1777 THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 15 



ing, as far as might be possible, to become entitled 

 to one or both these rewards ; but that, to give us 

 the best chance of succeeding, it would be necessary 

 to observe the utmost economy in the expenditure 

 of our stores and provisions, particularly the latter, 

 as there was no probability of getting a supply any 

 where after leaving these islands. I strengthened 

 my argument, by reminding them, that our voyage 

 must last at least a year longer than had been origi- 

 nally supposed, by our having already lost the oppor- 

 tunity of getting to the North this summer. I begged 

 them to consider the various obstructions and difficul- 

 ties we might still meet with, and the aggravated 

 hardships they would labour under, if it should be 

 found necessary to put them to short allowance of 

 any species of provisions in a cold climate. For 

 these very substantial reasons, I submitted to them, 

 whether it would not be better to be prudent in time., 

 and rather than to run the risk of having no spirits 

 left, when such a cordial would be most wanted, to 

 consent to be without their grog now, when we had 

 so excellent a liquor as that of cocoa-nuts to substi- 

 tute in its place ; but that, after all, I left the deter- 

 mination entirely to their own choice. 



I had the satisfaction to find, that this proposal did 

 not remain a single moment under consideration ; 

 being unanimously approved of, immediately, with- 

 out any objection. I ordered Captain Clerke to make 

 the same proposal to his people ; which they also 

 agreed to. Accordingly, we stopped serving grog, 

 except on Saturday nights, when the companies of 

 both ships had full allowance of it, that they might 

 drink the healths of their female friends in England ; 

 lest these, amongst the pretty girls of Otaheite, should 

 be wholly forgotten. 



The next day we began some necessary opera- 

 tions ; to inspect the provisions that were in the main 

 and forehold ; to get the casks of beef and pork, and 

 the coals out of the ground tier ; and to put some 



