Besides this, we placed between the edges
of the planks layers of cocoa-nut fibre, which, as it swelled when
wetted, would, we hoped, make our little vessel water-tight. But in
order further to secure this end, we collected a large quantity of
pitch from the bread-fruit tree, with which, when boiled in our old
iron pot, we paid the whole of the inside of the boat, and, while it
was yet hot, placed large pieces of cocoa-nut cloth on it, and then
gave it another coat above that. Thus the interior was covered with a
tough, water-tight material; while the exterior, being uncovered, and
so exposed to the swelling action of the water, was, we hoped, likely
to keep the boat quite dry. I may add that our hopes were not
disappointed.
While Jack was thus engaged, Peterkin and I sometimes assisted him; but
as our assistance was not much required, we more frequently went
a-hunting on the extensive mud-flats at the entrance of the long valley
which lay nearest to our bower. Here we found large flocks of ducks of
various kinds, some of them bearing so much resemblance to the wild
ducks of our own country that I think they must have been the same. On
these occasions we took the bow and the sling, with both of which we
were often successful, though I must confess that I was the least so.
Our suppers were thus pleasantly varied, and sometimes we had such a
profusion spread out before us that we frequently knew not with which
of the dainties to begin.
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