mained on deck stowed themselves away
under shelter of the hammock nettings.

"We of course kept a bright look-out, though it was not supposed that we
had anything to fear. Except the officer of the watch, the rest had
gone below--the captain and master probably to examine the chart--when
the look-out on the forecastle shouted out `Breakers ahead!' `Put the
helm a lee!' cried the officer of the watch. Almost before the order
could be obeyed we felt a shock which lifted us off our feet, and sent
those below out of their hammocks. We knew too well that the ship was
ashore. In one instant the sea struck the ship, now lifting her up and
then dashing her down upon the rocks with tremendous force. It seemed
like a fearful dream. Almost in a moment the main-deck was burst in,
and soon afterwards the lee bulwarks were carried away. The captain and
officers did their best to maintain discipline. The first thing to be
done was to lower the boats, but before they could be got into the water
they were all either stove or washed away, and knocked to pieces on the
rocks. Only a whale-boat of no great use was launched by the boatswain
and nine other hands. As soon as they got clear of the rocks they lay
on their oars, but it would have been madness in them to come back, as
the boat already contained as many people as she could carry with
safety. The captain accordingly ordered her to pull towards the Island
of Pauri, in the hope that assistance might there be obtained for us.
The ship continued to strike heavily. Every instant I expected that she
would go to pieces, when one and all of us would have been lost. About
twenty minutes after she struck the mainmast fell over the side towards
a rock, which we could distinguish rising above the water, followed by
the foremast and mizen-mast. Hoping that the rock would afford us more
security than the ship herself, I, with others, made my way towards it,
though at no little risk of being carried off by the seas. On reaching
it we shouted to the rest to come on, as at any moment the ship might go
to pieces. The whole crew followed our example. Many parts of the rock
itself were scarcely above water. It seemed, as far as we could judge,
to be about 400 yards long, and half as many wide. Here all hands
collected, for as yet none had been washed away or lost, but many of the
people had no clothing on, or only just their shirts, in which they had
turned out of their hammocks. W