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HYDROGRAPHY. 



low coral island, with a lagoon 3 miles in its greatest diameter. I 

 had entertained some doubts as to its existence ; but from the report of 

 the natives, together with the observations of Captain Tromelin, which 

 I think ought to be relied upon, I am constrained to the belief in its 

 existence. His observations at other islands I have found correct, and 

 I have little doubt of their being so in this instance. This island he 

 places some 60 miles to the eastward of Hull's. In my endeavors to 

 sight it, I was disappointed. We approached its position during a very 

 dark night, and every evidence of the existence of an island was 

 manifested by the appearances around us ; but lying off in hopes of 

 holding our own to sight it when daylight appeared, we found that the 

 ship had been set by a strong current to the westward, and the short- 

 ness of our provisions, with the delays incident on attempting to get to 

 windward, compelled me to abandon the search for it. 



