, we
were sure, that to get over the reef would be an operation equally
difficult and tedious.

Being thus disappointed at all the islands we had met with since our
leaving New Zealand, and the unfavourable winds, and other unforeseen
circumstances, having unavoidably retarded our progress so much, it was
now impossible to think of doing any thing this year in the high
latitudes of the northern hemisphere, from which we were still at so
great a distance, though the season for our operations there was already
begun. In this situation it was absolutely necessary to pursue such
measures as were most likely to preserve the cattle we had on board in
the first place; and, in the next place, (which was still a more capital
object,) to save the stores and provisions of the ships, that we might
be better enabled to prosecute our northern discoveries, which could not
now commence till a year later than was originally intended.

If I had been so fortunate as to have procured a supply of water and of
grass at any of the islands we had lately visited, it was my purpose to
have stood back to the S. till I had met with a westerly wind. But the
certain consequence of doing this, without such a supply, would have
been the loss of all the cattle, before we could possibly reach
Otaheite, without gaining any one advantage with regard to the great
object of our voyage.

I therefore determined to bear away for the Friendly Islands, where I
was sure of meeting with abundance of every thing I wanted; and it being
necessary to run in the night as well as in the day, I ordered Captain
Clerke to keep about a league a-head of the Resolution. I used this
precaution because his ship could best claw off the land; and it was
very possible we might fall in with some in our passage.

The longitude of Hervey's Island, when first discovered, deduced from
Otaheite, by the time-keeper, was found to be 201 deg. 6' E., and now, by
the same time-keeper, deduced from Queen Charlotte's Sound, 200 deg. 56' E.
Hence I conclude, that the error of the time-keeper, at this time, did
not exceed twelve miles in longitude.

When we bore away, I steered W. by S. with a fine breeze easterly. I
proposed to proceed first to Middleburgh, or Eooa, thinking, if the wind
continued favourable, that we had food enough on board for the cattle to
last till we should reach that island. But, about noon next day, those
faint breezes that had attended and retarded us so long, agai