350 NAVIGATION. 



geographical site : — Northern extreme of the shoal in lat. 

 21° 28' south, and the westernmost in long. 40° 8' east by 

 lunars, and 39° 58' east by chronometer. Captain Hors- 

 burgh thinks the shoal lies a little to the west of this posi- 

 tion. Secondly, the Bassas de India is an island five or six 

 miles in length and two or three in breadth, highest at the 

 northern part, where there are a few trees. The rest of it is 

 covered with brushwood, and has a white sandy beach. It 

 is in long. 40° 37' east, and the south end in lat. 22° 26' 

 south. It may be seen six leagues from the mast-head. It 

 is thought to have no soundings within two or three miles. 

 Juan de Nova, or St. Christopher, is an island situated in 

 lat. 17° 2' south, long. 43° 9' east, about a mile in circum- 

 ference, of a round form, with a reef projecting two miles 

 to the southward, and more than a mile north-west and 

 north-east from the island. It is forty feet high, and sur- 

 rounded by breakers. The Europa Rocks and Bassas de 

 India may be passed on either side. Juan de Nova should 

 be passed to the westward, and thence a direct course for 

 Mohilla or Comoro is the best. In April, or early in May, 

 the winds are more steady to the west of Comoro, — rather 

 to the westward of the mid-channel track. Cape St. Mary, 

 the southern extreme of Madagascar, lies in lat. 25° 40' 

 south, and long. 45° 16'* east. The Star Bank, which is 

 an extensive and dangerous shoal, is sixty miles west-north- 

 west from Cape St. Mary, and at least five leagues from the 

 shore. It is steep-to on the west side : there is an unfre- 

 quented channel between it and the shore. It extends from 

 lat. 25° 7' south to 25° 25' south, and is in long, about 44° 

 16' east. The Comoro Islands are high, bold, and may be 

 seen sixteen or twenty leagues in clear weather. They are 

 inhabited by Mohammedans, a mixed race of Arabs incor- 

 porated with Africans. Of late years they have been very 

 hospitable, and many ships touch at Johanna for refresh- 

 ments, the supplies "of bullocks, poultry, and fruit being 

 abundant. The natives have adopted the names of our 

 court calendar, and King George of Johanna is no in- 

 considerable personage. His royal highness the Duke of 

 York is a washerman, and many of the princesses fill even 



* Captain Owen— Cape St. Mary, long. 45? 1' E., lat. i250 38' S. 



