94 FROM RADACK TO 



of the water by our eyes ; however, as I have said 

 before, the water between the coral groups was so 

 transparent, that even when saiUngwe could see the 

 bottom at eight fathoms, and besides, our eye was 

 so practised in this respect, that we could know 

 the depth of it by its colour. When we ap- 

 proached the strait, we did not find it so broad as 

 it had appeared at a distance. Two shoals con- 

 cealed under the water, between which we should 

 be obliged to tack, formed a channel of less than 

 a quarter of a mile, and though the undertaking 

 was dangerous, with such a high wind, we deter- 

 mined boldly to brave the danger. While we w^ere 

 examining the channel, two boats, notwithstanding 

 the high wind, each manned with seven islanders, 

 put off from the eastern part of the group, and 

 sailed towards us, but remained at a distance of 

 two hundred fathoms, and tacked as we did. 

 We were just admiring their skilful manoeuvring, 

 and the possibility of carrying such a large sail in 

 this wind, when a sudden gust upset one of the 

 boats. We saw all the people swimming about; 

 one part of them, who appeared to be women, 

 quickly got upon the keel, the others tied cords 

 round their bodies, and swimming, towed the boat 

 on shore. Meantime the other canoe, unconcerned 

 at the misfortune of its comrade, sailed directly 

 before the wind to E., where it landed. Soon after 

 this two larger boats came up to us from the island 

 of Kawen, and kept constantly under sail, the peo- 



17 



