p-143-
they were furrounded by them, and how neceffary it was to proceed with the
utmoft caution, efpecially at night. At five o’clock P. M. they again faw land,
which they afterwards found to be Chain liland, difcovered in their former
voyage. The next morning they had a large fwell from the fouth, a fure fign
that they were now clear, of the low illands; they therefore fleered for
Otaheite, without being apprehenfive of meeting with any danger.
On the 15th, in the morning, they faw Ofnaburg Illands, or Maitea, difcovered
by Captain Wallis, bearing by S. by W. and intending to put into Oaiti-
Piha Bay, which lies near the S. E. end o f . Otaheite, in order to get what
refreihments they could before they Went down to Matavia; they made fail till
midnight, when they brought to; and at four o’clock the next morning flood
on for the land, with a fine breeze at eaft, but at day break-they found them-
felves riot more than half a league from the reef.
The breeze now began to fail them, and at laft fell to a calm : this made it
neceffary to hoift out their boats to tow the ihips off; but all their efforts were
not fufficient to keep them from being carried near thè reef. As the cairn continued,
their fituation became ftill more dangerous. They were not, however,
without hopes of getting round the weftern point of the reef, and into the bay,
till 'about two o’clock, P. M. when they came before an opening or break in
the reef : through this, now, they hoped to get the /hips; but, on fending to
examine it, they found there was not a fufficient depth of water, though it
caufed fuch an indraught of the tide of flood through it as was very near proving
fatal to the Refolution; for as foon as the /hips got into this ftream, they
were carried, with great impetuofity towards the reef. The moment this was
perceived, one of the warping machines, which they had in readinefs, was
carried out, with about four hundred fathoms of rope, but it had not the leaft
effedt. The horrors of ihipwreek now flared them in the face. They were not
more than two cables length from the breakers, and yet could find no bottom to
anchor, which was the only probable means they had to fave the /hips. They,
however, dropped an anchor, but before it took hold, and brought them up,
the ihip was in lefs than three fathoms water, and ftruck at every fall of the fea,
which broke clofe under her flern in a dreadful furf, and threatened them every
moment
moment with /hipwreck. The Adventure, very luckily, brought up clofe upon
their bow, without ftriking.
Upon this, they carried out two kedge anchors, with hawfers to each, which p- X45»
found ground a little without the bower, but in what depth they never knew.
By heaving upon thefe, ,and cutting away the bower anchor, they got the ihip
afloat, but lay there fome time in the greateft anxiety, expedting every minute
that either the kedges would come home, or the hawfers be cut in two by the
rocks. At length the tide, fortunately, ceafed to adt in the fame direction:
Captain Cook, thereupon, ordered all the boats to try to tow off the Refolution;
and when he faw that was pradticable, they hove up the two kedges; at that
moment a light air came off the land, which fo affifted the boats, that they foon
got clear of all danger. He then ordered the boats to affift the Adventure; but,
before they reached her, /he was under fail, with the land breeze, and fooa
after joined her con fort, leaving behind her three anchors, her coafting cable,
and two hawfers, which were never recovered. Thus were they once more fafe -
at fea, after narrowly efcaping being wrecked on the very ifland they had fo
ardently wi/hed to be at but a few days before. The calm, after bringing them
into that dangerous fituation, happily continued: for had the fea breeze, as
ufual, fet in, the Refolution muft inevitably have been loft, and, probably, the
Adventure too.
During the time they were in this critical fituation, a number of the natives p. I4e6
were on board and about the /hip. They feemed to be infenfible of the danger
the crews were in, /hewing not the leaft furprize, joy, or fear, when the /hip
was ftriking; and departed, a little before funfet,- quite unconcerned. Many of p. r44^
the natives had come off in their canoes from different parts on the arrival of the
lhips upon the coaft, bringing with them a fmall quantity of fi/h, a few cocoa
nuts, and other fruits, which they exchanged for nails and beads, &c. Moft of
them knew Captain Cook again; and many inquired for Mr. Banks and others
who were with him before; but not one a/ked for Tupia.
The next morning, being the 17th, they anchored in Oaiti-Piha Bay,.in twelve
fathoms water, about two cables length from Ihore. Both ihips were by this P'
time