PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
171 
preached, was hailed with thankfulness, and welcomed as their deliverer. CHAP. 
All who were able came upon the deck with blankets, gourds, and 
cocoa-nut shells, and extended them toward the black cloud, as it ap- 
p • 1 • 1 1 ^ 1820. 
preached, pouring down torrents of rain, of which every drop was of 
incalculable value to the sufferers ; they drank copiously and thankfully, 
and filled every vessel with the precious element. Thus recruited, 
hope revived ; but the absence of food again plunged them into the 
deepest despair. We need not relate the dreadful alternative to which 
they had recourse until several large sharks rose to the surface and 
followed the canoe ; Tuwarri, by breaking off the head of an iron 
scraper, formed it into a hook, and succeeded in catching one of them, 
which was instantly substituted for the revolting banquet which had 
hitherto sustained life. 
Thus refreshed, they again worked at their paddles or spread their 
sail, and were not long before their exertions were repaid with the joy- 
ful sight of land, on which clusters of cocoa-nuts crowned the heads of 
several tufts of palm-trees : they hurried through the surf and soon 
reached the much wished for spot, but being too feeble to ascend the 
lofty trees, were obliged to fell one of them with an axe. 
On traversing the island to which Providence had thus conducted 
them, they discovered by several canoes in the lagoon, and pathways 
intersecting the woods, that it had been previously inhabited ; and 
knowing the greater part of the natives of the low islands to be canni- 
bals, they determined to remain no longer upon it than was absolutely 
necessary to recruit their strength, imagining that the islanders, when 
they did return, would not rest satisfied with merely dispossessing 
them of their asylum. 
It was necessary, while they were allowed to remain, to seek 
shelter from the weather and to exert themselves in procuring a sup- 
ply of provision for their further voyage ; huts were consequently built, 
pools dug for water, and three canoes added to those which were found 
in the lake. Their situation by these means was rendered tolerably 
comfortable, and they not only provided themselves with necessaries 
sufficient for daily consumption, but were able to dry and lay by a con- 
siderable quantity of fish for sea stock. 
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