On the morning of the 9th, a quarter of a pint of cocoa-nut milk and some of the decayed bread were served for breakfast; and for dinner, the kernels of four cocoa-nuts, with the remainder of the rotten bread, which, he says, was eatable only by such distressed people as themselves.  A storm of thunder and lightning gave them about twenty gallons of water.  ’Being miserably wet and cold, I served to the people a teaspoonful of rum each, to enable them to bear with their distressing situation.  The weather continued extremely bad, and the wind increased; we spent a very miserable night, without sleep, except such as could be got in the midst of rain.’

The following day, the 10th, brought no relief, except that of its light.  The sea broke over the boat so much, that two men were kept constantly baling; and it was necessary to keep the boat before the waves for fear of its filling.  The allowance now served regularly to each person was one twenty-fifth part of a pound of bread and a quarter of a pint of water, at eight in the morning, at noon, and at sunset.  To-day was added about half an ounce of pork for dinner, which, though any moderate person would have considered only as a mouthful, was divided into three or four.

The morning of the 11th did not improve.  ’At day-break I served to every person a teaspoonful of rum, our limbs being so much cramped that we could scarcely move them.  Our situation was now extremely dangerous, the sea frequently running over our stern, which kept us baling with all our strength.  At noon the sun appeared, which gave us as much pleasure as is felt when it shows itself on a winter’s day in England.

’In the evening of the 12th it still rained hard, and we again experienced a dreadful night.  At length the day came, and showed a miserable set of beings, full of wants, without any thing to relieve them.  Some complained of great pain in their bowels, and every one of having almost lost the use of his limbs.  The little sleep we got was in no way refreshing, as we were constantly covered with the sea and rain.  The weather continuing, and no sun affording the least prospect of getting our clothes dried, I recommended to every one to strip and wring them through the sea-water, by which means they received a warmth that, while wet with rain-water, they could not have.’  The shipping of seas and constant baling continued; and though the men were shivering with wet and cold, the commander was under the necessity of informing them, that he could no longer afford them the comfort they had derived from the teaspoonful of rum.

On the 13th and 14th the stormy weather and heavy sea continued unabated, and on these days they saw distant land, and passed several islands.  The sight of these islands, it may well be supposed, served only to increase the misery of their situation.  They were as men very little better than starving with plenty in their view; yet, to attempt procuring any relief was considered to be attended with so much danger, that the prolongation of life, even in the midst of misery, was thought preferable, while there remained hopes of being able to surmount their hardships.