SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
237 
her, but the sea was still running so high, that she was 
fearful of lowering a boat. The wretched sufferers had 
neither tools nor materials with which to construct a raft, 
even if they had retained strength to do it. However, this 
American staid by them two days, evidently anxious to assist 
them if possible. She was once separated from them by the 
violence of the gale; but, on rejoining them, came so near 
that two of the people on the wreck proposed to swim to 
her, if she would then lend her boat to save the rest. The 
proposal was perhaps unheard—it was certainly unanswered; 
and shortly afterwards the American bore up, and the 
wretched crew of the Frances Mary were once more left to 
their fate, amidst feelings to which no words can give a 
name. A few days afterwards their hopes were again raised 
only to be again disappointed, by the approach of another 
American vessel, under the same circumstances; for she also, 
with a bare expression of pity, sailed away. Now the suf¬ 
ferers abandoned all hope of being saved. Ten days had 
elapsed since their ship became a wreck, and their scanty 
store of biscuit was exhausted. During this time, besides 
the evils of cold and hunger, they had had the discomfort 
of being frequently obliged to lash themselves to the re¬ 
maining rigging to save themselves from being washed over¬ 
board. But now famine laid hold of them. 
