Explore "Narrative Of An Expedition Undertaken By E.B. Kennedy" by William Carron on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
-"I left Port Nicholson about the middle of last February, in the schooner Bona Vista, about 30 tons burden, Dadds, master, and a crew of six men, bound on a beche-le-mere voyage to Torres' Straits. I shipped by the month. After leaving Port Nicholson, we saw no land until we made the land about Wide Bay. After being, out three or four weeks, at about eight o'clock one evening struck on a reef, which we supposed to be the Great Barrier Reef; made several attempts to get the schooner off, got the bower anchors out astern, but in spite of all our efforts the vessel forged further on the reef, and bilged. The only boat we had was a very small one, not large enough to carry all hands. We made a raft of the vessel's spars, and secured it under the boat's bottom. At daylight we abandoned the wreck, in the small boat, supported by the raft, and steered for land (two peaks) then in sight to the westward. On the following morning we landed on an island, the one we had seen, where we remained about eight or ten days. The only provisions saved from the wreck were a piece of beef and about half a hundred of damaged biscuit, also a small quantity of tea. We then agreed to make for the main land: we all left, and steered for a small island to the westward. On this island three of our men were left. The remainder proceeded to another island still further to the westward. Here we found natives. Left that island, and made for another, where natives were also seen; from their manner they appeared to be hostile. We then returned to the island where we left the three men. It was then agreed to go over to a large island then in sight about six miles to the southward of us, as we thought from its size it was more likely to afford us better means of sustenance, and greater facilities of making our boat larger.
-"Myself and three others proceeded to this island, where we landed. One man took the boat back for the remainder. I have not seen them since. It is now about three weeks since we landed; have had nothing to eat during that time but small oysters and winkles.