Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/388

 328 lOaASTBB. TO 1780 Probable fate of those on the joUy-boot Provisions on the 'tX'' The lannch leaves the ship. The Jolly- boat disappears. Mr. Orowther left the ahip in the cattery and got an opportonlt j of joining the launch wlule making the exchange. There were then left on board ihe cutter, Mr. Brady, midAhipmany Mr. Hetdber, captain's clerk, and £ve fsieamen. Bj this time the jolly-boat had nearly come within hail, and we lay-by till informed of her situation ; she brought with ber neither provision, water, compass, or quadrant. Hence we were reduced to the sad medium of consulting our safety alone ; and perhaps never did the human mind struggle under greater diffi- culties than we experienced in being obliged to leave so many behind, in all probability to perish ; but it was evident that more people could not with propriety be received on board the launch, from our quantity of provisions, viz., two bags of biscuit of about 100 9>. each, two mutton hams of five pounds each, a gooee, two fowls, about twelve pounds of butter, a cheese, a small k^ of rum containing about four gallons, and a small rum-cask of water, marked on the head twenty gallons. This was a very inadequate sustenance for fifteen souls already in the boat, who had to traverse the vast distance of 411 leagues in a boisterous ocean, without any means of relief There being yet a spare compass and quadrant in the launch, they were, by Mr. Clements' direction, handed into the jofly-boat At this time one of the convicts attempted to get on board us, but was opposed by all, and pushed into the sea. The fellow in the struggle caught hold of Mr. Clements, who was with difficulty saved from being pulled out of the boat along with him. The people in the jolly-boat picked the man up again, and then took to their oars, and rowed close upon our quarter, as if determined to board us by force. To prevent, therefore, any scuffle, it was immediately agreed to make sail ; and we took our final departure from this scene of misery and distress at about nine o'clock, lie ship at this time appeared sunk down to her upper-deck ports. The large cutter, which was watching our motions, immediately made sail after us, but in a short time fell mudh to leeward. Mr. Clements thought they intended making for Prince Edward's or Marien's and Crozef s Idand. Tlte small cutter remained hang^g on at a distance from the ship. They also stepped their masts in the jolly-boat, and made sail after us ; but, disappearing almost at the same moment,, we IJunk the boat filled and went down.