This island, which I named after Captain Furneaux, lies in the latitude of 17 deg. 5’, longitude 143 deg. 16’ W. The situation is nearly the same that is assigned for one of those discovered by Bougainville.  I must here observe, that amongst these low and half-drowned isles (which are numerous in this part of the ocean,) Mr Bougainville’s discoveries cannot be known to that degree of accuracy which is necessary to distinguish them from others.  We were obliged to have recourse to his chart for the latitudes and longitudes of the isles he discovered, as neither the one nor the other is mentioned in his narrative.  Without waiting to examine this island we continued to steer to the west, all sails set, till six o’clock in the evening, when we shortened sail to three top-sails, and at nine brought-to.

The next morning at four a.m. we made sail, and at daybreak saw another of these low islands, situated in the latitude of 17 deg. 4’, longitude 144 deg. 30’ W., which obtained the name of Adventure Island.  M. de Bougainville very properly calls this cluster of low overflowed isles the Dangerous Archipelago.  The smoothness of the sea sufficiently convinced us that we were surrounded by them, and how necessary it was to proceed with the utmost caution, especially in the night.

At five o’clock p.m. we again saw land, bearing S.W. by S., which we afterwards found to be Chain Island, discovered in my former voyage.  But as I was not sure of it at this time, and being desirous of avoiding the delay which lying by in the night occasioned, I hoisted out the cutter, and manned her with an officer and seven men, with orders to keep as far a-head of the ships, with a light at her masthead, as a signal could be distinguished, which she was to make in case she met with any danger.  In this manner we continued to run all night; and, at six o’clock the next morning, I called her on board, and hoisted her in.  For it did not appear she would be wanted again for this purpose, as we had now a large swell from the south, a sure sign that we were clear of the low islands; therefore I steered for Otaheite without being apprehensive of meeting with any danger.

CHAPTER X.

Arrival of the Ships at Otaheite, with an Account of the critical Situation they were in, and of several Incidents that happened while they lay in Oaiti-piha Bay.

1773 August

On the 15th, at five o’clock in the morning, we saw Osnaburg Island, or Maitea, discovered by Captain Wallis, bearing S. by W. 1/2 W. Soon after I brought-to, and waited for the Adventure to come up with us, to acquaint Captain Furneaux that it was my intention to put into Oaiti-piha Bay, near the south-east end of Otaheite, in order to get what refreshments we could from that part of the island, before we went down to Matavia.  This done, we made sail, and at six in the evening saw the land bearing west.  We continued to stand on till midnight, when we brought-to, till four o’clock in the morning, and then made sail in for the land with a fine breeze at east.