We upon the desolate Island not knowing what had befallen them, waited daily for deliverance, and our expectations was the more heightened by a smoak we saw in the woods, two days after (the Signal appointed if arriv'd safe) which continuing every day, and being willing to believe it made on our Account, tho' saw no appearance of any thing towards our relief, yet suppos'd the delay was occasion'd, by their not being able to procure a vessel so soon as we desir'd; and this hope under God, serv'd to bear our spirits and support us much.
But still our great want was Provisions; having nothing to eat but Rockweed and a very few Muscles, and the Spring-Tide being (thank God safely over) we cou'd scarce get any at all. I have gone my self (no other Person being able) several days at low water, and cou'd get no more than two or three at Piece, and have frequently been in danger of losing my hands and arms by putting them so often in the water, which when got, my stomach refus'd, and rather chose Rockweed.
At our first coming saw several Seals upon the Rock, and supposing they might harbour there in the night, I walked round at midnight, but cou'd never get any thing: We also saw a great many fowls, but they perceiving us daily there, wou'd never come on the Rock to lodge, so that we caught none.
Which disappointment was very greivous and still serv'd to irritate our miseries, but it was more especially afflicting to a brother I had with me, and another young Gentleman, who had never (either of 'em) been at sea, or endur'd any severities before; but were now reduc'd to the last extreamities, having no assistance but what they receiv'd from me.
Part of a green hide being thrown up by the sea, (fasten'd to a peice of the Main-Yard) the men importun'd me to bring it to the Tent, which being done we minc'd it small and swallow'd it down.
About this time, I set the men to open junck, and with the Rope-Yarn (when weather wou'd permit) I thatcht the Tent in the best Manner my strength wou'd allow; that it might the better shelter us from extreamities of weather: And it prov'd of so much service as to turn two or three Hours' rain, and preserve us from the cold pinching winds which were always very severe upon us.
About the latter end of this month (viz. December) our Carpenter (a fat Man, and naturally of a dull, heavy, Phlegmatick Constitution and Disposition, aged about forty-seven) who from our first coming on shore, had been always very ill, and lost the use of his feet, complained of an excessive Pain in his Back, and stiffness in his Neck: bring likewise almost choakt with phlegm (for want of strength to discharge it) so that to our aprehension he drew near his End. We prayed over him, and us'd our utmost endeavours to be serviceable to him in his last moments; he shew'd himself sensible tho' speechless, and that night died: We suffered the Body to remain with us 'till morning, when I desir'd them who were best able, to remove it; creeping out my self, to see if Providence had yet sent us any thing, to satisfie our extreamly craving appetites: Before noon returning and not seeing the dead Body without, I ask'd why they had not remov'd it? And receiv'd for answer, they were not all of them able: Whereupon fastening a rope to the Body, I gave the utmost of my assistance, and with some difficulty we got it out of the Tent. But the fategue and consideration of our Misery together, so overcame my spirits, that being ready to faint, I crept into the Tent, and was no sooner got in there, but (as the highest Addition of trouble) the Men began to request of me the dead Body to eat, the better to support their Lives.
This, of all I had met with, was the most greivous and shocking to me, to see my self and Company, who came thither laded with provisions but three weeks before, now reduc'd to such a deplorable circumstance, as to have two of us absolutely starv'd to death, other two we knew not what was become of, and the rest of us at the last Extreamity and (tho' still living, yet) requiring to eat the Dead for support.
After abundance of mature thought and consultation about the lawfullness or sinfullness on the one Hand, and absolute Necessity on the other; Judgment, Conscience, &c. were oblig'd to submit to the more prevailing arguments of our craving appetites; so that at last we determined to satisfie our hunger and support our feeble Bodies with the Carkass in Possession: first ordering his skin, head, hands, Feet and bowels to be buried in the Sea, and the Body to be quarter'd for Conveniency of drying and carriage, to which I again receiv'd for Answer, that they were not all of them able, but entreated I wou'd perform it for them: A task very greivous, and not readily comply'd with, but their incessant Prayers and Intreaties at last prevail'd, and by night I had perform'd my labour.
I then cut part of the flesh in thin Slices, and washing it in saltwater, brought it to the Tent, and oblig'd the men to eat Rockweed along with it, to serve instead of bread.