4 ONE TREE ISLAND. 



Jan. 9 We sailed from the First Bunker's 



Island, and stood to the N.E. sounding. The 

 depth for six or seven miles gradually increased to 

 40 fathoms, when we suddenly got no bottom with 

 100 fathoms, having passed over the edge of the 

 bank of soundings which runs parallel to the coast 

 hereabouts, from Sandy Cape to the northward. We 

 then hauled in to the westward, passed by the third 

 or Northern Bunker's Island, and anchored at night 

 between it and a large oval reef with a shallow 

 lagoon, and a small patch of dry sand on one part of 

 its western rim. Sharks were very numerous here, 

 and they attacked and bit the fly of the patent log 

 as it trailed overboard. 



Jan. 10. — After sounding outside again, and 

 seeing more reefs and islands to the northward and 

 westward, we anchored near one of them, which, 

 from a single conspicuous tree on it, was called 

 "One Tree Island." 



Jan, 11. — Landed on this island, which exhi- 

 bited the same general features as Bunker's first 

 island, with some modifications. The external 

 ridge of loose coral fragments was loftier and steeper, 

 owing I believe to this island being rather more on 

 the weather, or at least the south side of the reef. 

 Inside, the island sloped down every way towards 

 the centre, forming a shallow basin, in the middle 

 of which was a small hole of salt water at or near 

 the level of the sea. The inside slope was covered 

 with low succulent plants, with pink flowers (me- 



