BL1GH AND HIS CREW. 37 
freshment from the little rest they sometimes 
got. Many were benumbed and cramped by 
the cold, and afflicted with violent shiverings, 
and inward pains. As the weather still con- 
tinued tempestuous, Mr. Bligh recommended 
all to take off their clothes, and wring them 
in the salt-water. This produced a warmth 
which, whilst their clothing was wet with the 
rain they could not enjoy. 
On the 24th it was thought necessary to 
reduce their already wretched pittance ; and 
it was agreed that each person should receive 
one twenty-fifth part of a pound of bread 
for breakfast, and the same quantity for 
dinner, omitting the allowance for supper. 
The next day they saw several noddies, 
and other sea-fowl, a few of which they were 
so fortunate as to catch ; one of the birds 
came so near the boat, that it was caught by 
the hand. There was no wish to cook these 
birds. Besides the difficulty of dressing 
them, the claims of hunger were too per- 
emptory to wait for such a process. Bligh 
divided one of them, which was of the size of a 
small pigeon, into eighteen portions ; " and," 
says he, " by a well-known method at sea, of, 
