DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0333
EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE.
295
the provisions landed were exhausted, they supported them-
selves on the flesh of seals, and some few aquatic birds they
caught: and when their clothing was quite worn out, they
were obliged to attire themselves in seal skins. For seven
days and nights they were without any food or water whatever,
From the rest of Lowrieston's evidence, it appeared, that
during the stay of this young man and his unfortunate com-
panions in this desolate abode, the contrivances to preserve
their existence, and protect themselves from the occasional
severity of the weather, which dire necessity suggested,
were innumerable. They were obliged to seek shelter, at
times, in caves, dug out by incredible labour, from the side
of the mountains, on that part of the island where they
landed, and which was cut off from the opposite side by an
immense chain of high and impassable mountains, from north
to south, to the extreme points of land at each end. They
made some efforts to get over these mountains, in order to
reach the opposite side of the island, where they hoped to
And inhabitants and some provisions ; as, from what some
of them recollected to have read or heard of New Zealand,
they judged there were plenty of hogs ; but after clambering
with incredible labour, over some of those literally cloud-
capt regions, they found still higher mountains to contend
with, presenting a tract as boundless, and utterly barren.
Being exceedingly weak, from the wretched manner in
which they had so long subsisted, they relinquished their
purpose, after advancing about nine miles into the country ;
and returned to their former mansion, where they might,
at least, prolong an existence, which however wretched,
was still dear to the feelings of nature,, under the faint hope
of being, at some time or other, providentially delivered
from a state of solitude. The land was so barren and
unproductive of any indigenous vegetable, fit to make part
of their sustenance, that seals and the few birds already
mentioned, were for two years their only food.
295
the provisions landed were exhausted, they supported them-
selves on the flesh of seals, and some few aquatic birds they
caught: and when their clothing was quite worn out, they
were obliged to attire themselves in seal skins. For seven
days and nights they were without any food or water whatever,
From the rest of Lowrieston's evidence, it appeared, that
during the stay of this young man and his unfortunate com-
panions in this desolate abode, the contrivances to preserve
their existence, and protect themselves from the occasional
severity of the weather, which dire necessity suggested,
were innumerable. They were obliged to seek shelter, at
times, in caves, dug out by incredible labour, from the side
of the mountains, on that part of the island where they
landed, and which was cut off from the opposite side by an
immense chain of high and impassable mountains, from north
to south, to the extreme points of land at each end. They
made some efforts to get over these mountains, in order to
reach the opposite side of the island, where they hoped to
And inhabitants and some provisions ; as, from what some
of them recollected to have read or heard of New Zealand,
they judged there were plenty of hogs ; but after clambering
with incredible labour, over some of those literally cloud-
capt regions, they found still higher mountains to contend
with, presenting a tract as boundless, and utterly barren.
Being exceedingly weak, from the wretched manner in
which they had so long subsisted, they relinquished their
purpose, after advancing about nine miles into the country ;
and returned to their former mansion, where they might,
at least, prolong an existence, which however wretched,
was still dear to the feelings of nature,, under the faint hope
of being, at some time or other, providentially delivered
from a state of solitude. The land was so barren and
unproductive of any indigenous vegetable, fit to make part
of their sustenance, that seals and the few birds already
mentioned, were for two years their only food.