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I continually directed the steersman myself； and by incessant vigilance succeeded； just at sunset； in bringing our boat to an anchor under the lee of the southern point of one of the islands。 The anchorage was； however； by no means good； there being a fringing coral reef； dry at low water； beyond which； on a bottom strewn with masses of coral； we were obliged to anchor。 We had now been incessantly tossing about for four days in our small undecked boat； with constant disappointments and anxiety； and it was a great comfort to have a night of quiet and comparative safety。 My old pilot had never left the helm for more than an hour at a time； when one of the others would relieve him for a little sleep； so I determined the next morning to look out for a secure and convenient harbour； and rest on shore for a day。
In the morning； finding it would be necessary for us to get round a rocky point； I wanted my men to go on shore and cut jungle… rope； by which to secure us from being again drafted away； as the wind was directly off shore。 I unfortunately； however； allowed myself to be overruled by the pilot and crew； who all declared that it was the easiest thing possible； and that they would row the boat round the point in a few minutes。 They accordingly got up the anchor； set the jib； and began rowing； but； just as I had feared； we drifted rapidly off shore； and had to drop anchor again in deeper water； and much farther off。 The two best men； a Papuan and a Malay now swam on shore； each carrying a hatchet； and went into the jungle to seek creepers for rope。 After about an hour our anchor loosed hold； and began to drag。 This alarmed me greatly； and we let go our spare anchor； and； by running out all our cable； appeared tolerably secure again。 We were now most anxious for the return of the men； and were going to fire our muskets to recall them； when we observed them on the beach； some way off； and almost immediately our anchors again slipped； and we drifted slowly away into deep water。 We instantly seized the oars； but found we could not counteract the wind and current； and our frantic cries to the men were not heard till we had got a long way off； as they seemed to be hunting for shell…fish on the beach。 Very soon； however； they stared at us； and in a few minutes seemed to comprehend their situation； for they rushed down into the water； as if to swim off； but again returned on shore； as if afraid to make the attempt。 We had drawn up our anchors at first not to check our rowing； but now； finding we could do nothing； we let them both hang down by the full length of the cables。 This stopped our way very much； and we drifted from shore very slowly； and hoped the men would hastily form a raft； or cut down a soft…wood tree； and paddle out； to us； as we were still not more than a third of a mile from shore。 They seemed； however； to have half lost their senses； gesticulating wildly to us； running along the beach； then going unto the forest； and just when we thought they had prepared some mode of making an attempt to reach us； we saw the smoke of a fire they had made to cook their shell…fish！ They had evidently given up all idea of coming after us； and we were obliged to look to our own position。
We were now about a mile from shore； and midway between two of the islands； but we were slowly drifting out； to sea to the westward； and our only chance of yet saving the men was to reach the opposite shore。 We therefore sot our jib and rowed hard； but the wind failed； and we drifted out so rapidly that we had some difficulty in reaching the extreme westerly point of the island。 Our only sailor left； then swam ashore with a rope； and helped to tow us round the point into a tolerably safe and secure anchorage； well sheltered from the wind； but exposed to a little swell which jerked our anchor and made us rather uneasy。 We were now in a sad plight； having lost our two best men； and being doubtful if we had strength left to hoist our mainsail。 We had only two days' water on board； and the small； rocky； volcanic island did not promise us much chance of finding any。 The conduct of the men on shore was such as to render it doubtful if they would make any serious attempt to reach us； though they might easily do so； having two good choppers； with which in a day they could male a small outrigger raft on which they could safely cross the two miles of smooth sea with the wind right aft； if they started from the east end of the island； so as to allow for the current。 I could only hope they would be sensible enough to make the attempt； and determined to stay as long as I could to give them the chance。
We passed an anxious night； fearful of again breaking our anchor or rattan cable。 In the morning （23d）； finding all secure； I waded on shore with my two men； leaving the old steersman and the cook on board； with a loaded musketto recall us if needed。 We first walked along the beach； till stopped by the vertical cliffs at the east end of the island； finding a place where meat had been smoked； a turtle…shell still greasy； and some cut wood； the leaves of which were still green； showing that some boat had been here very recently。 We then entered the jungle； cutting our way up to the top of the hill； but when we got there could see nothing； owing to the thickness of the forest。 Returning； we cut some bamboos； and sharpened them to dig for water in a low spot where some sago …trees were growing； when； just as we were going to begin； Hoi； the Wahai man； called out to say he had found water。 It was a deep hole among the Sago trees； in stiff black clay； full of water； which was fresh； but smelt horribly from the quantity of dead leaves and sago refuse that had fallen in。 Hastily concluding that it was a spring； or that the water had filtered in； we baled it all out as well as a dozen or twenty buckets of mud and rubbish； hoping by night to have a good supply of clean water。 I then went on board to breakfast； leaving my two men to make a bamboo raft to carry us on shore and back without wading。 I had scarcely finished when our cable broke； and we bumped against the rocks。 Luckily it was smooth and calm； and no damage was done。 We searched for and got up our anchor； and found teat the cable had been cut by grating all night upon the coral。 Had it given way in the night； we might have drifted out to sea without our anchor； or been seriously damaged。 In the evening we went to fetch water from the well； when； greatly to our dismay； we found nothing but a little liquid mud at the bottom； and it then became evident that the hole was one which had been made to collect rain water； and would never fill again as long as the present drought continued。 As we did not know what we might suffer for want of water； we filled our jar with this muddy stuff so that it might settle。 In the afternoon I crossed over to the other side of the island； and made a large fire； in order that our men might see we were still there。
The next day （24th） I determined to have another search for water； and when the tide was out rounded a rocky point and went to the extremity of the island without finding any sign of the smallest stream。 On our way back； noticing a very small dry bed of a watercourse； I went up it to explore； although everything was so dry that my men loudly declared it was useless to expect water there； but a little way up I was rewarded by finding a few pints in a small pool。 We searched higher up in every hole and channel where water marks appeared； but could find not a drop more。 Sending one of my men for a large jar and teacup； we searched along the beach till we found signs of another dry watercourse； and on ascending this were so fortunate as to discover two deep sheltered rock…holes containing several gallons of water； enough to fill all our jars。 When the cup came we enjoyed a good drink of the cool pure water； and before we left had carried away； I believe； every drop on the island。
In the evening a good…sized prau appeared in sight； making apparently for the island where our men were left； and we had some hopes they might be seen and picked up； but it passed along mid…channel； and did not notice the signals we tried to make。 I was now； however； pretty easy as to the fate of the men。 There was plenty of sago on our rocky island； and there world probably be some on the fiat one they were left on。 They had choppers； and could cut down a tree and make sago； and would most likely find sufficient water by digging。 Shell…fish were abundant； and they would be able to manage very well till some boat should touch there； or till I could send and fetch them。 The next day we devoted to cutting wood； filling up our jars with all the water we could find； and making ready to sail in the evening。 I shot a small lory closely resembling a common species at Ternate； and a glossy starling which differed from the allied birds of Ceram and Matabello。 Large wood…pigeons and crows were the only other birds I saw； but I did not obtain specimens。
About eight in the evening of June 25th we started； and found that with all hands at work we could just haul up our mainsail。 We had a fair wind during the night and sailed north…east； finding ourselves in the morning about twenty miles west of the extremity of Waigio