THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
435 
have led us at laft to the North, clear of the Ihoals, Hill 1778. 
the attempt would have been attended with vaft rifk; and 
if we fhould not have fucceeded, there would have been a 
confiderable lofs of time that could ill be fpared. Thefe 
reafons induced me to return by the way in which we 
came ; and fo get without the fhoals. 
A number of lunar obfervations made by Mr. Kingandmy- 
felf, on this, and the four preceding days, and all reduced to 
the ffiip’s prefent ftation,gave the longitude, 197 0 45' 48" 
By the time-keeper it was - - - 197 26 48 
Our latitude was - - - “ 59 37 3 ° 
Variation by the-K m _ „■ , „ 
mean of three l p M>22 I 0 jmean 22 56 51 Eaft. 
compafles, 3 
The Northernmoft part of the coaft that we could fee 
from this ftation, I judged to lie in the latitude of 6o°. It 
feemed to form a low point, which obtained the name of 
Shoal Nefs. 
The tide of flood fets to the North, and the ebb to the 
South. It rifes and falls, upon a perpendicular, five or fix 
feet; and I reckon it to be high-water, on the full and 
change days, at eight o’clock. 
Having weighed at three in the morning on the 21ft, Tuefdayzi. 
with a light breeze at North North Weft, we fteered back 
to the Southward, having three boats ahead to direct us. 
But, notwithftanding this precaution, we found more diffi¬ 
culty in returning than we had in advancing; and at laft 
were obliged to anchor, to avoid running upon a flioal, 
which had only a depth of five feet. While we lay here, 
twenty-feven men of the country, each in a canoe, came 
off to the ffiips, which they approached with great caution; 
hollowing and opening.their arms as they advanced. This, 
3 K 2 we 
