HALOLO. 307 



from Malatta Bay thither was found by patent log to be six miles. 

 After reaching this point, we hove about under the Peak of Kantavu, 

 which is a dome of large dimensions, and has the appearance of being 

 an extinct crater, similar to those we have observed at the other groups. 

 Having several remarkable peaks fixed, we were enabled to make a 

 good running survey. The most northern coral shoal is off Malatta 

 Bay, and it is the only place where there is any detached reef off the 

 whole length of the northern shore of the island. We found the 

 island to be twenty-five miles in length. At one o'clock we had 

 reached its eastern end, off which lies Ono, a round island with two 

 villages on it. 



Ono is about eighty feet high, and between it and Kantavu there is 

 a good and well-protected harbour. It was near Ono that the brig 

 Charles Doggett was cut off by the chief Vendovi. 



To the north is a cluster of rocky islets, which, finding without 

 names, I have designated by those of the passed midshipmen belong- 

 ing to the squadron. They are all situated in the great Astrolabe 

 Reef, called after the name of that ship, in consequence of her re- 

 markable escape from shipwreck on its eastern side. From Ono it 

 trends nearly north. On its east side it is quite unbroken, and extends 

 in a sweep round Ono, until it joins Kantavu ; on the west side it 

 is much broken, and has several safe passages through to the Passed 

 Midshipmen Islands. These are eleven in number, and under 

 some of them there is good anchorage. A few of these islands yield 

 cocoa-nuts, but there are no inhabitants except on Ono. The length 

 of the Astrolabe Reef, from Ono to its northern point, is ten miles ; 

 near the northern point is a remarkable rock, which is seen very 

 distinctly from all directions. At the northern point of the reef is a 

 clear passage through it. The water inside appears as blue as the 

 ocean, and is doubtless very deep. Whales were seen sporting within 

 the reef. 



This reef is not only dangerous from its extent, but on account of 

 the strong currents which prevail here, which for the most part set to 

 the eastward. 



From the point of the reef the high land of Vitilevu and Mbenga 

 can be seen. It was just sunset when we left it, and stood on a north- 

 by-east course, intending to make the reef off Nasilai Point. After 

 running thirty-one miles, we came up with it, and found that we were 

 obliged to make two short tacks to get far enough to the eastward to 



