832 COOK S VOYAGE TO MAY, 



wind was succeeded by a fresh breeze at south south- 

 east. Our course, now being south south-west, or 

 more southerly, we were obliged to ply to windward, 

 and did but just fetch the north side of Footooha, by 

 eight o'clock, where we spent the night, making 

 short boards. 



The next morning, we plied up to Lofanga, where, 

 according to the information of our friends, there 

 was anchorage. It was one o'clock, in the after- 

 noon, before we got soundings, under the lee or 

 north-w r est side, in forty fathoms' water, near half a 

 mile from the shore ; but the bank was steep, and 

 the bottom rocky, and a chain of breakers lay to 

 leeward. All these circumstances being against us, 

 I stretched away for Kotoo, with the expectation 

 of finding better anchoring ground under that island. 

 But so much time had been spent in plying up to 

 Lofanga, that it was dark before we reached the 

 other ; and, rinding no place to anchor in, the night 

 was spent as the preceding one. 



At day-break, on the 31st, I stood for the channel 

 which is between Kotoo, and the reef of rocks that 

 lie to the westward of it ; but on drawing near, I 

 found the wind too scant to lead us through. I, 

 therefore, bore up on the outside of the reef, and 

 stretched to the south west, till near noon, when 

 perceiving that we made no progress to windward, 

 and being apprehensive of losing the islands, with 

 so many of the natives on board, I tacked and stood 

 back, intending to wait till some more favourable 

 opportunity. We did but just fetch in with 

 Fotooha, between which and Kotoo we spent the 

 night, under reefed topsails and foresail. The wind 

 blew fresh, and by squalls, with rain ; and we were not 

 without apprehensions of danger. I kept the deck till 

 midnight, when I left it to the master, with such direc- 

 tions as, I thought, would keep the ships clear of the 

 the shoals and rocks that lay round us. But, after 

 making a trip to the north, and standing back again 



