natives about the poor man they had killed, and two of them were beating him about the head with stones in their hands. "We had no time to reflect, before, to my furprise, they filled their canoes with ftones, and twelve men came off after us to renew the attack, which they did fo effectually as nearly to difable all of us. Our grapnel was foul, but Providence here aflifted us; the fluke broke, and we got to our oars, and pulled to fea. They, however, could paddle round us, fo that we were obliged to fuftain the attack without being able to return it, except with fuch ftones as lodged in the boat, and in this I found we were very inferior to them. We could not close, because our boat was lumbered and heavy, and that they knew very well: I therefore adopted the expedient of throwing overboard fome cloaths, which they loft time in picking up; and, as it was now almoft dark, they gave over the attack, and returned towards the fhore, leaving us to reflect on our'unhappy fituation. "The poor man I loft was John Norton this was his fecond voyage with me as a quarter-master, and his worthy character made me lament his lofs very much. He has left an aged parent, I am told, whom he fupported. "We were now failing along the weft fide of the island Tofoa, and my mind was employed in confidering what was beft to be done, when I was folicited by all hands to take them towards home and, when I told them no hopes of relief for us remained, but what I might find at New Holland, until I came to Timor, a distance of full twelve hundred leagues, where was a Dutch fettlement, but in what part of the island 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 ftock of provifions, and recommending this as a facred promife for ever to their memory, we bore away across a fea, where the navigation is but little known, in a small boat, twenty-three feet long from ftem to ftern, deep laden with eighteen men; without a chart, and nothing but my own recollection and general knowledge of the fituation of places, affifted by a book of latitudes I was and longitudes, to guide us. happy, however, to see every one better fatisfied with our fituation in this particular than myself. "Our flock of provifions confifted 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 fhip, was principally owing to lofs in the buftle and confufion of the attack. A few cocoanuts were in the boat, and fome breadfruit, but the latter was trampled to pieces. "I ferved a tea-fpoonful of rum to each perfon, (for we were very wet and cold) with a quarter of a breadfruit, which was fcarce eatable, for dinner; but our engagement was now ftrictly to be carried into execution, and I was fully determined to make what provifions I had laft eight weeks, let the daily proportion be ever so small. 66 "I had hitherto (to the 5th of May) been fcarcely able to keep any account of our run; but we now equipped ourfelves a little better, by getting a logline marked, and, having practised at counting feconds, feveral could do it with some degree of exactness. "To our great joy (on the 6th) we hooked a fish, but we were miferably disappointed by its being loft in getting into the boat. "It may readily be fuppofed, that our lodgings were very miferable and confined, and I had only in my power to remedy the latter defect by putting ourselves at watch and watch; fo that one half always fat up while the other lay down on the boat's bottom, or upon a cheft, with nothing to cover us but the heavens. Our limbs were dreadfully cramped, for we could not stretch them out, and the nights were fo cold, and we fo conftantly wet, that after a few hours fleep we could fcarcely move, Sunday the 10th, about nine o'clock in the evening, the clouds began to gather, and we had a prodigious fall of rain, with fevere thunder and lightning. By midnight we had caught about twenty gallons of water. Being miferably wet and cold, I ferved to each perfon a tea-fpoonful of rum, to enable them to bear with their diftreffed fi 66 tuation. tuation. The weather continued extremely bad, and the wind increased; we fpent a very miferable night, without fleep, but fuch as could be got in the midst of the rain. The day brought us no relief but its light. The fea was conftantly breaking over us, which kept two perfons baling; and we had no choice how to fteer, for we were obliged to keep before the waves to avoid filling the boat. "The allowance which I now regularly ferved to each perfon was one twenty-fifth of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, at fun-fet, eight in the morning, and at noon. To-day I gave about half an ounce of pork for dinner, which, though any moderate person would have confidered but a mouthful, was divided into three or four. "Monday, May the 11th. Strong gales from S. S. E. to S. E. and very fqually weather, with a high breaking fea, fo that we were miferably wet, and fuffered great cold in the night. In the morning at day-break I feived to every perfon a tea-fpoonful of rum, our limbs being fo cramped that we could fcarcely feel the ufe of them. Our fituation was now extremely dangerous, the fea frequently running over our ftern, which kept us baling with all our trength. "Tuesday, May the 12th. Having again experienced a dreadful night, the day fhewed to me a poor miferable fet of beings full of wants, without any thing to relieve them. Some complained of a great pain in their bowels, and all of having but very little ufe of their limbs. What fleep we got was fcarce refreshing, we being covered with fea and rain. Two perfons were obliged to be always baling the water out of the boat. I ferved a fpoonful of rum at day-dawn, and the ufual allowance of bread and water, for fupper, break faft, and dinner. "At fix in the morning, (Thursday the 14th) we faw land, from S. W. by S. eight leagues, to N. W. by W. W. fix leagues, which I foon after found to be four islands, all of them high and remarkable. "Thefe iflands lie between the latitude of 13 deg. 16 min. S. and 14 deg. 10 min. S their longitude, according to my reckoning, 15 deg. 51 min. to 17 deg. 6 min. W. from the islandTofoa. The largest island may be twenty leagues in circuit, the others five or fix. The easternmost is the fmalleft ifland, and most remarkable, having a high fugar-loaf hill. "The fight of these islands ferved but to increase the mifery of our fituation. We were very little better than ftarving, with plenty in view; yet to attempt procuring any relief was attended with fo much danger, that prolonging of life, even in the midst of mifery, was thought preferable, while there remained hopes of being able to furmount our hardships. For my own part, I confider the general run of cloudy and wet weather to be a bleffing of Providence. Hot weather would have caufed us to have died with thirst; and perhaps being fo conftantly covered with rain or fea protected us from that dreadful calamity. "As I had nothing to affift my memory, I could not determine whether thefe islands were a part of the New Hebrides or not: I believed them perfectly a new difcovery, which I have fince found to be the cafe; but, though they were not feen either by monsieur Bougainville or captain Cook, they are fo nearly in the neighbourhood of the New Hebrides, that they must be confidered as part of the fame group. They are fertile, and inhabited, as Į faw fimoke in feveral places. "Sunday, May the 17th. The funfine was but of fhort duration. We had ftrong breezes at S. E. by S. and dark gloomy weather, with ftorms of thunder, lightning, and rain. The night was truly horrible, and not a star to be feen; fo that our steerage was uncertain. At dawn of day I found every perfon complaining, and fome of them foliciting extra allowance; but I pofitively refufed it. Our fituation was extremely miferable; always wet, and fuffering extreme cold in the night, without the leaft fhelter from the weather. Being conftantly obliged to bale, to keep the boat from filling, was, perhaps, not to be reckoned an evil, as it gave us exercife. At dawn of day, on Wednesday the zoth, fome of my people feemed half dead; our appearances were hor about two tea-fpoonfuls of rum to each person, and the allowance of bread and water, as ufual. At noon the fun broke out, and revived every one. I found we were in latitude 14 deg. 49 min. S; longitude made 25 deg. 46 min. W; course S. 88 deg. W; distance feventy-five miles. 66 Thursday, May the 21st. Our diftreffes were now very great, and we were fo covered with rain and salt water, that we could fcarcely fee. Sleep, though we longed for it, afforded no comfort: for my own part, I almost lived without it: we fuffered extreme cold, and every one dreaded the approach of night. About two o'clock in the morning we were overwhelmed with a deluge of rain. It fell fo heavy that we were afraid it would fill the boat, and were obliged to bale with all our might. At dawn of day, I ferved a large allowance of rum. Towards noon the rain abated and the fun fhone, but we were miferably cold and wet, the fea breaking fo conftantly over us, that, notwithstanding the heavy rain, we had not been able to add to our stock of fresh water. The ufual allow ance of one twenty-fifth of a pound of bread and water was ferved at evening, morning, and noon. Latitude, by obfervation, 14 deg. 29 min. S. and longitude made, by account, from Tofoa, 27 deg. 25 min. W; courfe, fince yefterday noon, N. 78 deg. W. ninety nine niles. another night would put an end to the lives of feveral who feemed no longer able to fupport fuch fufferings. Every one complained of fevere pains in their bones; but thefe were alleviated, in fome degree, by an allowance of two tea-fpoonfuls of rum; after drinking which, having wrung our cloaths, and taken our breakfaft of bread and water, we became a little refrefhed. "Monday, May the 25th. About three o'clock the fea began to run fair, and we shipped but little water; I therefore determined to know the exact quantity of bread I had left; and on examining found, according to my prefent iffues, fufficient for twenty-nine days allowance. In the courfe of this time I hoped to be at Timor; but, as that was very uncertain, and perhaps after all we might be obliged to go to Java, I determined to proportion my iffues to fix weeks. I was apprehenfive that this would be ill received, and that it would require my utmost resolution to enforce it; for, fmall as the quantity was which I intended to take away, for our future good, yet it might appear to my people like robbing them of life, and fome, who were lefs patient than their companions, I expected would very ill brook it. I however reprefented it fo effentially neceffary to guard against delays in our voyage by contrary winds, or other caufes, promifing to enlarge upon the allowance as we got on, that it was readily agreed to. I therefore fixed, that every perfon fhould receive one twenty-fifth of a pound of bread for breakfast, and one twenty-fifth of a pound for dinner; fo that by onitting the proportion for fupper, I had fortythree days allowance. "At noon fome noddies came fo near to us, that one of them was caught by hand. This bird is about the fize of a entrails, into eighteen portions, and by the method of, Who fhall have this? it was distributed with the allowance of bread and water for dinner, and eat up, bones and all, with falt water for fauce. "In the evening of the 26th we faw feveral boobies flying fo near to us, that we caught one of them by hand. The body, with the entrails, beak, and feet, 1 divided into eighteen shares, and with an allowance of bread, which I made a merit of granting, we made a good supper, compared with our usual fare. "To make our bread a little favoury we frequently dipped it in falt water; but for my own part I generally broke mine into small pieces, and eat it in my allowance of water, out of a cocoa-nut fhell, with a spoon, economically avoiding to take too large a piece at a time, fo that I was as long at dinner as if it had been a much more plentiful meal. "Wednesday, May the 27th. The weather was now ferene, but unhappily we found ourselves unable to bear the fun's heat; many of us fuffering a languor and faintnefs, which made life indifferent. We were, however, fo fortunate as to catch two boobies today; their ftomachs contained feveral flying-fish and small cuttlefish, all of which I faved to be divided for dinner. "We paffed much drift wood, and ́ faw many birds; I therefore did not hesitate to pronounce that we were near the reefs of New Holland, and affured every one I would make the coaft without delay, in the parallel we were in, and range the reef till I found an opening, through which we might get into fmooth water, and pick up fome fupplies. From my recollection of captain Cook's furvey of this coaft, I confidered the direction of it to be N. W. and I was therefore fatisfied that, with the wind to the fouthward of E. I could always clear any dangers. “After writing my account, I divided the two birds with their entrails, and the contents of their maws, into eighteen portions, and, as the prize was a very valuable one, it was divided as before, by calling out Who fhall have "One perfon turns his back on the object that is to be divided: another then points feparately to the portions, at each of them afking aloud, Who fhall have this ?' 6 this? fo that to-day, with the allowance of a twenty-fifth of a pound of bread at breakfast, and another at dinner, with the proportion of water, I was happy to fee that every perfon thought he had feafted." From this time to the 29th, was employed in paffing through a reef on the fouth part of New Holland, where they found a bay and a fine fandy point to land at. "As foon as I faw that there were not any natives immediately near us, I fent out parties in fearch of fupplies, while others were putting the boat in order, that I might be ready to go to fea in cafe any unforefeen caufe might make it neceffary. The first object of this work, that demanded our attention, was the rudder: one of the gudgeons had come out, in the courfe of the night, and was loft. This, if it had happened at fea, would probably have been the cause of our perishing, as the management of the boat could not have been fo nicely preferved as these very heavy feas required. I had often expreffed my fears of this accident, and, that we might be prepared for it, had taken the precaution to have grummets fixed on each quarter of the boat for oars; but even our utmost readiness in using them, I fear, would not have faved us. It appears, therefore, a providential circumftance, that it happened at this place, and was in our power to remedy the defect; for by great good luck we found a large staple in the boat that answered the purpose. "The parties were now returned, highly rejoiced at having found plenty of oyfters and fresh water. I alfo had made a fire, by help of a small magnifying glafs, that I always carried about me, to read off the divifions of my fextants; and, what was ftill more fortunate, among the few things which had been thrown into the boat and faved, was a piece of brimstone and a tinder-box, fo that I fecured fire for the future. "One of my people had been fo provident as to bring away with him a to which the firft anfwers by naming fomebody. This impartial method of divifion gives every man an equal chance of the beft fhare.” copper Copper pot: it was by being in poffeffion of this article that I was enabled to make a proper ufe of the fupply we found; for, with a mixture of bread and a little pork, I made a few that might have been relifhed by people of more delicate appetites, of which each perfon received a full pint. "The general complaints of difeafe among us, were a dizziness in the head, great weakness of the joints, and violent tenefmus, most of us having had no evacuation by ftool fince we left the hip. I had constantly a severe pain at my ftomach; but none of our complaints were alarming. "The oysters we found grew fo fast to the rocks, that it was with difficulty they could be broke off, and at laft we discovered it to be the most expeditious way to open them where they were found. They were very fizeable, and well tafted, and gave us great relief. To add to this happy circumstance, in the hollow of the land there grew fome wire grafs, which indicated a moift fituation. On forcing a stick, about three feet long, into the ground, we found water, and with little trouble dug a well, which produced as much as we were in need of. It was very good, but I could not determine if it was a fpring or not. "I found evident figns of the natives reforting to this ifland; for, befides fire-places, I faw two miferable wigwams, having only one fide loosely covered. We found a pointed ftick, about three feet long, with a flit in the end of it, to fling ftones with, the fame as the natives of Van Diemen's land ufe. "Wild pigeons, parrots, and other birds, were about the fummit of the ifland; but, as I had no fire-arms, relief of that kind was not to be expected, unless I met with fome unfrequented spot where we might take them with our hands. "This being the day of the restoration of king Charles the Second, and the name not being inapplicable to our prefent fituation (for we were restored to fresh life and strength), I named this Restoration Island; for I thought it probable that captain Cook might not have taken notice of it. "At noon I found the latitude of the island to be 12 deg. 39 min. S; our VOL. II. TRAVELS FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE INTO THE INTERIOR PARTS CONCLUDED FROM P. 185. M. VAILLANT in vain endeavoured to perfuade the colonists to join him in his intended journey to the wreck of the Grofvenor Indiaman; but his Hottentots prevailed on one of their countrymen, named Hans, to give our author fome ufeful information. After characterising the colonists as deftitute of true courage, M. Vaillant fays, "It is not thus with the women, the principal part of whom have real prefence of mind and courage, fearing no obftacles, and calmly facing danger; managing a horfe, and firing a musket with as much skill as their husbands; are more indefatigable, never flying from an enemy, and may be truly filed Amazons. "I knew a widow that managed her own plantation, who, when the wild beafts attacked her flocks, mounted on horfeback and purfued them with the greateft intrepidity; never quitting the chace 'till the either killed, or drove them from the canton. "In one of my journies, two years after, in the country of the Namaquias, I faw, in a lonely habitation, a young woman of about twenty, who always accompanied her father on horseback, when at the head of his people he attacked the Bofhis-men, who often gave them difturbance; following thefe wretches, regardless of their impoifoned arrows, with the utmost spirit and bravery; overtaking them in their flight, and fhooting them without pity. The annals of the Cape make mention of a great number of women, who have diftinguished themselves by actions of bravery, that might do honour to the moft courageous of our fex. "On my return to the Cape, the common topic of difcourfe was the tragical adventure of a widow, who had lived at a distant folitary habitation with her two fons, the eldest of them about nineteen. One gloomy night the family was awakened by the lowing of E e the |