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1796           back of these, but nothing more could be distinguished. It
March         was neceƒsary, however, to determine upon something, and that
Tuesday     immediately; for the seas were becoming so high, that in ten mi-
    29     -nutes more they must certainly break over us. No conjecture
could be formed of what was at the back of the reef, or whether
it might not run along the shore; but as no situation could
be worse than the present, we determined to make a push at all
hazards.
      On coming to what appeared to be the extremity of the break-
-ers, – watching a favourable moment, we brought the boat head to the
sea, – had the mast and sail down in a trice, and got upon our oars.
We cautiously pulled towards the reef during the intervals of the
surges, and finding it did not run along the coast, got in under
the lee of it; and in three minutes, were in smooth water, and out
of danger. A white appearance farther back still kept us in sus-
-pense, but a nearer approach shewed it to be the beach of a cove,
particularly well sheltered from winds in that quarter whence
the present gale blew.
      A comparison of our present safety, with the imminent dan-
-ger we had just been in, produced reflections and conversation
which were not silenced by sleep without difficulty. We thought
Providential Cove a well-adapted name for this place, but by
the natives it is called Watta Mowlee.
Wednesday       At day break, we landed for water, which ran at the
    30           back of the beach.
        The country near the water side, is in general sandy and bar-
-ren. We saw recent marks of natives of natives every where,
but none