78 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



As they could not discover the exact situation of the leak, 

 they had no prospect of stopping it withinside of the vessel ; 

 but the following expedient, which one of the midshipmen 

 had formerly seen tried with success, was adopted. They 

 took an old studding-sail, and having mixed a large quantity 

 of oakum and wool, chopped small, it was stitched down 

 in handfuls on the sail, as light as possible ; the dung of 

 their sheep and other filth being spread over it. Thus 

 prepared, the sail was hauled under the ship by ropes, which 

 kept it extended till it came under the leak, when the suction 

 carried in the oakum and wool from the surface of the 

 sail. This experiment succeeded so well, that instead of 

 three pumps, the water was easily kept under with 

 one. 



They hitherto had no further view than to run the ship 

 into a harbour, and build a vessel from her materials in 

 which they might reach the East Indies ; but they now 

 began to think of finding a proper place to repair her 

 damage, and then to pursue their voyage on its original plan. 

 At six in the evening they anchored seven leagues from the 

 shore ; and next morning they passed two islands, which 

 were called Hope Islands. In the afternoon the master 

 was sent out with two boats to sound, and search for a 

 harbour where the ship might be repaired. They anchored 

 at sunset in four fathoms, two miles from the shore. One 

 of the mates being out in the pinnace, returned at nine 

 o'clock, reporting that he had found just such a harbour 

 as was wanted, at the distance of two leagues. 



At six o'clock the next morning they sailed, and soon 

 anchored about a mile from the shore, when the Captain 

 went out and found the channel very narrow, but the har- 

 bour was better adapted to their present purpose than any 

 place they had seen in the whole course of their voyage. 

 As it blew very fresh this day and the following night, they 

 could not venture to run into the harbour, but remained 

 at anchor during the two succeeding days. 



The men by this time began to be afflicted with the 

 scurvy, and their Indian friend, Tupia, was so bad with 

 it, that he had livid spots on both his legs. Mr. Green, the 

 astronomer, was likewise ill of the same disorder ; so that 

 their being detained from landing was every way disagree- 

 able. The wind continued fresh till the 17th, but they then 

 resolved to push in for the harbour, and, with some 

 difficulty, moored the ship alongside of a beach. 



Next morning they erected a tent for the sick, several of 

 whom were brought on shore as soon as it was ready for 

 their reception. They likewise built a tent to hold the 

 provisions and stores, which were landed the same day. 



