( 27 ) 

 while preying on thefe carcaffes, in order 

 to make a meal of them. But a provi- 

 fion by no means proportionable to the 

 number of mouths to be fed could, by 

 our utmoft induftry, be acquired from 

 that part of the ifland we had hitherto 

 traverfed : therefore, till we were in a 

 capacity of making more diftant excur- 

 fions, the wreck was to be applied to, as 

 often as poflible, for fuch fupplies as 

 could be got out of her. But as this was 

 a very precarious fund in its prefentfitu- 

 ation, and at beft could not laft us long; 

 confidering too that it was very uncer- 

 tain how long we might be detained 

 upon this ifland ; the ftores and provifion 

 we were fo fortunate as to retrieve, were 

 not only to be dealt out with the moft 

 frugal ceconomy, but a fufficient quan-^ 

 tity, if poflible, laid by, to fit us out, 

 whenever we could agree upon any me- 

 thod of tranfporting ourfelves from this 

 dreary fpot. The difficulties we had to 



encounter 



