Chap. VI. PERILS IN A BOAT. 169 
Just as we had given ourselves up for lost, a faint 
breath of air was felt from seaward ; one of the 
natives' blankets was extended between two stretchers 
in the bow ; and this, with the unremitting efforts of 
the rowers, kept us in about the same position for two 
or three hours, till the flood-tide made. 
Even then we were not in perfect safety ; the flood 
set so strongly to the northward that we became in- 
volved among new breakers. Saturday, however, here 
took the steer-oar, and steered us with great presence 
of mind through a threatening line of surf ; when we 
found ourselves in a smooth channel, gliding towards 
the harbour at the rate of five knots. Each rested on 
his oar, and we now paused, to establish a better mast 
and sail with a blanket stretched on two of them. 
I shall never forget the pleasure of the first drink 
of water at the rill on a beach near the North Head. 
We pulled and sailed about twenty miles up the 
harbour, which is a great estuary, five or six miles 
wide, receiving the waters of several rivers ; and had 
just gained sight of the vessel's masts about ten miles 
from us, on rounding a point to the north, which 
opened a view of the TVairoa or " Long-water" river, 
when the tide turned against us. We were thus 
obliged to land on the nearest beach, and encamp till 
the flood. As we had worked hard since the morning, 
without even breakfasting, this arrangement was 
agreeable enough to us ; and some tin cans of pre- 
served meat, and our small store of biscuit, were soon 
finished. Clouds of mosquitoes, however, defeated our 
attempts to sleep. The smoke of the fire had scarcely 
any effect on them, and while our eyes were filled with 
wood-smoke, they were stinging our knees and every 
other part of our bodies that was unprotected by any- 
thing thicker than duck. Half-burying oneself in the 
