Survival in the Arafura Sea

Conditions in the ships' boats were almost unbearable, especially during the 14 days in the Arafura Sea. Excruciating thirst and the scorching sun were the worst hardships suffered.

Surgeon Hamilton:

"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 for the rest of the voyage, or it would have dragged the boats asunder … The men who were employed steering the boats were often subject to a coup de soleil, as everyone 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 … We now elected to weigh our slender allowance of bread, our mouths becoming so parched, few attempted to eat; we found that old people suffer this much more than those that were young. A particular instance we observed in one young boy, a midshipman, who sold his allowance of water two days for one allowance of bread. And as their suffering continued they became very cross and savage in their temper. In the Captain's boat, one of the prisoners took to praying, and they gathered around him with much attention and seeming devotion; but the Captain suspecting the purity of his doctrines, and unwilling he should make a monopoly of the business, gave prayers himself."

James Morrison (prisoner):

"On the 9th as I was talking to McIntosh, Captain Edwards ordered me aft and without assigning any cause ordered me to be pinioned with a cord and lashed down in the boat's bottom, and Ellison who was then asleep was ordered to the same punishment-I attempted to reason and enquire what I had done to be thus cruelly treated … but received for answer: 'Silence you murdering villain, are you not a prisoner? You piratical dog, what better treatment do you expect?'"

By 11 September 1791, the survivors' plight had become extremely serious. They had last sighted land when they left the Torres Strait on 2 September. Their water supply was perilously low so the ration of one wine glass full per day reduced some men to drinking their own urine. Others were better able to cope with their thirst than with their hunger.