290 MALOLO. 
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 belonging 
to the squadron. They are all situated in the great Astrolabe Reef, 
called after the name of that ship, in consequence of her remarkable 
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 fo 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 
clear it, after doing which we arrived off Ovolau at 2.4.m. Notwith- 
standing the darkness, we passed in and anchored near the Porpoise. 
On the 4th, I was engaged until late in the afternoon observing for 
time, in order to verify the meridian distances between Ovolau and 
those places at which I had again observed, and to ascertain if any 
change had taken place in the rates of my chronometers within, the 
last five weeks. The proof of their correct performance was most 
satisfactory. 
Levuka looked almost deserted, in comparison with what it had 
been during our stay there. Tui Levuka received me with much 
