BLIGH MAKES FOE NEW HOLLAND. 39 
severe. They had to encounter heavy storms, and 
the pains of cold and hunger. Aware of the vast 
tract of voyage before them, they promised to be 
content with one ounce of bread, and a quarter 
of a pint of water a day, for each person. 
The courageous and skilful manner in which 
Bligh pursued his course to the end, forms a 
striking fact in the annals of naval adventure. 
Having entreated the men, in the most solemn 
manner, not to depart from the promise which 
they had made, he, on the 2d of May, bore 
away, and shaped his course for New Holland, 
across a sea little explored. The boat was of 
such limited dimensions, that her gunwales are 
stated to have been not more than six inches 
above the water. In a violent tempest, which 
soon broke over them, the boat shipped such 
a quantity of water, that it was only by great 
exertions that she could be kept afloat. 
On the 5th of May, continuing their course to 
the north-west, they saw and passed a cluster of 
islands. Hitherto they had not been able to 
keep any other account than by guess ; but they 
now succeeded in getting a log-line marked, and 
by a little practice some could count the seconds 
with a tolerable degree of exactness. 
On the 6th, to their great joy, they hooked a 
fish ; but were miserably disappointed by losing 
it, as they tried to get it into the boat. 
On the 7th, the helpless and confined state 
m which they were, induced Mr, Bligh to put 
themselves " at watch and watch ;" so that one 
half might be on the look-out, while the others 
lay down iu the boat's bottom ; or upon a chest. 
