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EAST INDIAMAN.
323
float, on which they proposed to go out fish¬
ing with such hooks and lines as had come
ashore. Likewise they killed some seals,
but all who ate of them were sick.
When driven to great necessity, they killed
a hog; they generally had success in fishing,
and sometimes sent out two rafts at a time.
On one occasion, Mr. Collet, and Mr. Yets,
the midshipman, were nearly driven out to
sea, whUe engaged in this manner, where they
would have infallibly perished. They had
been out fishing on the 20th of August until
about four in the afternoon, when they
weighed and endeavoured to come in again;
but the wind suddenly freshening from the
westward, they found that instead of gaining
ahead, they drove off very fast. Though the
people on shore saw their distress, they knew
not how to assist them; however, they sent
out another float with kellicks and ropes,
which they hoped would enable them to ride
till the wind moderated. The surf, however,
was so great, that the raft overset three times,
and the men were obliged to swim back. In
the interval, they saw their friends driving
out to sea at a great rate, and were just giv¬
ing them up to inevitable destruction, when