A VOYAGE TO 
xH'i 
1777. confequence of this report the fhips weighed anchor, and, 
1 ecem er ', after two or three trips, came to again in twenty fathoms 
water, over a bottom of fine dark fand, before a fmall ifland 
that lies at the entrance of the lagoon ; and on each fide of 
which there is a channel leading into it; but only fit for 
boats. The water in the lagoon itfelf is all very fhallow. 
Friday 26. On the 26th, in the morning, I ordered Captain Clerke 
to fend a boat, with an officer, to the South Eaft part of the 
lagoon , to look for turtles; and Mr. King and I went each 
in a boat to the North Eaft part. I intended to have gone 
to the rnoft Eafterly extremity; but the wind blew too frefh 
to allow it, and obliged us to land more to leeward, on a 
fandy fiat, where we caught one turtle; the only one that 
we faw in the lagoon. We walked, or rather waded, through 
the water, to an ifland ; where finding nothing but a few 
birds, I left it, and proceeded to the land that bounds the 
Tea to the North Weft, leaving Mr. King to obferve the fun’s 
meridian altitude. I found this land to be even more bar¬ 
ren than the ifland I had been upon; but walking over to 
the fea-coaft, I faw five turtles clofe to the fhore. One of 
thefe we caught, and the reft made their efcape. Not 
feeing any more, I returned on board, as did Mr. King foon 
after, without having feen one turtle. We, however, did 
not defpair of getting a fupply; for fome of Captain Gierke’s 
officers, who had been afhore on the land to the Southward 
of the channel leading into the lagoon , had been more for¬ 
tunate, and caught feveral there. 
Saturday 27. In the morning of the 27th, the pinnace and cutter, un¬ 
der the command of Mr. King, were fent to the South Eaft 
part of the ifland, within the lagoon ; and the fmall cutter 
to the Northward, where I had been the day before; both 
parties being ordered upon the fame fervice, to catch tur¬ 
tles. 
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