' T
C H A P . same. According to onr calcnlation the whole population did not
I'll' exceed two hundred.
Jan.
1826.
The island is ten miles in length, but very narrow, particularly at the
extremities, and, when seen at a distance, does not appear to be half a
mile wide. It is of the same formation as Lord Hood’s Island, but more
perfect. With the exception of a few breaks in the southern shore, by
which the sea, when high, may at times communicate with the lagoon,
it is altogether above water. At the extremities and angles the soil is
more elevated than in other parts, as if the influence of the sea had
been more felt upon them, and heaped up the coral higher. They are,
also, better provided with shrubs, and particularly cocoa-nut trees, the
soil resting upon the debris being, 1 suppose, deeper. The lagoon
had several small islets in it, and the shores all round are steep, and
abound with fish, but we did not see any sharks.
Captain Uuperry, in his voyage round the world in the Coquille,
visited this island, and, supposing it to be a new discovery, named it
Clermont Tonnere, after the French minister of marine. It is evident,
however, from its situation agreeing very nearly with that of an
island discovered by the Minerva, that it must be the same; no other
being found sufficiently near to answer the description. Captain Du-
perry has, no doubt, been misled by the dimensions given of the island
by the Minerva; but that may be easily accounted for, by supposing
the island to have been seen from the Minerva lengthwise, and at a
distance.
While we were off Clermont Tonnere, we had a narrow escape from
a water-spout of more than ordinary size. It approached us amidst
heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, and was not seen until it was very
near to the ship. As soon as we were within its influence, a gust of
wind obliged us to take in every sail, and the topsails, which could not
be furled in time, were in danger of splitting. The wind blew with
great violence, momentarily changing its direction, as if it were sweeping
round in short spirals; the rain, which fell in torrents, was also precipitated
in curves with short intervals of cessation. Amidst this
thick shower the water-spout was discovered, extending in a tapering
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