INDIAN OCEAN. 223 



nuts, bread-fruit, yams, &c., are found. There is no sounding 

 until near the shore; but, in case of necessity, a vessel may 

 anchor* in from twelve to fifty fathoms water : dark-gray sand on 

 the southwest side. There is a volcano in the middle of the island. 



Captain Bennett laid down an island in 5 30' north, longitude 

 139 20 X west. This is near Fanning's island. He called it 

 Madison island. 



St. Pert's island. Against the name of this island, Captain 

 Bennett has marked in his log-book, "wood and water." Its 

 position is 18 north, longitude 116 west. 



Captain Brigs discovered an island west and north of Sandwich 

 islands, in 25 47 / north, longitude 172 west. The island is low, 

 with not more than sixty feet, in any part, from the water: three 

 miles long, and two across it. 



Captain Edward Gardner, while in command of the whale-ship 

 Bellona, discovered an island, in 1823, in latitude 19 15' north, 

 longitude 166 32' east, which he judged was twenty or twenty- 

 five miles long. A reef appeared to make off from the east end 

 of it, to the distance of two miles, with detached rocks to the 

 west. The situation given is from the centre of the island. 

 " Wake's island" is placed on Arrowsmith's and other charts 

 nearly in the above situation. The island was covered with 

 wood, having a very green and rural appearance. 



The island to which Captain Seely proposes to give the name 

 of Beverly island, was probably not, as he supposed, a new dis- 

 covery. On Purdy's smaller charts of the world, published in 

 1821, as well as on the previous edition of that chart, an island is 

 laid down in 18 30' north, longitude 113 30 X west, to which he 

 gives the name of " St. Rosa ;" and though the longitude differs 

 considerably, I am disposed to believe it is the island Captain S. 

 describes. It is not laid down on Arrowsmith's charts ; and it is 

 a little remarkable that, in Purdy's edition of his large chart, pub- 

 lished in 1821, and improved in 1825, it is not to be found, nor 



