SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 349 



coral reefs, which rise suddenly like a wall from the 

 water. 



In spite of all difficulties he had safely run along 

 about 1300 miles of this unknown and savage coast, 

 when on the night of the 10th of June, some hours 

 after an alarm of being on a coral reef had been felt, 

 but passed away, a loud crash, followed quickly by a 

 second, too plainly told them that the vessel had struck. 

 The commander was instantly upon deck. I have heard 

 Sir Joseph Banks describe his habit of nightly making 

 all the arrangements, and giving all the orders which 

 he deemed necessary when running along an unknown 

 coast, and having a lee-shore under his bow. After 

 the usual direction to call him if anything occurred, 

 he would then calmly undress and go to bed, satisfied 

 that all precautions had been taken for every event 

 which could be foreseen or conjectured, and he was 

 immediately asleep. Upon that trying occasion he was 

 upon deck in his drawers as the second blow was struck, 

 and he gave his orders with his wonted coolness and 

 precision. The ship had grounded on a coral reef, 

 which surrounded her almost to the surface of the 

 water, but in a calm sea made no breach, and could 

 not be seen. She had been carried by the waves clear 

 over the ledge of rock, and lay on a hollow within it, 

 in some parts of which the water was not more than 

 three or four feet deep. The light of the moon showed, 

 to complete their distress, the sheathing-boards of the 

 ship floating all around, and at last her false keel, so 

 that their fate appeared imminent. It was necessary 

 to lighten her by all means, though the probability 

 appeared slight of her holding together till another 

 tide should enable them to get her off. The morning 

 disclosed a full view of their dreadful and dismal con- 

 dition. The land was at eight leagues' distance, and 

 no islets lay in the intermediate sea, on which the crew 

 could be landed and saved were they to quit the wreck, 

 the boats being wholly insufficient to take all the crew 



