Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

THE
from freezing. The weather was as cold as
it had been in December. They now thought
of the sea-weed on the beach, as a resource
against hunger, for they could find no more
hips. They collected some, and boiling it a
few hours in their kettle, found it very little
tenderer than when raw. They next boiled
one of their two remaining candles in the
liquor, and by taking it and eating a quantity
of the weed, they found themselves somewhat
easier. Not long after this they were seized
with vomiting, which lasted four hours, when
they became easy, but completely exhausted.
On the twenty-second they took more kelp-
weed and their last candle. The effects that
followed were the same as before, only less
violent. A severe frost then set in, and they
ineffectually tried to launch their boat, but
their united strength could not move it.
Their candles were all consumed, and they
were forced to boil the kelp without tallow,
which they still ate with a relish. They
found that this food made them swell to an
alarming degree. After living upon it for three
days they were all swollen over to such a
degree, that on pressure their fingers would
sink a couple of inches deep into the skin.