34 LOSS OF THE 
fore they perceived the prints of human feet in the sand, from 
which they concluded that their late companions were before 
them. In the hope of rejoining them they traced their sup- 
posed footsteps for a while, but soon lost them among the 
rocks and grass. 
After some time they came to another river, not very broad, 
but of considerable depth, which they passed in safety on a 
catamaran, as before. Nothing remarkable occurred during 
the three following days ; but at the expiration of that period 
they overtook the carpenter's party, whose sufferings they 
found had been even more severe than their own. The car- 
penter himself had been poisoned by eating some kind of fruit, 
with the nature of which he was unacquainted ] M. D'Espi- 
nette, and M. Olivier, worn out Avith famine and fatigue, had 
been left to their fate. The unfortunate little traveler, Law, 
was still with them, and had hitherto supported every hard- 
ship in an astonishing manner. 
Thus once more united, they proceeded together till they 
came to a sandy beach, where they found a couple of planks 
with a spike nail in each. This convinced them that some 
European ships had been near the coast, or that they were in 
the vicinity of some settlement. The nails were prizes of the 
first consequence : these being flattened between two stones, 
were shaped into something like knives, and, to men in their 
situation, were considered a most valuable acquisition. 
In a short time they came to another river, on whose banks 
they accidentally found fresh water, which induced them to 
rest there for the night. In the morning they crossed the 
river, and on examining the shore they found another dead 
whale, w^hich diffused a general joy, till a large party of the 
natives, armed with lances, came down upon them. These 
people, however, perceiving the deplorable condition of the 
travelers, conducted themselves in such a pacific manner as 
to dispel their apprehensions. One of them even lent those 
who were employed on the whale, his lance, by means of 
which, and their two knives, they cut it into junks, and car- 
ried off a considerable quantity till they could find w^ood and 
water to dress it. 
On coming to a river the following day, another of the party 
dropped, and they w^ere under the cruel necessity of leaving 
him behind. Having plenty of provisions, they now proceeded 
four days without intermission; and procuring a stick, they set 
about making a kind of calendar, by cutting a notch for every 
day; but in crossing a river, this register of time was lost, 
