104 PANAGATAN REEF. [1844. 



to look after the Panagatan reef, or Camden shoal, which 

 although known for years, has not found a place on any 

 of the charts ; the track of the Aetrevida and Descubierta 

 in 1792, leads immediately over the spot; but it is 

 not improbable that, by the assumption of a different 

 meridian between that and the present period, they 

 passed to the eastward, and by night. The reef patch 

 extends five miles, east and west, and three mileSj 

 north and south, on which there is about five fathoms at 

 the extreme edge, and about three feet, average, over the 

 mass ; upon it rise three small islets, covered with trees, 

 they are all coralline, and probably upheaved ; that to the 

 westward is the highest, rising sixteen feet above the 

 mean tide level, or twelve feet above the highest spring 

 tides, and is covered with timber trees. The others 

 merely produce Pandanm, wild pines, and shrubby grass. 

 Panagatan appears to be the Bisayan, or corrupted 

 Malay name for large shells, chiefly Tridacna, which are 

 supposed to abound on this reef. By day there can be 

 no fear of approaching it, as all dangers are clearly 

 visible, and the extreme boundary of the reef itself is well 

 defined by its peculiar whiteness, independent of the is- 

 lands upon it ; the water is deep all round. The islands 

 in the neighbourhood easterly, are termed the Semirara 

 group, but this is incorrect, the island of Semirara is far 

 to the N.E., barely in sight ; those immediately to the 

 east* have not yet obtained decided names, not being in- 

 habited by any persons in communication with the 

 Spanish authorities, and by the accounts received of them, 

 from officers of the Spanish gun boats, it is probable 

 * Named Pirate Island by us. 



