ea, coffee and cocoa in
abundance. We had not been able to catch any fish for some days as the
weather had been too rough, and, further, they appeared to leave the
coasts during the very cold weather.

Sea elephants were very scarce, and we invariably had to walk some
distance in order to get one; each man taking it in turn to go out with
a companion and carry home enough meat for our requirements. We were
now eating sea elephant meat three times a day (all the penguins having
migrated) and our appetites were very keen. The routine work was carried
on, though a great deal of time was occupied in getting food.

Bauer very generously offered to share his biscuits with us, but
we fellows, while appreciating the spirit which prompted the offer,
unanimously declined to accept them. We now concluded that something
had happened to the ship, as at the end of July she had been twenty-four
days out.

On August 3 we had a sixty-three-mile gale and between 1 and 2 A.M. the
velocity of the wind frequently exceeded fifty miles per hour. Needless
to say there was a mountainous sea running, and the Rachel Cohen, if she
had been anywhere in the vicinity, would have had a perilous time.

A message came to me on August 6 from the Secretary of the Expedition,
saying that the 'Rachel Cohen' had returned to New Zealand badly
damaged, and that he was endeavouring to send us relief as soon as
possible. I replied, telling him that our food-supply was done, but that
otherwise we were all right and no uneasiness need be felt, though we
wished to be relieved as soon as possible.

Splendid news came along on the 9th to the effect that the New Zealand
Government's steamer 'Tutanekai' would tranship our stores from the
'Rachel Cohen' on the 15th and sail direct for the island.

Sawyer now became ill and desired me to make arrangements for his
return. I accordingly wired to the Secretary, who replied asking if we
could manage without an operator. After consulting Sandell, I answered
that Sandell and I together could manage to run the wireless station.

Everybody now looked forward eagerly to the arrival of the 'Tutanekai',
but things went on as before. We found ourselves with nothing but sea
elephant meat and sago, with a pound-tin of French beans once a week and
two ounces of oatmeal every morning.

We heard that the Tutanekai did not leave as expected on the 15th,
but sailed on the afternoon of the 17th, and was coming straight to
Macquarie