TO RADACK. 15 



tiniial ' turnings, and besides this, the entrance 

 was in such a direction that the monsoon always 

 blew out of it. The other passage, which was 

 four miles more to the south, had now to be ex- 

 plored ; we reached it at noon, and were with 

 the Rurick 200 fathoms from its entrance, and, 

 while Schischmareff was sounding the channel, we 

 took observations of the latitude and longitude of 

 this sti'ait. We saw Schischmareff get happily 

 between the reefs, upon which he made the signal 

 that the channel itself had no bottom, but at the 

 place where he then was, 100 fathoms, and at the 

 other side of the reef ^G fathoms water, upon a 

 coral bottom : the narrowest pass in the strait he 

 stated at 123 fathoms. This information gave me 

 uncommon satisfaction, as I could now hope to 

 reach it with the ship, and to make this very re- 

 markable discovery. These islands inspire great 

 interest, merely by their nature, as they owe 

 their origin entirely to marine animals ; and I de- 

 termined to hazard a great deal, before I gave up 

 the plan of penetrating this chain of islands. The 

 boat w as called back as a fresh wind sprung up, 

 and rendered further examination difficult ; our 

 situation was also dangerous as the day was drawl- 

 ing to a close, and my whole attention was bent 

 to find a means to remain during the night in this 

 interesting, but dangerous spot. At length I hit 

 upon one which, hazardous as it was, we however 

 adopted, not to be obliged to leave the place. It 



