GROSTENOR INDIAMAN. 45 
Wormington was recovered by the humanity of those who 
went in search of him, and a painful detail of sufferings suc- 
ceeded. It appeared that the captain's steward had been bu- 
ried in the sand of the last desert over which they passed, 
and that the survivors weie reduced to such extremity, that 
after his interment two of the party was sent back to cut oft 
his flesh for their immediate support ; but while proceeding 
upon this horrid errand, they had the good fortune to disco- 
ver a young seal, newly driven on shore, and fresh bleeding, 
which proved a most seasonable relief. They farther stated, 
that they had obtained shell-fish in the sand, when none were 
to be seen upon it, by observing the manner in which the 
birds scratched for them. Without this discovery they must 
inevitably have perished. 
Hynes and Evans recounting their adventures to the party 
they had joined, among other circumstances, mentioned that 
the ship's steward, whom he had left to expire on the road, 
had on very decent clothes. This tempted one of them to 
propose to Evans, who was by this time pretty well recovered, 
to go back to the spot and strip the body, but the steward 
could not be found, and they concluded that tbc wild beasts 
had anticipated their design. In the evening Evans returned, 
but without his companion, who had been so indolent, and ad- 
vanced with such a slow pace, that the former was obliged to 
leave him behind. As he was never seen afterward, no^-doubt 
can be entertained but that he likewise fell a victim to the 
ravenous beasts. These were so numerous as to be seen in 
troops of twenty or more ; and it was the common and effec- 
tual practice of the travelei^ to shout as loud as possible to 
drive away those formidable animals. 
Having now arrived at a favorable spot for water and shell- 
fish, they employed two days in collecting provisions for their 
future march, and in refreshing themselves. Rest and food 
had an astonishing effect in restoring not only the powers of 
the body, but of the mind; and in a short time they thought 
themselves qualified to encounter new fatigues. 
With extreme difficulty and danger they passed a large 
river, supposed to be the Sontag,* on a catamaran, and having 
reached the opposite shore, they looked back with terror and 
amazement on their fortunate escape from being driven out to 
sea by the rapidity of the stream. Here they likewise found 
a kind of shell-fish which buries itself in the sand, and whicU 
increased their supplies. 
* Sunday river. 
