( 5^3 ) 



the nearer their termination 5 but now 

 our profpe6l was difmal and difpiriting, 

 indeed, as we had the fame difficuhies 

 and dangers to encounter, not only with- 

 out any flattering views to leflen them, 

 but under the aggravating circumftance 

 of their leading to an inevitable and 

 miferable death; for we could not pof- 

 fibly conceive that the fate of ftarving 

 could be avoided by any human means, 

 upon that defolate ifland we were return- 

 ing to. The fliell-fiili, which was the only 

 fubfiftence that ifland had hitherto af- 

 forded in any meafure, U'as exhaufted; 

 and the Indians had fliewn themfelves fo 

 little afFefted by the common incitements 

 of compaffion, that we had no hopes to 

 build upon any impreffions of that fort 

 in them. They had already refufed to 

 barter their dogs with us, for v/ant of a 

 valuable commodity on our fide ; fo that 

 it is wonderful we did not give our- 

 fclves up to defpondency, and lay afide 



ali 



