16 



A DIARY OF THE 



a mile and a quarter, and it was impossible for 

 her to render us any assistance : little doubt ex- 

 isted amongst us, that we were the hapless bea- 

 con of her danger : another hour's dark might 

 have placed her alongside us. 



A three and a half inch hawser had, after 

 much labour, been dragged to the beach: we 

 had now constructed two rafts, by lashing on 

 empty casks strong cross spars, yards, and mess 

 tables; and about 11 a.m. it was determined to 

 try the first by sending a lieutenant and seven 

 men, a kedge-anchor, a stout hawser, and a 

 bawling line, which reached the shore with dif- 

 ficulty, far to the southward, and was thrown so 

 high on the beach, and so shaken, that she could 

 not again be launched this day. About 2 p.m. 

 the second raft was hoisted over, and, with the 

 first lieutenant, assistant surgeon, captain's clerk, 

 several of the junior midshipmen, who were 

 secured to the rafl by life lines, and thirteen 

 seamen, making a total in number of nineteen 

 persons, were successful in landing in safety. 

 The weight and draft of this raft, from its load 

 (having, in addition to the passengers, several 

 ariticles of provisions and arms), made the oper- 

 ation of getting a footing on the beech, from 



