I knew not, they all agreed to live on one ounce of bread and a quarter of a pint of water per day.  Therefore, after examining our stock of provisions, and recommending to them, in the most solemn manner, not to depart from their promise, we bore away across a sea where the navigation is but little known, in a small boat, twenty-three feet long from stem to stern, deep laden with eighteen men.  I was happy, however, to see that every one seemed better satisfied with our situation than myself.

Our stock of provisions consisted of about one hundred and fifty pounds of bread, twenty-eight gallons of water, twenty pounds of pork, three bottles of wine, and five quarts of rum.  The difference between this and the quantity we had on leaving the ship was principally owing to our loss in the bustle and confusion of the attack.  A few cocoanuts were in the boat, and some bread-fruit, but the latter was trampled to pieces.

Sunday, 3d.—­At daybreak the gale increased; the sun rose very fiery and red—­a sure indication of a severe gale of wind.  At eight it blew a violent storm, and the sea ran very high, so that between the seas the sail was becalmed, and when on the top of the sea, it was too much to have set; but we could not venture to take in the sail, for we were in very imminent danger and distress, the sea curling over the stern of the boat, which obliged us to bail with all our might.  A situation more distressing has perhaps seldom been experienced.

Our bread was in bags, and in danger of being spoiled by the wet:  to be starved to death was inevitable, if this could not be prevented.  I therefore began to examine what clothes there were in the boat, and what other things could be spared; and having determined that only two suits should be kept for each person, the rest was thrown overboard, with some rope and spare sails, which lightened the boat considerably, and we had more room to bail the water out.

Fortunately the carpenter had a good chest in the boat, in which we secured the bread the first favorable moment.  His tool-chest also was cleared, and the tools stowed in the bottom of the boat, so that this became a second convenience.

I served a teaspoonful of rum to each person (for we were very wet and cold), with a quarter of a bread-fruit, which was scarce eatable, for dinner.  Our engagement was now strictly to be carried into execution, and I was fully determined to make our provisions last eight weeks, let the daily proportion be ever so small.

Monday, 4th.—­At daylight our limbs were so benumbed, that we could scarcely find the use of them.  At this time I served a teaspoonful of rum to each person, from which we all found great benefit.  Just before noon, we discovered a small flat island, of a moderate height, bearing west-south-west four or five leagues.  I observed our latitude to be 18 degrees 58 minutes south; our longitude was, by account, 3 degrees 4 minutes west from the island of Tofoa, having made a north 72 degrees west course, distance ninety-five miles, since yesterday noon, I divided five small cocoanuts for our dinner, and every one was satisfied.  During the rest of that day we discovered ten or twelve other islands, none of which we approached.  At night I served a few broken pieces of breadfruit for supper, and performed prayers.