S 



4^j> HISTORY OF 



to men who had not broke fast for fifty-two 

 hours. 



" They passed the reef, however, without in 

 the least noticing the natives, and continued 

 their course to the Westward, Mr. Shaw and Mr. 

 Haskett relieving each other every two hours at 

 the steer oar. 



" On the 6th in the morning they discovered 

 a sand bank to the Southward, quite dry, to 

 which they gave the name of Forlorn Hope. A 

 great number of birds being perceived about 

 this bank, they endeavoured to make for it, in 

 the hopes of killing some of them and gathering 

 eggs, but found that the boat was drifting to 

 the leeward of the bank ; they therefore hauled 

 down the sail, and endeavoured to row up to 

 it, but found themselves so exhausted for want 

 of food and water, that it was impossible to 

 make their way towards the bank ; indeed so 

 much had that attempt fatigued them, that it 

 was with the greatest difficulty they could ac- 

 complish stepping the mast and again hoisting 

 the sail. 



" This fatigue, after the boat was again on 

 lier course, occasioned them to repine and mur- 

 mur at their misfortunes ; but reflection on the 

 goodness of that providence who so far had pro- 

 tected them, changed it into a perfect reliance 

 on his mercy. 



" On the 7th in the morning, they found two 

 small birds in the boat, one of which they im- 

 mediately divided into three parts, each devour- 

 ing his share with the keenest sensations of hun- 



