DANGER AT SEA. 15l 
quick and cross motion; the current was against 
us; and it was uncertain how soon in the morning 
we should reach Matavai, our port of destination 
in the island of Tahiti. I therefore gave Mata- 
puupuu charge of the helm, which I had hitherto. 
kept during the whole of the voyage, and, direct- 
ing him to awake me in about an hour’s time, — 
wrapped myself in a cloak, and lay down upon the 
seat in the stern of the boat, where, notwithstanding 
the motion of the sea, and the rattling and shaking 
occasioned by the movements of the oars, I soon 
fell into a sound sleep. 
The refreshing and beneficial effects of my 
repose were, however, entirely neutralized by the 
sensations I experienced at its close. I cannot. 
describe my emotions, when I awoke, and found it 
was broad day-light, and, turning to the helm, 
saw Matapuupuu fast asleep, with his hand still 
on the tiller; and then, looking forward along the 
boat, beheld every individual motionless; the 
rowers leaning over their oars, the others stretched 
along the bottom of the boat, and every one in 
the most. profound sleep. Before I attempted to 
awake any one, I involuntarily looked for the 
island we had left: it was still in sight. I then 
looked on the opposite side, for that to which we 
were going: it was also in sight, but the lofty 
mountains rising at the head of Matavai were far 
to the north, and indicated that the port to which 
we were bound was many miles behind us. In 
fact, we appeared to be about midway. between 
Tahiti and Eimeo, drifting to the southward, far 
away from both, as fast as the current could 
bear us. 
Fully sensible of our critical situation, if the 
breeze which just began to ripple the surface of 
