130 



A DIARY OF THE 



strength of our carpenters and the greater part 

 of our crew was employed in felHng trees of a 

 convenient size to form uprights for the sides 

 and rafters, for the purpose of a good sloping 

 roof ; cutting and collecting also the rushes for 

 thatch ; and so earnestly did we set about the 

 work, that the whole frame of the hut, which 

 was secured together with strands of rope-yarns, 

 was near its completion by the evening. Several 

 flocks of parrots visited us this morning, and 

 continued their flight and noise round our 

 camp for some hours: two of them were shot. 

 Don Bernardino complained to us of the diffi- 

 culty he found in getting a supply of potatoes, 

 arising from the great distance they had to be 

 brought, and in many instances the ravages 

 committed on the crops by the mice. Our sick 

 list remained stationary; several of the crew 

 were in a weak state, and with the assistant- 

 surgeon and three midshipmen were most 

 seriously ill, with what now looked like typhus 

 fever. At sunset went through our daily mus- 

 ter ; the weather cloudy, but dry ; wind light 

 and variable. 



July 5. — The wind light from the south- 

 ward, and the weather clear. At 7 30^ a.m. a 



