PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 123 



any soundings to give warning of their vicinity, this 

 little vessel was likely to be of the greatest service, 

 not only in a minute examination of the shore, but, 

 by being kept a-head of the ship during the night, 

 to give notice of any danger that might lie in her 

 route. She was accordingly hoisted out while we 

 were off this island, and stowed and provisioned for 

 six weeks. I gave the command of her to Mr. El- 

 son, the master, an officer, well qualified to perform 

 the service I had in view ; having with him Mr. R. 

 Beechey, midshipman, and a crew of eight seamen 

 and marines. Instructions were given to Mr. Elson 

 for his guidance, and proper rendezvous appointed 

 in case of separation. We first experienced the uti- 

 lity of this excellent sea-boat, in bringing off water 

 from the shore through seas which in ordinary cases 

 would have proved serious obstacles ; and had there 

 not been so much surf upon the rocks, that the casks 

 could only be got through it by the natives swim- 

 ming out with them, we should in a short time have 

 completed our stock of water. This process, how- 

 ever, was very harassing to them, who, besides this 

 arduous task, had to bring the water from a distance 

 in calabashes ; so, that with the utmost despatch, 

 our daily supply scarcely equalled the consumption, 

 and we were compelled to trust to the hope of being 

 more fortunate at some other island. 



During the period of our stay in the vicinity of 

 the island, we scarcely saw the sun, and I began to 

 despair of being able to fix our position with suf- 

 ficient accuracy. On the 20th, however, the clouds 

 cleared away, and the night was passed in obtaining 

 lunar distances with stars east and west of the moon, 

 several meridional altitudes, and transits which, com- 



