2$6 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



their progrefiive growth augments from day to 

 day the danger of navigation in thefe feas. 



At noon, being in latitude 6 13' u" fouth, 

 and longitude 152 7' 51" eaft, we brought to, 

 and continued in that iituation till two o'clock. 



Several trunks of trees floated alongfide the 

 {hip. We found on one of thofe which the 

 boats brought on board, a notch of ancient date, 

 which demonftrated that the inhabitants of the 

 neighbouring ifland have fomc very fharp in- 

 ftruments ; perhaps they have Hill remaining 

 fome of the hatchets given them by Bougainville. 



We were imperceptibly drifting on a fhoal ; 

 but we fortunately difcovered it in time to 

 avoid it. 



The hands at the malt-head had orders to be 

 doubly vigilant and attentive ; neverthelefs we 

 found ourfelves clofe aboard of another fhoal, 

 which we were obliged to get clear of like the 

 firft, at the rifk of feeing our fhip go to pieces 

 on the rocks ; we had on it the fame depth of 

 water. The fwcll had been very heavy on the 

 edges of this bank of coral. 



Our iituation was the more dangerous, as 

 night was coming on, and as thefe fhoals being 

 diftant from the coafr, gave us reafon to appre- 

 hend that we fhould meet with fome in the 

 offing. How was it pofTible to avoid them in 

 the piddle of a dark night ? We were under 



the 



