Nov. 

 1825. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 61 



broken by a channel of water. On the rocky sur- chap 

 face of the causeway, between the lake and the sea, 

 lies a stratum of dark rounded particles, probably 

 coral, and above it another, apparently composed of 

 decayed vegetable substances. A variety of ever- 

 green trees take root in this bank, and form a ca- 

 nopy almost impenetrable to the sun's rays, and pre- 

 sent to the eye a grove of the liveliest green. 



As soon as we had finished our observations on 

 Ducie's Island, and completed a plan of it, we made 

 sail to the westward. The island soon neared the 

 horizon, and when seven miles distant ceased to be 

 visible from the deck. For several days afterwards 

 the winds were so light, that we made but slow 

 progress ; and as we lay-to every night, in order 

 that nothing might be passed in the dark, our daily 

 run was trifling. On the 30th, we saw a great num- 

 ber of white tern, which at sun-set directed their 

 flight to the N. W. At noon on the 2d of Decern- Dec 

 ber, flocks of gulls and tern indicated the vicinity of 

 land, which a few hours afterwards was seen from 

 the mast-head at a considerable distance. At day- 

 light on the 3rd, we closed with its south-western 

 end, and despatched two boats to make the circuit 

 of the island, while the ship ranged its northern 

 shore at a short distance, and waited for them off a 

 sandy bay at its north-west extremity. 



We found that the island differed essentially from 

 all others in its vicinity, and belonged to a peculiar 

 formation, very few instances of which are in exist- 

 ence. Wateo and Savage Islands, discovered by 

 Captain Cook, are of this number, and perhaps also 

 Maiden Island, visited by Lord Byron in the Blonde. 

 The island is five miles in length, and one in breadth, 



