PRAYER IN THE LAUNCH. 47 
tressing; the heat of the sun was so intense, that 
many of the people were seized with a languor 
and faintness, which made them weary of life. 
On the morning of the 29th, breakers were 
discovered about a quarter of a mile distant; 
they immediately hauled off, and were soon out 
of danger. At daylight they saw the reef, over 
which the sea broke furiously, Steering along 
the edge of it, an openingwas observed, through 
which the boat passed. They were at once in 
smooth water ; they tried to catch ^ish ; and all 
their past hardships seemed to be forgotten. It 
occurred to Bligh, that they were within a few 
miles of Providential Channel. A small island 
within the reefs he named Island of Direction, 
as it served to show the entrance of the channel 
to which they had been conducted, At this 
hopeful period, he wrote, " We now returned 
God thanks for His gracious protection; and 
with much content took our miserable allowance 
of a twenty-fifth of a pound of bread, and a 
quarter of a pint of water for dinner." 
They had the advantage of using frequently 
a devout and humble prayer to God. which had 
been drawn up by the commander. This form 
of prayer, which is in Mr. Bligh 's handwriting 
in the manuscript book alluded to, the author 
has been enabled, through the kindness of Miss 
Bligh, to lay before the reader: — 
PRAYER. 
" O Lord our Heavenly Father, Almighty 
and Everlasting God, [Thou hast safely brought 
