He then divided it into
twelve portions, and gave one portion to each of the twelve men for
breakfast; but it was a mockery of a meal, as unsubstantial as an
echo--smell, and nothing else.
The two boats were launched, and an attempt was made to pass out to
sea through the surf, but the wind was far down south, and the men
had to return and beach the boats. The sails were taken ashore and
used as tents. In the evening they again endeavoured to catch a
wombat, but failed.
On the next day they tried again to get out of the river, but the
surf half filled the boats with water, and they were glad to reach
the camp again.
Captain Mills was a native of Australia, and a good bushman; he told
the men that sow thistles were good to eat, so they went about
looking for them, and having found a quantity ate them. On the third
day they tried once more to get out of the river, but without success.
On the fourth day Mills decided to carry the boats and whaling gear
overland to a bight in the bay to the west. The gear was divided
into lots among the men, and consisted of ten oars, two steer-oars,
two tubs of whale line each 120 fathoms in length, two fifty-pound
anchors, four harpoons, six lances, six lance warps, two tomahawks,
two water kegs, two piggins for balers, two sheath knives, and two
oil-stones for touching up the lances when they became dull.
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