CHAPTER VI. 



PHCENIX GROUP. 



The Phoenix Group consists of five small islands, lying between 

 2° 30' and 5° south latitude, and longitude 170° and 175° west. I 

 have thought proper to embrace them in a distinct group. They are 

 low and very dangerous, and being situated in the track of vessels 

 from the Sandwich Islands to the southwestern groups, as well as to 

 New South Wales, ought to be well known, in order that they may 

 be passed with safety. Many of these islands were considered 

 doubtful, until they were examined by the Expedition ; and their posi- 

 tions had been so much misrepresented that several names were ap- 

 plied to the same island. The islands included in this group are all 

 of the low coral formation, and bear marks of being at times inun- 

 dated. Their names are Mary Balcouts, Enderbury's, Birnie, Hull's, 

 and Sidney. They have been resorted to for taking turtle, but with- 

 out much success. 



MARY BALCOUTS. * 



The discoverer of Mary Balcouts is doubtful. It is a low coral 

 lagoon island, 13 miles in length by 5 in width. The lagoon is exten- 

 sive, and has an opening on its south side ; there is good anchorage 

 within it, and but little inducement to seek it. No inhabitants. 



ENDERBURY'S ISLAND. 



Enderbury's Island is a parallelogram in shape. Having been 

 detained a whole day on it, we were enabled to make a particular 

 survey of it. It is a coral island, with a small lagoon, which was quite 

 dry during our visit, and can only be filled by the sea washing over 

 it in storms, or by rain. The lowest part of the island is towards the 

 south, where it is 6 feet above high water mark. On the north it 



