THE COMPLETED ATOLL. 273 



If another boat with its crew were lying at the time off the 

 reef, a line, carried to it through the surf by an expert swim- 

 mer, might prove a means of rescue: — and so, in 1840, we 

 safely reached our ship. To those approaching such a shore in 

 a boat, prudence would give the advice — first, drop, some dis- 

 tance outside of the breakers, a kedge or anchor, for aid both 

 in landing on, and leaving, the reef. But the bottom off a cor- 

 al island is often bad anchoring ground. And then, if the 

 kedge thus planted holds firm, in spite of the jerking waves, 



well and good. If not . 



The accompanying plate represents a scene on Bowditch or 

 Fakaafo Island, sketched by Mr. A. T. Agate, one of the artists 

 of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition, and copied from Volume 

 V. of Wilkes's Narrative of the Expedition. This island is 



FAKAAFO, OB BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



the easternmost of three small atolls, situated to the north of 

 the Samoan or Navigator Group, near the parallels of 8^°, 9°, 

 and 9|° S., and between the meridians of 171° and 172^° W., 



18 



