312 s?v?.� oF THE INTERTROPICAL ]slo. After passing this danger, we found ourselves in oct. f. a deep channel, the seaward limit of.which was formed by an extensive reef connected with Jones' Island. At sunset we anchored within one mile and a half of the shore in five fathoms and a half, soft sandy mud, off the entrance of a considerable bight or bay; which appeared to be so nearly blocked up by a reef of dry rocks, th? it was doubtful whether we should be able to pe- netrate without going round the F. clipse Islands: these islands were so named, in consequenee of an eclipse of the moon that took place in the evening; and the fiat-topped mount, which is con- spicuous on the principal island of the group, was named Eclipse Hill. ?. The next morning was passed in eY?mi,?ing the reefs to the southward; we first landed on the south-east end of Long Ismland, where a set of bearings and a tolerable view up the bay were obtained. Long Island is of a rugged character, and formed principallyof large water-wommasses of quartzose sand-stone, superincumbent upon a basis of the same rock, The spaces between them were occupied by a variety of plants, the examination of which fully employed Mr. Cun- ningham: natives' traces and fire-places, and the remains of a turtle-feast were observed; but there were no signs of the islands having been very
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