g fixed on this mode of proceeding for the night I served
to every person half a pint of grog, and each took to his rest as well as
our unhappy situation would allow.

Wednesday 29.

In the morning at dawn of day we rowed along shore in search of a
landing-place, and about ten o'clock we discovered a cove with a stony
beach at the north-west part of the island, where I dropped the grapnel
within 20 yards of the rocks. A great surf ran on the shore but, as I was
unwilling to diminish our stock of provisions, I landed Mr. Samuel and
some others, who climbed the cliffs and got into the country to search
for supplies. The rest of us remained at the cove, not discovering any
other way into the country than that by which Mr. Samuel had proceeded.
It was great consolation to me to find that the spirits of my people did
not sink, notwithstanding our miserable and almost hopeless situation.
Towards noon Mr. Samuel returned with a few quarts of water which he had
found in holes; but he had met with no spring or any prospect of a
sufficient supply in that particular, and had seen only the signs of
inhabitants. As it was uncertain what might be our future necessities I
only issued a morsel of bread and a glass of wine to each person for
dinner.

I observed the latitude of this cove to be 19 degrees 41 minutes south.
This is the north-west part of Tofoa, the north-westernmost of the
Friendly Islands.

The weather was fair but the wind blew so strong from the east-south-east
that we could not venture to sea. Our detention made it absolutely
necessary to endeavour to obtain something towards our support; for I
determined if possible to keep our first stock entire. We therefore
weighed and rowed along shore to see if anything could be got; and at
last discovered some coconut trees; but they were on the top of high
precipices and the surf made it dangerous landing: both one and the other
we however got the better of. Some of the people with much difficulty
climbed the cliffs and got about 20 coconuts, and others flung them to
ropes, by which we hauled them through the surf into the boat. This was
all that could be done here and, as I found no place so safe as the one
we had left to spend the night at, I returned to the cove and, having
served a coconut to each person, we went to rest again in the boat.

Thursday 30.

At daylight we attempted to put to sea; but the wind and weather proved
so bad that I was glad to return to our fo