Capt. Bligh's west island, which appears in Three Hummocks, N.N.W.; a
rock N.W. at the S.W. extreme of the main land, S. and by E.; and the
northernmost cape of New South Wales, S.S.E.; and to the extreme of the
land in sight, the eastward E. half N. a small distance from the nearest
of the Prince of Wales's Islands, we discovered another island, and which
we called Christian's Island. Saw Two Hummock between Hawkesbury's Island
and Mountainous Island; but could not be certain whether it was one or
two islands.

We now entered the great Indian ocean, and had a voyage of a thousand
miles to undertake in our open boats. As soon as we cleared the land, we
found a very heavy swell running, which threatened destruction to our
little fleet; for should we have separated, we must inevitably perish for
want of water, as we had not utensils to divide our slender stock. For
our mutual preservation, we took each other in tow again; but the sea was
so rough, and the swell running so high, we towed very hard, and broke a
new tow-line. This put us in the utmost confusion, being afraid of
dashing to pieces upon each other, as it was a very dark night. We again
made fast to each other; but the tow-line breaking a second time, we
were obliged to trust ourselves to the mercy of the waves. At five in
the morning, the pinnace lay to, as the other boats had passed her under
a dark cloud; but on the signal being made for the boats to join, we
again met at day-light. At meridian, we passed some remarkable black and
yellow striped sea snakes. On the afternoon of the 4th of September, gave
out the exact latitude of our rendezvous in writing; also the longitude
by the time-keeper at this present time, in case of unavoidable
separation.

On the night between the 5th and 6th, the sea running very cross and
high, the tow-line broke several times; the boats strained, and made much
water; and we were obliged to leave off towing the rest of the voyage, or
it would have dragged the boats asunder. On the 7th, the Captain's boat
caught a booby. They sucked his blood, and divided him into twenty-four
shares.

The men who were employed steering the boats, were often subject to a
_coup de soleil_, as every one else were continually wetting their shirts
overboard, and putting it upon their head, which alleviated the scorching
heat of the sun, to which we were entirely exposed, most of us having
lost our hats while swimming at the time the ship was wrecked.