248 DUPERRE ISLANDS. 



were interred on the larg*est of the islands^ in a 

 clearing- made by the wood-cutters^ and as an addi- 

 tional precaution^ for the purpose of concealing* the 

 g-rave from the keen sight of the natives^ a larg-e 

 fire was made upon it to efface all marks of the 

 spade. 



Ang. Mil, — We left our anchorag-e this morning* 

 for the Duperre Islands^ twenty-one miles to the 

 westward^ and reached them before noon. On our 

 way we passed in sig*ht of the Montemont and Jomard 

 g-roups^ each consisting* of two low^ wooded islets^ 

 similar to those which we had left. As the ship 

 went along* she raised prodigious numbers of flying' 

 fish in larg-e scholeS; closely watched by frigate-birds^ 

 boobies^ and terns. The afternoon was ineffectually 

 spent in searching* for an anchorage^ the pinnace 

 and one of the cutters having* been sent in-shore for 

 that purpose. In the evening* the anchor was let go 

 after a cast of fifty fathomS; but slipped off the 

 bank^ and had to be hove up again. In company 

 with the Bramble we passed the night in standing 

 off and on the islands^ directed by bright moonhght^ 

 and a fire on the westernmost of the group which 

 the pinnace's people had been sent in to make. 



The following day was spent in a similar manner^ 

 and with the like result. The Bramble^ when ordered 

 by signal to point out the anchorage which Lieut. 

 Yule had found a week before^ at once passed through 

 an opening* in the northern margin of the reef con- 

 nected with the Duperre Isles^ and brought up in 



