I58 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



We followed a difficult road, in the intention 

 of repairing towards the place where water wa3 

 procured fcf the fhips. The night overtook, us 

 half way; and, to complete our misfortunes, a 

 very impetuous wefterly wind brought fo heavy 

 a fall of rain, that we were obliged, like the 

 (avages of New Holland, to feek a Inciter in the 

 trunksof trees which they had excavated. It was to 

 be apprehended, that fuch bad weather would ren- 

 der ufclefs the fignal* which we made for a boat 

 to be lent to us. Wc were preparing to pafs a 

 very bad night in the midlt of thefe forcfts, when 

 we heard the voice of ibmc tailors, who were 

 come to look for us, in order to take us on board. 

 After feveral attempts, we had at length iu< - 



.cccded in weighing the anchor to which was made 

 fall the chain that had broken on the 1:5th of 

 April. The drag had been employed in vain, 

 for the chain was funk too deep in the mud. 



*Bcfides, the ground was fo good for holding, 

 that the two launches together had conftantly 

 filled with water in purchahng on the buoy- 

 rope. The anchor was at fo great a depth in 

 the mud, that the divers had never been able to 

 difeover its bill ; it had been found neceilary to 

 have rccourfe to the capftern. From that time 

 we felt the necefiily of doubling the buoy-rope, 

 and of weighing the anchors occasionally, in order 

 toprevent thexn from burying th-mfciv 



T 16 



