270 



A VOYAGE TO 



1777- were not without apprehenfions of danger. I kept the deck 



May 



till midnight, when I left it to the Mailer, with fuch direc- 

 tions as, I thought, would keep the fhips clear of the fhoals 

 and rocks, that lay round us. But, after making a trip to 

 the North, and Handing back again to the South, our fliip, 

 by a fmall fhift of the wind, fetched farther to the wind- 

 ward than was expedled. By this means flie was very near 

 running full upon a low fandy ifle, called Pootoo Pootooa* 

 furrounded with breakers. It happened, very fortunately, 

 that the people had juft been ordered upon the deck, to put 

 the fhip about, and the mofl of them were at their llations ; 

 fo that the necelTary movements were not only executed with 

 judgment, but alfo with alertnefs ; and this alone faved us 

 from deftrui^ion. The Difcovery being aftern, was out of 

 danger. Such hazardous iituations are the unavoidable 

 companions of the man, who goes upon a voyage of 

 difcovery. 



This circumftance frightened our pafTengers fo much, 

 that they exprdfTed a flrong defire to get afhore. Accord- 

 June, ingly, as foon as day-light returned, I hoifted out a boar, 

 and ordered the Officer who commanded her, after landing 

 them at Kotoo, to found along the reef that fpits off from 

 that iiland, for anchorage. For I was full as much tired as 

 they could be, with beating about amongft the furrounding 

 ifles and flioals, and determined to get to an anchor, fome- 

 where or other, if poflible. While the boat was abfent, we 

 attempted to turn the fliips through the channel, between 

 the fandy ifle and the reef of Kotoo, in expe(5tation of find- 

 ing a moderate depth of water behind them to anchor in. 

 But, meeting with a tide or current againft us, we were 

 obliged to defift, and anchor in fifty fathoms water, with the 



fandy ifie bearing Eaft by North, one mile diftant. 



We 



Sunday I 



