286 VOYAGE tN SEARfcH 



got into a very narrow channel, it fell calnl,' 

 and we were then at the mercy of a rapid cur- 

 rent, which might at every moment occafioh 

 our deftrudlion, by fetting us upon fhoals ; 

 however, when the day appeared, we had the 

 fatisfacHon of finding ourfelves in the open fea, 

 and clear of thefj dangers. Our lituation, no 

 doubt, had been extremely perilous; but lince 

 we were traverling feas flrewn with fhoals, we- 

 were fo accuftomed to danger, that I and 

 feveral others went to bed at our ufual hour, 

 and flept as foundly as if we had been in the 

 greatelt fafety. 



The coafts along which we had hithertb 

 ranged, to the northward of thefe lands, werfc 

 interfected by a vafl: number of channels. Thfe 

 numerous iflands in this Archipelago had ex- 

 hibited to us a great many habitations, with-* 

 out, however, procurirtg us the fight of a finglfc 

 iflander; but on the 17th, having reached the 

 latitude of 10 8' fouth, and longitude of 149* 

 37' eaft, while we were doubling very clofe a 

 clufler of iflots that bore fouth, we perceived 

 fifteen natives coming out of their huts. 

 Three of them immediately got into a cano^ 

 with an outrigger, and direcfled their courfe 

 towards us; but we were going much too fall 

 through the water for them to be able to com^. 

 up with us. 



Prefently 



