THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

297

To go to Koulangbangra there are two routes-
one through an opening in the Northern Reef of
about half a cable's width, with 10 fathoms in it, at
about 1½ to windward of Keso Island. The other
route is to go out through the southern opening or
entrance of Keso Harbour, and work to windward
along the reefs, till the peak of Koulangbangra bears
N.E., when there is a clear passage of a mile in width
through both reefs. The islands on the N. reef are
generally sandy, while on the southern reef the trees
grow down to the water's edge.

Koulangbangra is a very conspicuous island, appar-
ently volcanic. It rises quite abruptly from the
water's edge all round to a peak about 3,000 feet in
height. The natives assert that at the summit of this
peak is a salt-water lake, full of fish. The island is
steep-to all round. Water is to be obtained from a
river on the S.W. side, with Simbo or Eddystone
Island just open to the eastward of the first large
island east of Keso.

Bird Island.-Passed between Bird Island and
Wreck Reef. There appears to be a snug anchorage
for small vessels inside the lagoon to the leeward of
Bird Island.

TORRES STRAITS. INNER ROUTE.

Zebra Shoal.-The "Beagle" passed over the posi-
tion of Zebra Shoal, and the shoal marked "E.D."
north of the Palm Islands, but the lead gave no inti-
mation of shoal water, it was carried over the spot.
We passed frequent large patches of spawn, which have
very much the appearance of discoloured water, and
may have given rise to the reports of these shoals.

Mourilyan Harbour.-Captain Chapman, of the
schooner "Johns Lane," reports that he had visited
this harbour, and he considered it dangerous for any
vessel to enter it, as his vessel grounded just inside,
and he could not find deep water to lie in there;
while the natives are numerous and hostile.

Magæra Rock.-We passed close to the position of
this rock, but saw nothing of it.

Port Darwin.-A good leading mark into Port
Darwin is King's Table, open twice its width of Talc
Head, until Point Emery bears E., when haul in for
the anchorage off Fort Hill. The best anchorage is
in 8 fathoms, with Fort Hill bearing N.W. by W.
Off the settlement the holding ground is bad.

There is a mud flat, drying at low-water springs,
running out in a west-south-westerly direction about
half a mile from the settlement. It is very convenient
for beaching vessels, as the rise and fall is so great.

Clarence Straits.-The islands and shoals in these
straits appear to be laid down very roughly; as most
of the shoals are sandbanks, they probably shift
frequently. Great care should be taken in navigat-
ing these straits, especially if the channel to the
northward of N. Vernon Island be taken. There is a
shoal running off from Cape Gambier in a south-
westerly direction. We got 3 fathoms with Cape
Gambier N. by E. 5', and the shoal water appeared
to extend for some distance. (See Chart No. 1044,
N. Coast of Australia, sheet IV., corrections 10/71.)
Holothuria Banks.-"Beagle" passed close to the
position of Holothuria Banks, and the one marked to
the north-westward of them, but without seeing
them.

AUSTRALIA, NORTH-WEST COAST.

Port Walcot, or Tien-tsin Harbour.- (See Chart
No. 1055, Australia West Coast, sheet VII., cor-
rections June 1872.) There is no shelter in Tien-
tsin Bay with easterly winds, and there is occasionally
a heavy sea rolling in. There is a Beacon on Jarman
Island, which is a good mark for Tien-tsin Bay. Port
Walcot is liable to be visited by hurricanes.

The passage between Cape Lambert and Bezout

Island is reported as being unsafe for any but the
smallest boats.

Delambre Island.-The reefs run out further from
this island than laid down in the charts.

Haing Island and the next island to the westward
are connected with Legendre Island by a coral reef,
drying at low water.

Flying Foam Passage is formed by Legendre Island
on the N., Dolphin Island on the S.E., and Angel
and Gidley Islands on the W., the latter being the
northernmost island. There is a good deep channel
of 5 to 6 fathoms, and about 4 cables wide, with steep
coral reefs on each side, the water shoaling very
rapidly as the reefs are approached. There are
several rocks on each side of the channel, which show
at half-tide. The tide streams run very strong
through the passage at springs. The streams meet
abreast of the boat passage between Angel and
Gidley Islands. There is also a boat passage
between Dolphin Island and the mainland, but it is
not recommended, as it is full of rocks. The deepest
water in this part of the channel is about 3 fathoms,
close to Pelican Rock. There is a dangerous reef
running about a mile off the S.W. point of Angel
Island, which only breaks at intervals.

A spit of sand, which only dries at low water, runs
in shore from the small sandy island at the S.W.
entrance of the Flying Foam Passage, but there is a
deep channel between the end of it and the main-
land.

It is high water F. and C. in Flying Foam
Passage about 11.30. Springs rise 16 to 17 feet.

Hampton Harbour is formed by the eastern large
island of the Intercourse Islands. (See plan 1053
Dampier's Archipel., corrections April 1866;
and Chart No. 1055, Australia West Coast, sheet
VII., corrections June 1872.) There is a good
sheltered anchorage in 3 fathoms, mud and sand,
with the centre of the island north about a mile, or
less. The water shoals on approaching the main-
land. There is a ridge of rocks running out from
the eastern point of the island about E.N.E., and
there is a rock, which dries only at low-water
springs nearly mid-channel between the small island
at the entrance and the large island. There is also a
sandbank and reef running about S.S.W. to of a
mile from this small island. The passage to the
westward of large Intercourse Island is shoal, and
should only be attempted in a boat.

There is a chain of islands to the westward
separated from the mainland by shallow creeks,
where "Low rocky shore" is marked on the chart,
the entrance being between Rocky-headed Hill and
the point to the north of it.

The two parts of Lewis Island are separated by a
shallow boat channel.

The mouth of the Fortescue River is to the west-
ward of Cape Preston, with the small mangrove
island on with Cape Preston bearing about N.E.
Fresh water may be obtained 3' up the river, but
vessels of any draught can only go up about a mile.

There is a very extensive coral reef running off on
all sides from the small island W. 7' from Cape
Preston. All these islands marked "Rocky" are
principally sand, but fringed with rocks; they have
the appearance of rocks at a distance, from the white
sand showing between the low bushes and spinifex
grass, which are the only vegetation on them. The
large island W.S.W. from Cape Preston 15' I have
called "Sholl Island."

Barrow Island (see Chart No. 1055, Australia
West Coast, sheet VII., corrections June 1872,)
is placed 5' too far to the eastward. It is fringed on
the east side by a coral reef from 2 to 3 in width,
and from abreast the S.E. point of the island it runs
away S.S.E. 14. It is of dark coral, and not easily