extended north
and south to a distance of fully nine miles, completely barring our
passing through the eastern side of the reef; and I began to believe
that if a channel existed at all (and I felt sure there must be one
somewhere), it must lie on the western side. However, I did not want to
run to leeward if I could help it, for though the _Lily_, being fore-
and-aft rigged, was better suited to turning to windward in a narrow
passage than any other class of vessel, I did not wish to risk the boat
by the performance of such a hazardous operation, for I had heard that
the channels through these reefs were, some of them, so contracted that
there was positively _no_ room for even a small vessel to tack in many
of the reaches. _So_ I made a bowline in the end of the gaff-topsail
halliards, and went aloft in it, with the intention of remaining there,
if need be, to con the craft in.

We had hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, with our head to the
northward, and the _Water Lily_ was now, with her fore-sheet to
windward, jogging quietly along towards the northern extremity of the
island. I kept a careful watch on the reef close to leeward, but we
traversed its whole extent to the northward without any sign of a
channel revealing itself, so I shouted to Bob to go round and stand to
the southward again.

From my elevated position I was enabled to make a tolerably complete
examination of the island, which exhibited no traces whatever, as far as
I could see, of being inhabited. It appeared to be about six miles in
length by about three in width at the widest part, though its coast-line
was very irregular, and, in some places, I estimated that it was not
much more than half that width.

It trended about north-north-east and south-south-west, and was very
low, no part rising apparently much higher than forty or fifty feet
above the level of the sea; whilst for the most part it did not appear
to be higher than perhaps ten or twelve feet. Vegetation was extremely
luxuriant, a small grove of cocoanuts occupying a very nearly central
position, but on the western side of the island; whilst the remaining
portion was pretty thickly covered with less lofty trees, the ground
being clothed with deliciously fresh green turf, and an endless variety
of shrubs.

A narrow strip of clean white sand bordered the whole island, and
outside of this again extended the placid waters of the lagoon, barely
ruffled by the evening breeze. T