and a guard to defend her from an attack o f the Indians,
came on board, and piloted the fhip round the reef into the
harbour, where, about twelve o’clock, fhe came to an anchor
in 17 fathom water, with a fine bottom of black fand.
The place where the fhip {truck appeared, upon farther
examination, to be a reef of fharp coral rock, with very unequal
foundings, from fix fathom to two ; and it happened
unfortunately to lie between the two boats that were placed
as a direftion to the fhip, the weathermoft boat having 12
fathom, and the leewardmoft nine. The wind frefhened
almoft as foon as we got off, and though it foon became
calm again, the furf ran fo high, and broke with fuch violence
upon the rock, that i f the fhip had continued fafl half
an hour longer, fhe mult inevitably have been beaten to
pieces. Upon examining her bottom, we could not dif-
cover that fhe had received any damage,' except that a
fmall piece was beaten off the bottom o f the rudder. She
did not appear to admit any water, but the trufsle-trees, at
the head o f all the mails, were broken fhort, which we
fuppofed to have happened while fhe was beating againfl
the rock. Our boats loft their grapplings upon the reef, but
as we had reafon to hope that the fhip was found, they gave
us very little concern. As foon as the fhip was fecured, I
Tent the mailer, with all the boats manned and armed, to
found the upper part of the bay, that i f he found good anchorage
we might warp the fhip up within the reef, and
anchor her in fafety. The weather was now very pleafant,
a great number o f canoes were upon the reef, and the fhore
was crouded with.people.
About four in the afternoon the mailer returned, and
reported, that there was every where good anchorage; I
therefore determined to warp the fhip up the bay early in
6 the