-one on there, which 

 would have taken a day or two at least more, we 

 should only have found, I verily believe, as Jackey 

 says, " bones belong-ing- to white fellows.'' After 

 g-etting- on board, Jackey went to sleep, thoroug-hly 

 done up. He fell asleep also in coming* off in the 

 boat. 



Dec. 28tJi. — This has been a day of anxiety. 

 We left a little after daylig'ht, not without feeling-s of 

 disappointment and dissatisfaction at not having- been 

 successful in rescuing" the men, who it was possible 

 mig'ht be yet alive. We were surrounded by reefs, 

 a light breeze, and fair depth of water — called out 



