214f cook's voyage to june, 



anchor in thirteen fathoms, the high rock bearing 

 west one quarter south, distant three quarters of a 

 mile. We remained fast for the rest of the day, the 

 wind blowing fresh into the mouth of the bay; and, 

 toward evening, the weather had a very unusual ap- 

 pearance, being exceedingly dark and cloudy, with 

 an unsettled shifting wind. 



Before day-light on the loth, we were surprised 

 with a rumbling noise, resembling distant hollow 

 thunder ; and when the day broke, we found the 

 decks and sides of the ships covered with a fine dust 

 like emery, near an inch thick. The air, at the same 

 time, continued loaded and darkened with this sub- 

 stance; and, toward the volcano mountain, situated 

 to the north of the harbour, it was so thick and black, 

 that we could not distinguish the body of the hill. 

 About twelve o'clock, and, during the afternoon, the 

 explosions became louder, and were followed by 

 showers of cinders, which were, in general, about the 

 size of peas; though many were picked up from the 

 deck larger than a hazel-nut. Along with the cin- 

 ders fell several small stones, which had undergone 

 no change from the action of fire. In the evening 

 we had dreadful thunder and lightning, which, with 

 the darkness of the atmosphere, and the sulphureous 

 smell of the air, produced altogether a most awful 

 and terrifying effect. We were, at this time, about 

 eight leagues from the foot of the mountain. 



On the 16th, at day-light, we again weighed an- 

 chor, and stood out of the bay; but the ebb-tide 

 setting across the passage upon the eastern shore, and 

 the wind falling, we were driven very near the Three 

 Needle Rocks, which lie on that side* of the entrance, 

 and obliged to hoist out the boats, in order to tow 

 the ships clear of them. At noon we were two 

 leagues from the land, and had soundings with forty- 

 three fathoms of line, over a bottom of small stones, 

 of the same kind with those which fell on our decks, 

 after the eruption of the volcano; but whether they 



