214 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1823. had we been obliged to do this last night when 
Feb. 17 . under way in Cygnet Bay, or been drifted back 
this evening by the ebb-tide, we should have been 
very dangerously placed, from being surrounded 
by islands and blinded by the darkness of the 
night. Whilst this squall lasted the barometer was 
in no way affected, but the thermometer fell two 
degrees, having stood all the afternoon at 89f°. 
During the remainder of the night we stood 
off and on, and experienced a current setting in 
the direction of N. 52° W., one mile per hour. 
18 . At eight o’clock the next morning (18th) Adele 
Island was seen; and in the afternoon we 
passed at a mile and a half from the western 
side of the reef which surrounds it. This island 
is low and sandy, and covered with small bushes ; 
it is about two or three miles in length ; a dry 
sand extends for five miles from its south end, 
and as far as one mile from its north-west point ; 
but the covered part of the reef is more ex- 
tensive, and appeared rocky. At the distance 
of three miles and a half, in a north-west 
direction from its north end, are two dry. sand- 
banks, which are probably covered at high-wa- 
ter. Light-coloured water extended for three 
miles to the westward, and for fourteen miles 
to the north-west ; but the water . is probably 
deep enough over it for any vessel to pass: 
