went to the ſame place two days afterwards, they ſaw none of them.
22d. The boats were ſent to take in water at a creek that had lately been diſcovered to the eaſtward. I availed myſelf of the opportunity to viſit this place, which was ſituated at the diſtance of about 5,000 toiſes from our anchoring ſtation. It forms a harbour, about 150 toiſes in breadth and 500 in length, with ſufficient bottom for large veſſels to ride at anchor in it. A rivulet that diſcharges itſelf into it near its extremity, affords very good water, which, however, was not eaſily taken in by the boats, ſince, in order to have it perfectly pure, it was neceſſary to roll the barrels from the diſtance of more than 150 toiſes over the muddy bottom. Our men might have been ſpared this unhealthy labour, if pipes of leather or of ſail-cloth, ſmeared over with tar, had been employed, by which the water might eaſily have been conveyed into the boats. The advantages of ſuch a practice will particularly be apparent in caſes where the impracticability of entering a rivulet with the boats obliges mariners to take in brackiſh water; whereas, by means of a pipe carried a few hundred yards higher up the ſtream, they might procure it without any admixture of ſea-water, which renders it very unwholeſome to drink.
