turbulent, became suddenly as smooth as a mill-pond, which convinced us that we were in the vicinity of reefs; and it was not long before an extensive sandbank impeded our farther progress. We altered our course S.W., W., and N.W., running along the edge of the shoal, which extended farther than the eye could reach in a parallel direction with Banks' Island. A scattered group of islands, unknown to us, to the westward, being now in sight, we, (being foiled in our attempt to reach Booby Island, and our boat having become more leaky,) determined to take shelter near one of them, and should it afford us water, to complete our arrangements there.
We made several attempts to find a passage through this extensive reef, without success, but at length, by perseverance and caution, we happily found a way by a long, narrow, and tortuous channel, from one to two fathoms deep; and about five o'clock, P. M., we leaped ashore on a fine sandy beach, in a small bay, on the north side of an island situated nearly in the centre of the group; and we were soon joined by the other boats, which had cautiously kept in our wake.
We all rejoiced to be once again on shore, and our first care was to search for water. The Captain and myself proceeded to a spot that seemed, by the freshness of the surrounding vegetation, to indicate the presence of that inestimable fluid, and, in a few minutes, to our great satisfaction, we discovered a large reservoir as clear as crystal, and of excellent quality. Having
