SECTION XII.

Departure from Oonalashka, and future Views,—­The Island Amoghta.—­Situation of a remarkable Rock.—­The Strait between Oonalashka and Oonella repassed.—­Progress to the South.—­Melancholy Accident on board the Discovery.—­Mowee, one of the Sandwich Islands, discovered.—­Intercourse with the Natives.—­Visit from Terreeoboo.—­Another Island, called Owhyhee, discovered.—­The Ships ply to windward to get round it.—­An Eclipse of the Moon observed.—­The Crew refuse to drink Sugar-cane Beer.—­Cordage deficient in Strength.—­Commendation of the Natives of Owhyhee.—­The Resolution gets to Windward of the Island.—­Her Progress down the South-East Coast.—­Views of the Country, and Visits from the Natives.—­The Discovery joins.—­Slow Progress Westward.—­Karakakooa Bay examined by Mr Bligh.—­Vast Concourse of the Natives.—­The Ships anchor in the Bay.

In the morning of Monday the 26th, we put to sea from Samganoodha harbour; and, as the wind was southerly, stood away to the westward.

My intention was now to proceed to Sandwich Islands, there to spend a few of the winter months, in case we should meet with the necessary refreshments, and then to direct our course to Kamtschatka, so as to endeavour to be there by the middle of May, the ensuing summer.  In consequence of this resolution, I gave Captain Clerke orders how to proceed, in case of separation; appointing Sandwich Islands for the first place of rendezvous, and the harbour of Petropaulowska, in Kamtschatka, for the second.

Soon after we were out of the harbour, the wind veered to the S.E. and E.S.E., which, by the evening, carried us as far as the western part of Oonalashka, where we got the wind at S. With this we stretched to the westward, till seven o’clock the next morning, when we wore, and stood to the E. The wind, by this time, had increased in such a manner as to reduce us to our three courses.  It blew in very heavy squalls, attended with rain, hail, and snow.

At nine o’clock in the morning of the 28th, the island of Oonalashka bore S.E., four leagues distant.  We then wore and stood to the westward.  The strength of the gale was now over, and toward evening the little wind that blew insensibly veered round to the E., where it continued but a short time before it got to N.E., and increased to a very hard gale with rain.  I steered first to the southward, and as the wind inclined to the N. and N.W., I steered more westerly.

On the 29th, at half past six in the morning, we saw land extending from E. by S. to S. by W., supposed to be the island Amoghta.  At eight, finding that we could not weather the island, as the wind had now veered, to the westward, I gave over plying, and bore away for Oonalashka, with a view of going to the northward and eastward of that island, not daring to attempt a passage to the S.E. of it, in so hard a gale of wind.  At the time we bore away, the land extended