SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 353 



navigation was most perilous, because the coast is sur- 

 rounded with sharp coral reefs, which rise suddenly like 

 a wall from the water. 



In spite of ail 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 precau- 

 tions 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 perfectly 

 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 shewed, 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 

 f.ll means, though the probability appeared slight of her 



2 A 



