The Mermaid drove, but it was not considered to be caused by the nature of the bottom, which is of soft sand, and free from rocks.
The channel between 1 and 2 appeared to be very rocky, and shoal: between 1 and the reef r there is probably a clear channel of about a mile wide: the north-east end of 1 has a reef which extends off it for half a mile.
(*Footnote.

Many shoals, partly dry, occupy the space to the northward and eastward of Howick's Group.

Roe manuscript.) All the islands are low and wooded, and surrounded by a coral reef of small extent.
4 has a small islet off its west end.
5, 8, and 9 did not appear to have any reefs projecting from them.

7 is probably two islands, with a reef extending for half a mile on its western side.

6 is of larger size than the generality of the low islands hereabout, Number 1 excepted: its centre is in latitude 14 degrees 28 minutes, and longitude 144 degrees 45 minutes.