Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0338
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[Page 338]
234
Within the Reef
to be seen & the ship still driving gently down towards it a sea running at the same time which would make it impossible ever to get off if we should be unfortunate enough to get on Yards & Topmasts were therefore got down & every thing done which could be thought of to make the ship snug without any effect she still drove & the shoal we dreaded came nearer & nearer to us the sheet anchor our last resource was now thought of & prepard but fortunately for us before we were drove to the making use of that expedient the ship stoppd & held fast to our great joy during the time of its blowing yesterday & today we became certain that between us & the open sea was a ledge of rocks or reef just the same as we had seen at the Islands no very agreable discovery for should that at any time join in with the main land we must wait for another season when different winds from the present ones prevaild in which case we must infallibly be short of provisions or if the turtle should not fail us Salt provisions without bread was all we had to trust to
8. The night Dark as pitch passd over not without