254 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. plying to windward for an hour, the weather tide 
Aug-, l. ceased ; when the disadvantage of a lee tide was 
counterbalanced by smoother water and a steadier 
breeze. We passed a very anxious night, but 
without encountering any accident. With day- 
break the breeze freshened; and, at noon, we 
were near the small easternmost islet of the 
group. The afternoon was passed in steering 
round the northern side of the island ; but, before 
sunset, we had to alter the course twice for shoal 
water, being at one time within half a mile of a 
reef that was nearly dry. 
During this night the cutter was kept under 
3 - weigh, and, at daylight, was considerably to the 
westward of our reckoning, from the effect of a 
current. The land to the westward of the Croco- 
dile Islands trends deeply in, forming a bay, in 
which two low wooded islands were noticed. As 
we steered into it the water shoaled ; and, as there 
was nothing to induce our persevering, we steered 
round the next point of land, and anchored, at 
sunset, to leeward of a shoal projecting in a 
N.W. direction from the point. The coast falls 
back round this point, and forms an unsheltered 
bay seven or eight miles deep. 
4. The following morning our course was held 
parallel with the shores of the bay, towards a 
