246 Kennedy's expedition, 



determined^ well considering- all circumstances, to 

 return to the ship, which we did, coming- out on the 

 beach under mangToves, at the very &pot 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 fix, surrounded by reefs, and some little 

 anxiety is existing- as to how we shall get out again. 

 We have detennined to proceed to Weymouth Bay, 

 and in so doing I have taken ever}- thing into 

 consideration. We have eight men to attend to at 

 Weymouth Jiny. In all probability the three men 

 here are dead, for when Jacke}^ left them, Costigan 

 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 gone 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 belonging* to white fellows." After 

 getting on board, Jackey went to sleep, thoroughly 

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

 boat. 



Dec. 2Sth. — This has been a day of anxiety. 

 We left a little after daylight, not without feelings of 

 disappointment and dissatisfaction at not having been 

 successful in rescuing the men, who it was possible 

 might be yet alive. We were surrounded by reefs, 

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



