Читать книгу Men Against the Sea – Book Set. The Greatest Maritime Adventure Novels: The Bounty Trilogy, Lost Island, The Hurricane, Botany Bay, The Far Lands, Tales of the South Seas… онлайн

688 страница из 953

“Aye, they look wholesome and good. I recognize their families, but the species are new to me. These palms, sir—cannot some of the people cut out a few of the hearts? We’ll find them delicious, I’ll be bound.”

“There, Peckover!” Bligh exclaimed, turning to the gunner. “That shows the need for a botanist in every ship’s company. We’ve walked miles for a few berries, and Mr. Nelson finds food for us within a dozen paces of the boat!”

“Aye,” said Peckover. “I’d be pleased to have the knowledge inside Mr. Nelson’s head. We’ve found good water, Mr. Ledward, and plenty of it. We can drink our fill while here.”

Fryer and his men were coming up the beach—well laden, as I perceived at a glance.

“We shall feast to-night,” he called. “We’ve found oysters galore! And larger and better tasting than those at home!”

“Come, lads,” said Bligh; “let us turn to without waste of time.”

I have never been averse to the pleasures of the table, and have had the good fortune to partake of many excellent meals; but never do I recollect having supped with more pleasure than on this night. Fryer had adopted the simple expedient of opening the oysters where they grew, without attempting to loose them from the rocks. Our copper pot held close to three gallons, and it was more than half full of oysters of an amazing size, soaking in their own juice. Some of the people had woven baskets of palm fronds, an art they had learned from the Indians of Otaheite, and in these they carried a supply of unopened oysters, prized off the rocks with a cutlass. The fruits were excellent, particularly one kind which resembled a gooseberry, but tasted sweeter; the palm hearts were like tender young cabbage, eaten raw.