THEIR SUFFEEINGS. 45 
from Bligh, for his folly and obstinacy ; and he 
afterwards confessed, when at Java, that he had 
eaten nine birds raw, after he had separated 
from his two companions. 
From this island, after making hearty meals 
on birds and shell-fish, they again put to sea, 
steering along the shore, often touching at the 
different islands arid sandy quays, to refresh 
themselves, and to get such supplies as could be 
afforded. On the evening of the 3d of June, 
they had passed, by a most difficult and dan- 
gerous passage, through Endeavour Straits, and 
were once more launched into the open ocean, 
shaping their course for the island of Timor. 
A continuance of wet and tempestuous weather, 
and incessant fatigue, affected even the strongest 
among them to such a degree, that they appeared 
to be almost at the point of death. Mr. Bligh 
then, as at other times, used every effort to 
revive their drooping spirits. 
The notices in the journal, a few days after 
this, appear to show that their situation had 
become too deplorable to last. But at that 
awful crisis, as the reader will see, it pleased 
their Almighty Preserver to bring them out of 
trouble. On June the 8th they had been so 
fortunate as to catch a small dolphin, portions 
of which were issued, including the offals, in the 
usual way of, Who shall have this ? the remainder 
being saved for dinner the next day. 
" Towards evening the wind freshened, and it 
blew strong all night, so that we shipped much 
water, and suffered greatly from the wet and 
cold. 
