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 extensive, and appeared rocky.

At the distance of three miles and a half, in a north-west direction from its north end, are two dry sandbanks which are probably covered at high-water.

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: we steered over the tail within the coloured water, but had no bottom with forty-five fathoms.

In many parts near the island the rocks must be very little below the surface of the water, for the sea occasionally broke upon them.
We then steered to the East and East-North-East and at night made short trips on either tack.