Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/303

Rh thrown upon the rocks from the ship, for something to cover them, in which they succeeded beyond their hopes. The next thing they felt the want of was fire: and this was not so easily supplied; some of them attempted to kindle two pieces of wood, by rubbing them together, but without success; others went peeping about among the rocks to pick up something that might serve for a flint and steel; after long search they found a box that contained two gun flints and a broken file; this was a joyful acquisition, but still they had nothing that would kindle from a spark, and till something like tinder could be procured, the flint and steel were useless; a farther search was therefore undertaken with inexpressible solicitude and anxiety; a cask of gun-powder was at last discovered, but to their great disappointment it proved to be wet; however, upon a near examination, a small quantity was found at the bottom of the cask which had suffered no damage. Some of this they bruised on a linen rag, which served them very well for tinder, and a fire was soon made; the bruised and wounded gathered about it, and the rest went in search of other necessaries, without which the rock could afford them but a short respite from destruction. In the afternoon a box of wax-candles, and a cask of brandy were brought in: both very extremely welcome, especially the brandy, of which every one thought it adviseable to take a dram. Soon after some others of the party returned with an account that they had discovered a cask almost full of fresh water, which was yet of more consequence than the brandy, and Mr. Jones brought in some pieces of salt port, and soon after some others arrived, driving before them seven hogs, which had come on shore alive; some casks of beer, water, flour, were also seen at a distance, but it was not then possible to get them over the rocks. The approach of night made it nexessary to provide some shelter; all hands therefore were employed to make a tent of some canvas that had been thrown on shore, which was at last effected, though it was so small for want of more sail-cloth, that it would not hold them all. The island was much frequented by a kind of water-fowl something larger than a duck, called a gannet, and the highest part of it was covered with their dung; upon this part they were obliged to build their tent, for fear of being overflowed, and they placed those who could not walk, under the tent, and kindled a fire near them; but as they had passed the day without food, they passed the night without rest; for besides that they were sunk a foot in the fowls dung, the wind was so tempestuous that the wind blew about their fire, and before it could be scraped together again, the rain put it out.

In the morning, which was Friday, July the 16th, those that were able went again about the rock, to see what could be saved from the wreck, but to their great moritification, they found all the casks which they had seen the night before, except one of beer, and one of flour, staved to pieces against the rocks; soon after these were secured the tide flowed up, and put a stop to the work of that day. The company therefore was called together to eat their first