544 Voyage from Waigiou 



us that, at a short distance farther toward the point, there 

 was a much better harbor, where there were plenty of Gale- 

 la men, from whom we might probably get some assistance. 



At three in the afternoon, when the current turned, we 

 started ; but having a head-wind, made slow progress. At 

 dusk we reached the entrance of the harbor, but an eddy 

 and a gust of wind carried us away and out to sea. After 

 sunset there was a land breeze, and we sailed a little to the 

 south-east. It then became calm, and we huno- down our 

 anchor forty fathoms, to endeavor to counteract the current ; 

 but it was of little avail, and in the morning we found our- 

 selves a good way from shore, and just opposite our anchor- 

 age of the day before, which we again reached by hard row- 

 ing. I gave the men this day to rest and sleep ; and the 

 next day (Oct. 10th) we again started at two in the morning 

 with a land breeze. After I had set them to their oars, and 

 given instructions to keep close in-shore, and on no account 

 to get out to sea, I went below, being rather unwell. At 

 daybreak I found, to my great astonishment, that we were 

 again far off-shore, and was told that the wind had gradual- 

 ly turned more ahead, and had carried us out — none of them 

 having the sense to take down the sail and row in-shore, or 

 to call me. As soon as it was daylight, we saw that we had 

 drifted back, and were again opposite our former anchorage, 

 and, for the third time, had to row hard to get to it. As we 

 approached the shore, I saw that the current was favorable 

 to us, and we continued down the coast till we were close to 

 the entrance to the lower harbor. Just as we were congrat- 

 ulating ourselves on having at last reached it, a strong south- 

 east squall came on, blowing us back, and rendering it im- 

 possible for us to enter. Not liking the idea of again re- 

 turning, I determined on trying to anchor, and succeeded in 

 doing so, in very deep water and close to the reefs; but the 

 pi'evailing winds were such that, should we not hold, we 

 should have no difficulty in getting out to sea. By the time 

 the squall had passed, the current turned against us, and we 

 expected to have to wait till four in the afternoon, when we 

 intended to enter the harbor. 



Now, however, came the climax of our troubles. The 

 swell produced by the squall made us jerk our cable a good 



