A FORMIDABLE REEF. 479 



The ship now coasted along the edge of a reef which stretched 

 out some twenty miles from the shore. This became suddenly 

 of so formidable an aspect, and the winds and waves rolled them 

 towards it with such sure and fatal speed, that the boats were 

 got out and sent ahead to tow, and finally succeeded in getting 

 the ship's head round. The surf was now breaking to a tremen- 

 dous height within two hundred yards: the water beneath them 

 was unfathomable. An opening in the reef was now discovered, 

 and the dangerous expedient of forcing the ship through it 

 was successfully tried. They anchored in nineteen fathoms' 



CORAX, REEF. 



water, over a bottom of coral and shells. The opening through 

 the reef received the name of Providential Channel. 



They sailed to the northward many days within the reef, till 

 they at last found a safe passage out. Cook then for the last 

 time hoisted English colors upon the eastern coast, which he was 

 confident no European had seen before, and took possession of its 

 whole extent, from south latitude thirty-eight to latitude ten. He 

 claimed it, in behalf of his Majesty King George the Third, by the 



