y impatient to get in with the nearest
island, where we expected to meet with anchoring-ground, and an
opportunity of refreshing our sick: But the wind proved so variable
all day, and there was so little of it, that we advanced towards it
but slowly; however, by the next morning we were got so far to the
westward, that we were in view of a third island, which was that of
Paxaros, though marked in the chart only as a rock. This was small and
very low land, and we had passed within less than a mile of it, in the
night, without seeing it: And now at noon, being within four miles
of the island of Anatacan, the boat was sent away to examine the
anchoring-ground and the produce of the place; and we were not a
little solicitous for her return, as we then conceived our fate to
depend upon the report we should receive: For the other two islands
were obviously enough incapable of furnishing us with any assistance,
and we knew not then that there were any others which we could reach.
In the evening the boat came back, and the crew informed us that there
was no place for a ship to anchor, the bottom being every where foul
ground, and all, except one small spot, not less than fifty fathom
in depth; that on that spot there was thirty fathom, though not above
half a mile from the shore; and that the bank was steep, and could
not be depended on: They farther told us, that they had landed on the
island, but with some difficulty, on account of the greatness of the
swell; that they found the ground was every where covered with a kind
of cane, or rush; but that they met with no water, and did not believe
the place to be inhabited; though the soil was good, and abounded with
groves of cocoa-nut trees.

This account of the impossibility of anchoring at this island,
occasioned a general melancholy on board; for we considered it as
little less than the prelude to our destruction; and our despondency
was increased by a disappointment we met with the succeeding night;
for, as we were plying under top-sails, with an intention of getting
nearer to the island, and of sending our boat on shore to load with
cocoa-nuts for the refreshment of our sick, the wind proved squally,
and blew so strong off shore, as to drive us so far to the southward,
that we dared not to send off our boat. And now the only possible
circumstance, that could secure the few that remained alive from
perishing, was the accidental falling in with some other of the
Ladrone island