Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/275

Rh which proved to be a strong tide, and which set her directly upon a rock. We had approached very near to this when the anchor was dropped, and she was brought up about a cable's length from it. We were now sensible of the force of the tide, which roared like a mill-stream, and ran at four knots at least when it flowed the fastest, for the rate varied much. It ran in this manner till twelve o'clock, when, with the slack water, we got up the anchor with great difficulty, and a light breeze from the northward soon cleared us from our dangers.

8th. As some of the officers declared last night that they thought it probable that the land we have been round might communicate by an isthmus situated somewhere between where we now are and Cape Turnagain (though the whole distance is estimated at no more than ninety miles), the captain resolved to stand to the northward till he should see that cape, which was accordingly done.

Three canoes put off from the shore, and with very little invitation came on board. The people appeared richer and more cleanly than any we have seen since we were in the Bay of Islands; their canoes also were ornamented in the same manner as those we had formerly seen in the north of the island. They were always more civil in their behaviour, and on having presents made them, immediately made presents to us in return (an instance we have not before met with in this island). All these things inclined me to believe that we were again come to the dominions of Teratu, but on asking they said that he was not their king.

9th. By eleven o'clock Cape Turnagain was in sight, which convinced everybody that the land was really an island, on which we once more turned the ship's head to the southward.

14th. I had two or three opportunities this evening of seeing albatrosses rise from the water, which they did with great ease; maybe they are not able to do so (as I have seen) when they are gorged with food.

17th. This morning we were close to a new island which