848 VOYAGE FROM CERAM TO JFAIGIOU. [chap. xxxv. 



ill and not expected to live, they returned. As they 

 now knew the island, I was determined they shovdd make 

 another trial, and (by a liberal payment of knives, hand- 

 kerchiefs, and tobacco, with plenty of provisions) persuaded 

 them to start back immediately, and make another attempt. 

 They did not return again till the 29th of July, having 

 stayed a few days at their own village of Bessir on the 

 way ; but this time they had succeeded and brought with 

 them my two lost men, in tolerable health, though thin 

 and weak. They had lived exactly a month on the island ; 

 had found water, and had subsisted on the roots and 

 tender flower-stalks of a species of Bromelia, on shell-fish, 

 and on a few turtles' eggs. Having swum to the island, 

 they had only a pair of trousers and a shirt between them, 

 but had made a hut of palm-leaves, and had altogether got 

 on very well. They saw that I waited for them three days 

 at the opposite island, but had been afraid to cross, lest the 

 current should have carried them out to sea, when they 

 would have been inevitably lost. They had felt sure I 

 would send for them on the first opportunity, and appeared 

 more grateful than natives usually are for my having done 

 so ; while I felt much relieved that my voyage, though 

 sufficiently unfortunate, had not involved loss of life. 



