THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
ii 
breakers along-fide, through which the rocks made their ap~ 17% 
- A XJ Cj U S T 
pearance, prefented the moft dreadful fcene, and left no 
room for doubt. The fhip taking a heel, in lefs than ail 
hour filled with water as high as the lower deck hatchways; 
during this tremendous interval, the people thronged round 
the Captain, and earneftly requefled to be directed what to 
do, befeeching him to give orders and they would imme¬ 
diately execute them. Orders were in confequence in- 
ftantly given to fecure the gunpowder, ammunition, and 
fmall arms, and that the bread, and fuch other provifion 
as would fpoil by wet, fhould be brought upon deck and 
fecured by fome covering from the rain; while others 
were directed to cut away the mizen-maft, the main and 
foretop-mafl, and lower yards, to eafe the fhip and pre¬ 
vent her overfetting, of which they thought there was fome 
hazard, and that every thing fhould be done to prefcrve 
her as long as poflible (the fails having all been clewed up 
as foon as the fhip ftruck). The boats were hoilted out, and 
filled with provifion and water, together with a compafs 
in each, fome fmall arms, and ammunition; and two men 
were placed in each boat, with directions to keep them under 
the lee of the fhip, and be careful they were not ftaved, and 
to be ready to receive their fhip-mates in cafe the veiTel 
fhould break to pieces by the dafhing of the waves and the 
violence of the wind, it then blowing a ftorm. Every 
thing that could be thought expedient in fo diftrefsful and 
C 2 trying 1 
