November. two axes> Being happy to have this additional opportunity
« - ' o f ferving him, the meflengers were fent back to Huaheine,
Tuefday 18: on the 18th, with the axes, and two kids, male and female*
w h ich were fpared for him out o f the Difcovery.
WedaeC ,9. T h e next day, I delivered to Captain Clerke inftrudtions-
h ow to proceed, in cafe o f be in g feparated from me, after
lea v in g thefe iflands ; and it may not be improper to giv e
them a place here.
By Captain fames Cooky Commander o f his M ajefy s
Sloop the Reflation.
W H EREAS the paflage from the Society Iflands, to the
Northern coait o f America, is o f confiderable length, both in.
diftance and in time, and as a part o f it muft be performed in
the very depth o f winter, when gales o f wind and bad weather
muft be expedted, and may, poffibly, occafion a reparation,
you are to take all imaginable care to prevent this. But i f ,
notwithftanding a ll our endeavours to keep company, you
fhould be feparated from me; yo u are firft to look fo r me
where you k f t faw me. Not fee ing me in five days, you are
to proceed (as directed by the inftrudtions o f their Lordihips,
a copy o f w h ich you have already received) fo r the coaft o f
New Albion ; endeavouring to fa ll in with it in the latitude
o f 45”.
In that latitude, and at a convenient diftance from th e
land, yo u are to cruize fo rm e ten days. Not feeing me in
that time, y o u are to put into the firft convenient port, in
or to the North o f that latitude, to recruit your wood and
water, and to procure refreihments.
Du rin g you r ftay in port, you are eonftantly to keep a
good look-out fo r me, It will be neceflary, therefore, to
make
make choice o f a ftation, fituated as near the fea-coaft as is '777-
poffible, the better to enable you to fee me, w hen I Ihall
appear in the oiling.
I f I do not join you before the ift o f next April, yOU are
to put to fea, and proceed Northward to the latitude $6° ; in
w h ich latitude, and'at a convenient diftance from the coaft
never exceeding fifteen leagues, y o u are to cru ize fo r m e
till the ioth o f May.
Not feeing me in that time, you are to proceed Northward,
and endeavour to find a paflage into the Atlantic
Ocean, through Hudfon’s or Baffin’s Bays, as directed by
the above-mentioned inftrudlions.
But i f you ffiould fail in finding a paflage through either
o f the faid bays, or by any other way, as the feafon o f th e
year may render it unfafe for you to remain in h igh latitudes,
you are to repair to the harbour o f St. Peter and St.
Paul, in Kamtfchatka, in. order to re fre lh you r people and
to pafs the w in te r . *
But, neverthelefs, i f you find, that you cannot procure
the neceflary refreihments at the faid port, you are at l i berty
t? go where you Ihall ju d g e moft prop e r; taking care
before you depart, to leave with the Governor tan account
o f you r intended deftination, to be delivered to me upon
m y arrival: And in the fpring o f the enfuing year, i 779,
you are to repair back to the above-mentioned port, endeavou
ring to be there b y the ioth o f May, or fooner.
If, on you r arrival, you receive no orders from, or acv
count o f me, fo as to ju ftify you r purfuing any other meafures
than what are pointed out in the before mentioned
mftruihons, your future proceedings are to be governed bv
them. 1
Y ou