156 A N A G C O U N T O F
.1783-. -away the blocks from under the veffelbut the accident
SE E T EM B E R . _
was- providentially difcovered in time, and all hands inftantly
went to work, with the utmoft expedition, to fill up the
trench, and fecure the- veffel from falling o f f the flocks,.
O C T O B E R -
Wednefday which kept them employed until near morning, when they
x. I 1 _ ’rJ' ; wêM ' "
found the danger far greater than what even theyhad fuppofed,
for fome o f the blocks having, been difplaced by the
water,, they were obliged to get wedges and. fet her up, in
order to reinstate them, and get her once more fecured;
which being; aceomplilhed, they contrived a bank or dam-.
to keep out the tide;. This accident was the more unlucky,,
as three o f their belt workmen, were then ilk which,, with
the abfence- of thofe gone to the war, made the labour fall
heavier on the reft..—It may not be unneceffary,.. perhaps;, to
give an account how this- bank, to keep out the tide,- was-
formed r—T he pinnace was laid - a-gtound,; diredtly before:
the veffel,, where they wilhed. to flop the t id e tw o holes-
were bored in-her bottom, and the was filled-with ftones,. in-
order- to fink her; at about a foot diftance, oppofite thé pinnace,
was raifed a dry wall o f large -fton es, which was- carried
rounds each fide; off the veffel beyond high-water ma rk ; it
was lined on the infide with fmall branches and twigs, fattened
with flakes-, and ftones,to prevent their, walhing away;
fond was then thrown on thefe branches, which,.all together,,
eompofed a bank of four or five feet thick.; and was-continued.
quite rounclothe, infide, of. the wall, and before thepinnae
T H E P E L E W U S L A N D S . IS7
pinnace it was made fttohgeff, a#'having the ^silateft weight ±783.
- ÖGTOBER.
o f water to refill. When finilhed, • it effectually kept out the
tide, and required no further trouble, than occalionally to
throw a few baficets o f fond upon fuch parts o f the wall as;
fettled by the.-walhing .of the tide. Owing to thefe various
employments, it was not till Thurfday the fecond, in the af— Thurfday 2-.
ternoon, that they could get their dam completed, in a manner
to be perfectly fecure; this accomplilhed, they" again,
dug the trench, and the carpenter got one o f the planks of.
'the garboard ftrake on. The jolly-boat, being fitted with
foils, was lent to Pelew for provifions ; and, the three lick
men being much recovered, the Captain delired Mr. Sh a r p -
to take his inftruments, and gó in her, to fee i f he could :
render any fervice to Ra a K ook’s fon.
' In the abfence o f To many people, the bulinefs o f’ the;-
dock-yard.was much impeded; it was neverthelefs followed:
up with, every ..poflible diligence, by the few Engli/bmen remaining'
at Oroolong, who, belide the. lick, were only
twelve' in a l l : the Cbtnefe were employed in repairing the
hank, bringing down timber, from the woods, and fuch other,
ufeful work-as they were capable of.
The weather, was . very variable about this time,;., with ("Friday 3..
much lightning from the eaftward,. accompanied w ith . fre- (.Sunday. 5...
quent fqualls and hard rain..
Since the laft new moon, the tides were obfefved torbe- -
remarkably high. The morning tides .were:very low, and
§ ,' / ebbed 1