222 Pickering on the Language and Inhabitants 
encountered tempestuous weather and a heavy sea, and lost nearly 
their whole stock of provisions by a squall which overset the ca- 
noe. In this destitute condition they remained at sea nine days 
and nights longer; having, after the first five days, divided equal- 
ly among them the small remnant of their means of subsistence, 
which gave them four cocoa-nuts and a few pieces over, for each 
person. While in that condition, debilitated beyond belief, and re- 
duced to skeletons as they were, and while on the point of aban- 
doning themselves to despair, they unexpectedly and to their in- 
expressible joy, discovered land at the distance of six miles. Their 
joy at this event, however, was soon embittered by sufferings ex- 
ceeding any which had been before experienced by them. 
The land, which they had naturally, though prematurely, con- 
gratulated themselves upon discovering, proved to be the incon- 
siderable island, now in question, — Lord North’s Island, or Tobi. 
As they were approaching the land, a fleet of canoes made to- 
wards them, filled with naked savages, who displayed the most 
brutal ferocity, and to whom, in their feeble state, they fell an 
easy prey. Their boat was instantly broken into fragments ; and 
while the seamen were swimming from one canoe to another, beg- 
ging for mercy, they were beaten on the head and body with the 
war-clubs of the savages, who for a long time refused to spare 
their lives. 
After being kept in this distressing condition for some time, they 
were permitted to get into the canoes of the natives, but were 
then compelled to row them to land; they were stripped of all 
their clothing, and suffered so severely, that their bodies were blis- 
tered by the burning sun. 
They at length reached the land, and saw near the beach a 
row of small and badly constructed huts. They were compelled 
