52 THEIR SUFFERINGS. 
From the above-mentioned island,after making 
hearty meals on birds and shell-fish, the voyagers 
again put to sea, steering along the shore, often 
touching at the different islands, and 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 
dangerous 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 offal, in 
the usual way of, Who shall have this ? The 
remainder they saved for dinner the next day. 
Towards evening that day the wind freshened; 
and it blew strong all night, so that they shipped 
much water, and suffered greatly from the wet 
and cold. 
MS. book, June Gth. "Caught a booby, 
and, as before, some of us ravenous for even the, 
blood; 1 
