4 BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



off this island, the current was found setting to the northeast, at the 

 rate of twelve miles in the twenty-four hours. 



The positions in this neighbourhood where five islands have been 

 reported to exist, were diligently searched for eight days ; but no land 

 was seen, and Captain Hudson became satisfied that none but Wash- 

 ington Island is to be found. 



On the 20th December, they made Jarvis's Island, in latitude 

 0° 22' 33" S., and longitude 159° 54' 11" W. This is a small 

 coral island, triangular in shape, a mile and three-fourths in length 

 east and west, and a mile wide north and south. It exhibits the 

 appearance of a white sand-beach, ten or twelve feet above the sea, 

 without a tree or shrub, and but a few patches of grass. The sea 

 breaks violently around its shores, but no reef extends to any distance 

 from the island, which may be closely approached. A few sea-birds 

 were seen about the island. No landing could be attempted, the surf 

 being too heavy. Captain Hudson considers this a dangerous island 

 for navigators. 



The Peacock and Flying-Fish, for the next fifteen days, were 

 eno-ao-ed in searching' for Brooks's Island, Clark's Reef, and shoals: 

 but without success, and, after examining the neighbouring sea, left 

 the locality, fully satisfied that if any islands or shoals had existed, in 

 or near the places assigned to them, they must have been seen. They 

 experienced here a current, setting to the westward at the rate of a 

 mile an hour. Captain Hudson remarked, that although they had 

 experienced generally a current setting to the westward, yet, almost 

 invariably, the current-log gave a contrary result. 



In latitude 2° 55' S., longitude 160° 26' W., they found, by the 

 dipping-needle, that they had reached the magnetic equator, which 

 they followed until they reached longitude 171° W. 



On the 9th January, 1841, they made Enderbury's Island, of the 

 Phoenix Group, which has before been spoken of, as seen in the route 

 of the Vincennes from the Feejee to the Sandwich Islands. 



On the 11th, they made and surveyed Birnie's Island, which lies 

 southwest from Enderbury's, in latitude 3° 34' 15" S., longitude 

 171° 33' W. It has an elevation of no more than six feet above 

 the sea ; is about one mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, 

 trending about northwest and southeast. It is but a strip of coral, 

 apparently uplifted, and is exceedingly dangerous for vessels, as it 

 cannot be seen from a distance, and a vessel, in thick weather, would 

 scarcely have time to avoid it after it was discovered. 



