THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

663

Cape for the westward. From June to November, but the "Basilisk," being a steam-vessel, and having
it is probable that a steady south-east monsoon blows a large number of men, kept them in a state of
on the east and north-east coast of New Guinea, but surprise and civility. With the store-ship "Recon-
this has yet to be ascertained."
aisance," as well as with H.M.S. "Sandfly," their
demeanour was at times threatening and insolent;
and at the Dumoulin Islands, on one occasion, they
showed signs of attacking a boat of the "Basilisk"
which put in from stress of weather. It is requisite
to be armed upon all occasions, and treat misbehaviour
with rigour, leniency being interpreted by them as
weakness.

Tides are excessively irregular, and appeared to be
greatly influenced by the state and duration of the
wind. The rise and fall at springs was estimated to
be not more than 5 feet. Near Teste Island, flood
set to the northward, ebb to the southward, attaining
at spring tides a speed of two knots. Between Teste
Island and the southern entrance of China Strait, the
direction of the stream became deflected to the east
and westward, but opportunity did not offer of
testing the exact direction or speed. In Fortescue
and China Straits, the tides run with greater velocity,
the direction of stream following that of the straits,
flood to the north, ebb to the south, and at spring
tides reaching as great a speed as five knots.

Between Smith Islet and the Engineer Group, less
tidal influence was observed, owing to the greater
depth of water, and wideness of the channel. In
the more confined parts, between Smith Islet and
the south-east extremity of Moresby Island, the
tides ran four to five knots, setting in the same
direction as in China and Fortescue Straits. In the
vicinity of Blakeney Island, the flood stream set
north-west, the ebb south-east. In Goschen Strait,
between Grind and Gallows Reef, the flood set west
by north, the ebb east by south, at spring tides 14
knots an hour. Constant attention and employment
in other particulars of surveying, prevented certain
analysis or watching of the tides, except in China
Strait, which will be described at later date, but
sufficient was ascertained to justify the statement,
that in no part of the main route to and through
Goschen Strait does the speed of the tide exceed 2
knots an hour.

Natives of this part of New Guinea and Islands
were of small stature, averaging about 5 feet 3 inches
in height, of a dark copper brown colour, small
boned, and of lithe and athletic shape. The hair was
generally frizzled, and often ornamented with
feathers of birds of paradise, or fork-shaped wooden
combs with white streamers. The body was entirely
naked except a small band of dried leaf arranged
round the loins and middle, the upper portion, and
sometimes the whole face being adorned with black
and white pigment. Armlets and necklaces of
cowrie and other shells, and dried berries, were com-
monly worn, as also bands of cocoa fibre ornamented
with shell at the knee joint. Their arms consisted
of slings, with which they were very expert, and
wooden spears, clubs, and swords of various descrip-
tions of hard wood, more or less ornamented and
finished. No bows or arrows were seen among them.
The V-shaped stone hatchet-the blade being a
species of green stone resembling serpentine-
appeared to be their sole implement for the manu-
facture of their huts and canoes. Hoop-iron, which
they call "keelam," is most in demand among them,
pieces of about eight inches in length by an eighth of
an inch thick (suitable for fixing in the handles of
their hatchets) finding greatest favour. Turkey red
handkerchief was also in request by the younger
portion of the community and women; trade knives
and beads they did not care for. At some islands
fish-hooks were appreciated, and small American
axes preferred to scrap iron. The women were not
often induced to visit the ship, but, when seen, were
invariably attired in a petticoat of grass or cocoanut
leaf, reaching to the knee, the upper part of their
body being naked.

Caution should be used in dealing with these people
as they are much inclined to pilfer; in some parts
they appeared trustworthy and friendly, assisting in
carrying instruments, water, &c., for a small reward;

Water may be obtained in numerous places on the
south side of Milne Bay, westward of Spike Island.
Moresby and Basilisk Islands do not afford favour-
able positions for watering in bulk, in ship's boats.
In Possession Bay water can be carried in cask from
the well marked upon the chart, but it is of doubtful
quality. Sandfly Bay, in Skelton Island, has good
water in small quantity at the back of the village.
Centipede Bay, on the south-east coast of Normanby
Island, has a fresh-water lagoon (at low water) inside
the beach, where it is easily procurable.

Supplies of cocoa-nuts, yams, taro, pumpkins, and
bananas-the latter of inferior quality-and some-
times a pig, can be obtained in exchange for hoop-
iron. In Normanby Island pigs appeared plentiful,
and when anchored in Duchess Cove very many were
bought; "boru" is the native name for these animals.
A few turtle were also procured from the natives
near Possession Bay (Moresby Island). On the un-
inhabited coral-formed islands, bush turkey were
frequently shot, and the large cream-coloured pigeon
of Torres Straits have their favourite resorts in certain
localities of the islands, which are easily ascertained.
Sea fowl, except a few duck and curlew, appeared
scarce.

Directions. If bound to Goschen Strait or the
eastern islands of New Guinea, vessels will do well to
pass to the westward of Cato, Wreck, and Kenn
Reefs, and eastward of Saumarez and Frederick Reefs.
Care should be taken to make Teste Island by day;
and if within 60 miles and overtaken by night, the
navigator should shorten sail until daylight, as the
current was found in the month of February, during
a strong westerly gale, to set 2 knots an hour to the
east-north-east, or directly on to the reefs southward
of Teste Island. Both Bell Rock (420 feet high) and
Teste Island afford good landmarks, but if the
weather is thick, the Stuers Islets, which are low and
woody, may be the first land sighted; and it is
possible that the high land of Moresby Island (1,300
feet high) may be seen looming in the distance,
previous to sighting any of the above-mentioned
islands. Having passed between Suckling Reef and
Stuers Islets, the sunken barrier can be crossed in
from 9 to 10 fathoms, with the high Lebrun Islet on
a N.N.E. E. bearing. If the Suckling Reef is
passed to the westward, the larger Lebrun Islet
should not be brought to bear eastward of north, as
the tides and eddies run strong on the bank south-
westward of the Lebrun Islets. The passage south-
east of Teste Island should be avoided, as a depth of
4 fathoms was here struck, and it has not been suffi-
ciently examined. Having crossed the sunken barrier,
steer to pass about a mile westward of Bell Rock, after
passing which a N.N.E. course should be steered
(allowing for set of tide) to pass eastward of Glenton
and Smith Islets; and, if requisite, anchorage may be
found on the bank of sand in about 9 fathoms of
water, which stretches about two miles to the north-
ward of Foolscap Rock. Glenton and Smith Islets
passed, a north course should be steered, and if the
weather be fine, the west extremity of Slade Island,
in line with the same extremity of Bentley Island,
is a good mark for continuing upon, until Shortland
Island bears S.W. by W. W., when the southern