52 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



fatiguing, but we were amply rewarded by the 

 prospect of executing our plan, and were already, 

 at noon, opposite Bird Island. The greatest depth 

 which w-e found on approaching the middle point 

 of the circle, was thirty-one fathoms ; the bottom 

 consisted of living coral, small pieces of which were 

 brought up by the lead ; near a reef, the depth was 

 from ten to twelve fathoms, andthe bottom consisted 

 of fine coral sand. At four o'clock we reached the 

 seventeenth island, which forms the north point of 

 the whole group, and were distant from it three- 

 fourths of a mile, and cast anchor in fifteen fa- 

 thoms, upon a bottom of fine coral sand. 



We lay here as secure as in the finest harbour, 

 as the ship was quite covered from the N. and E.. 

 and the water as smooth as a mirror. We over- 

 looked the whole eastern part of the group, which 

 consisted of small islands, lying very close toge- 

 ther, and from the seventh took a direction to the 

 S. E. Our labour was rewarded, for we had at- 

 tained our object; for it could not be difficult for 

 us now to explore the chain with a S.E. course. 

 The seventeenth island, which is larger than the 

 Goat Island, afforded us a pleasing prospect by 

 its luxuriant vegetation and large trees, among 

 which there were a great number of cocoa trees. 

 We saw many hutsj some people were walking 

 on the shore, and seemed to be admiring our ship ; 

 some boats were sailing to S.E. ; others coming from 

 thence, and it appeared to us that we were now. 



