18 



A DIARY OF THE 



were drenched with wet, and required rest. The 

 comfortless situation of those on shore, on a 

 barren sand, wet through, with scanty refresh- 

 ment, and a bitter cold frosty night, may be 

 imagined 5 great anxiety also existing as to the 

 fate of their shipmates on board. A watch was 

 kept on the beach throughout the night, whilst 

 others got shelter under the rafts, and on the 

 side of a mound of sand, at some little distance. 

 To those in the ship an equal share of excessive 

 fatigue and mental anxiety had rendered rest 

 from labour most necessary. The ship continued 

 buried in the sand, and was comparatively quiet, 

 although at intervals labouring, and feeling most 

 sensibly the weighty shocks of the unceasing 

 rollers. A watch attended throughout the night 

 to observe the lead lines ; the anchors were kept 

 ready in the event of its being found necessary 

 to drop them, in order to retain the ship's bows in 

 their position towards the rollers ; and the pumps 

 kept working. Much had been done during the 

 past day not yet mentioned : the danger as well 

 as difficulty of communication with the shore had 

 occasioned a vast quantity of the bedding and 

 clothes of the crew to be thrown overboard, 

 attached to pieces of spars, which, on being 



