528 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



nor Bougainville, and thus, in the midst of their agonies, the 

 barren satisfaction of contributing to geographical science was, 

 as it were in derision, awarded to them. The men now clamored 

 for extra allowances of pork and rum, — which Bligh sternly re- 

 fused, administering his bullet-weight of bread with the severest 

 ceremony. 



"At dawn of the twenty-second day," says Bligh, "some 

 of my people seemed half dead : our appearances were horrible, 

 and I could look no way but I caught the eye of some one in 

 distress. Extreme hunger was now too evident ; but no one 

 suffered from thirst, nor had we much inclination to drink, — that 

 desire, perhaps, being satisfied through the skin. Every one 

 dreaded the approach of night. Sleep, though we longed for it, 

 afforded no comfort: for my own part, I almost lived without it." 

 Bligh now examined the remaining bread, and found sufficient 

 to last for twenty-nine days ; but, as he might be compelled to 

 avoid Timor and go to Java, it became necessary to make the 

 stock hold out for forty days. He therefore announced that 

 supper would hereafter be served without bread ! 



A great event happened on the twenty-seventh day. A 

 noddy — a bird as large as a small pigeon — was caught as it flew 

 past the boat. Bligh divided it, with the entrails, into nineteen 

 portions, and distributed it by lots. It was eaten, bones and 

 all, with salt water for sauce. The next day a booby — which is as 

 large as a duck — was caught, and was divided and devoured like 

 the noddy, even to the entrails, beak, and feet. The blood was 

 given to three of the men who were the most distressed for want of 

 food. On the thirtieth day they landed upon the northern shore 

 of New Holland, and gave thanks to God for his gracious pro- 

 tection through a series of disasters and calamities then almost 

 unparalleled. 



They found oysters upon the rocks, which they opened with- 

 out detaching them. A fire was made by the help of a magni- 

 fying-glass j and then, with the aid of a copper pot found in the 



