136 cook's FIRST VOYAGE JUNE, 



passed close without two small islands that lie in lati- 

 tude 1541 / S. and about four leagues from the main: 

 to reach these islands had, in the height of our dis- 

 tress, been the object of our hope, or perhaps rather 

 of our wishes, and therefore I called them Hope 

 Islands. At noon we were about three leagues from 

 the land, and in latitude 15 37' S. ; the northernmost 

 part of the main in sight bore N. 30 W. ; and Hope 

 Islands extended from S, 30 E. to S. 40 E. In this 

 situation we had twelve fathom water, and several 

 sand-banks without us. At this time the leak had not 

 increased ; but that we might be prepared for all 

 events, we got the sail ready for another fothering. 

 In the afternoon, having a gentle breeze at S. E. by 

 E., 1 sent out the master with two boats, as well to 

 sound a-head of the ship, as to look out for a har- 

 bour where we might repair our defects, and put the 

 ship in a proper trim. At three o'clock, w r e saw an 

 opening that had the appearance of a harbour, and 

 stood off and on while the boats examined it ; but 

 they soon found that there was not depth of water 

 in it sufficient for the ship. When it was near sun- 

 set, there being many shoals about us, we anchored 

 in four fathom, at the distance of about two miles 

 from the shore, the land extending from N. - E. to 

 S. by E. -\ E. The pinnace was still out with one 

 of the mates ; but at nine o'clock she returned, and 

 reported, that about two leagues to leeward she had 

 discovered just such a harbour as we wanted, in which 

 there was a sufficient rise of water, and every other 

 convenience that could be desired, either for laying 

 the ship ashore, or heaving her down. 



In consequence of this information, I weighed at 

 six o'clock in the morning, and having sent two 

 boats a-head, to lie upon the shoals that we saw in 

 our way, we ran down to the place ; but notwith- 

 standing our precaution, we were once in three 

 fathom water. As soon as these shoals were passed, 

 I sent the boats to lie in the channel that led to the 



1 



