Feb. 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 369

Northward of Entrance Island the channel is contracted to 1 cable in width and carries 3¾ fathoms, again deepening and widening into the lagoon.

The reef extends about a mile from the west point of the island, and just south of that point there is a passage into the lagoon, but it is suitable for small craft only.

The “Ariadne” visited Apamama in 1878, and places the west extreme of the island in lat. 22° 30′ N., long. 173° 42′ 50″ E.

In the channel the rise of the tide was observed to be 6½ feet, the flood stream setting N.E. ½ E. and the ebb in the opposite direction 3¾ knots per hour.

The population of the islands in 1878 numbered about 5,000.

Maraki (Matthew Island).—This island is reported to lie six miles farther west than the position formerly assigned to it, the south-west point being in long. 173° 17′ 20″ E.

A reef extends half a mile in a north-westerly direction from the north point of Maraki Island.

Taritari (Touching Island).—The small island at the entrance into Taritari Lagoon, upon the south-west side of the reefs, may be recognized by the white house erected upon it.

Taputeouea (Drummond Island).—Vessels should not stand in for Peacock Anchorage until the north point of the island is recognized. It is dangerous to run along the outside of the reef closer than three miles, on account of outlying reefs and coral heads. A good look-out from aloft is indispensable.*

MARSHALL ISLANDS.†

Namorik (Baring Islands).—This group, consisting of two wooded islands lying in a north and south direction, and having a small coral islet between them, are situated upon a reef around which there is no anchorage. There is a small lagoon in the southern island, but it is available for boats only at high water. Two German trading stations are situated upon this island. Cocoanuts, breadfruit, bananas, and taro can be obtained.

Kili (Hunter Islands).—This group of islands extends two and a half miles in an E.S.E. and W.N.W. direction; they were formerly cultivated, but were devastated by a hurricane in 1874, and are not now inhabited. Landing is rarely practicable.

Jaluit (Bonham Islands).—When approaching this group from the southward they appear as one long, low island. In consequence of the proximity of the islands to each other, the gaps in the vegetation are difficult to distinguish.

If bound to the settlement on Jabor Island by the south-east entrance to the lagoon, it is advisable to make the south extreme of the Elizabeth Islands, and to steer N.E. by N. along the reef until the houses and flagstaffs of the settlement are seen bearing W.S.W. The entrance will not be recognized until close in, the sea apparently breaking right across it, and it is recommended to take a pilot.

The channel is less than half a cable in width, and the current sets across it in a N. by W. direction; want of attention to which circumstance has caused the loss of sailing-vessels upon the fringing reef of the small islands upon the northern side of the channel.

The settlement is upon Jabor or Bonham, the island situated on the south side of the above-mentioned passage, off which there is good anchorage, in from 8 to 19 fathoms. The southernmost of the three piers is the most convenient for landing, the water being deeper than at the others.

The population in 1882 numbered about 700, distributed over the whole group, nominally governed by a king named Kabua, who resides at the settlement.

Supplies: Pigs, fowls, and cocoanuts may be obtained from the natives, and ships’ provisions from the European traders occasionally.

Tide: Slight tidal streams were felt at the anchorage, also in the south-east channel.

Elmore (Odia) Islands.—The lagoon enclosed by this group of islands can be entered by five passages. South pass is deep, and there is anchorage in it off a large house, westward of Enyebing Island, in 5 fathoms water.

With winds from the eastward there is anchorage outside the lagoon in from 10 to 12 fathoms, sheltered by Wotja Island, the westernmost of Elmore Islands.

Jabwat.—This island is situated nine miles N. ¾ W. from Jib Island, the northernmost of Elmore Islands, from which it can be seen. It is three-quarters of a mile long, N.N.W. and S.S.E., by a quarter of a mile wide. Reefs surround the island, extending a quarter of a mile from the south and west sides, and from the north and north-east side distant three-quarters of a mile.

There are but a few inhabitants.

Namu (Musquillo) Islands.—This group of islands includes two lagoons separated by a reef, upon the western edge of which is situated Bock Island. The largest island, named Musseket, is situated on the north-east side of south lagoon, the passage into that lagoon being upon the south-west side.

The islands Namu and Madaamet, situated at the north-west extreme of the group, are sparsely covered with cocoanut trees. Great caution must be observed when passing to leeward of the reefs, in consequence of the easterly set, and during the months May to September breakers are rarely seen upon the reefs on the lee side of the southern lagoon, and instances are known of accidents occurring to vessels from want of attention to this fact.

Lib Island.—The island is two and a quarter miles in extent in an east and west direction, triangular in shape, with reefs extending three-quarters of a mile from the south and east sides, one and a quarter miles from the north, and about 2 cables from the west sides. The centre of the island is of lower elevation than the coast-line; the soil is fertile and cultivated by a few inhabitants. There is no anchorage around the island.

Menschikoff Islands.—This group of islands, the south extreme of which is situated in lat. 8° 42′ N., long. 167° 47′ E., encloses the largest lagoon in the Marshall Islands.

With the exception of Kwadjelinn and the islands situated on the north-east of the group known as Ailing-Jappel, there are few cocoanut trees upon these islands, and they are visited by the natives at times only for the purpose of curing fish.

The islands on the north-west side are almost destitute of trees.

There are twenty-five passages into the lagoon, but six only of these can be considered as ship-channels.

South pass carries a depth of 10 fathoms. Upon the eastern side the pass south of Bigedj Island has 7 fathoms; upon the north side the pass eastward of Mellu Islands (north pass) has 10 fathoms; upon the west side the pass west of Eru Island carries 9 fathoms, and is considered a good pass for leaving the lagoon. The passage west of Onemak Island carries 20 fathoms, and is the best when bound for Ailing-Jappel.

The northern part of the lagoon is shallower than the southern.

Anchorage in the lagoon can be obtained off Kwadjelinn in from 15 to 7 fathoms; also to the westward of Meek Island, but the water here shoals suddenly. Between Gagan and Namtui-Roj anchorage may be taken up, but off Namtui vessels should not anchor in less than 5 fathoms, and be prepared to leave by north pass in the event of fresh southerly winds, which renders that anchorage unsafe.

Outside the lagoon anchorage will be found off Eru Island in 7 fathoms; also off Onemak in not less than 5 fathoms: all other places are too steep.

The wrecks of two large vessels lie on the reef eastward of Aidiga Island.

Notwithstanding the extent of this group, the inhabitants number only about 200.

Tide: It is high water at full and change at 4h. Springs rise 5½ feet.

Lae Islands.—These islands lie close together upon a small reef about six miles in diameter, having a narrow passage into the lagoon from the westward, in which the depth is 2 fathoms, but vessels can anchor off the entrance in 4 fathoms. Some shoals lie about 1 cable south-west of the anchorage off Lae Island.

Ujae (Katharine Islands).—Ujae and Enylameej are considered to be the finest of the Marshall Group, producing everything that can be grown upon any of the other islands.

There are two ship-passages into the lagoon; that recommended for entering is formed by sunken reefs situated four miles northward of Bock Island upon the western side of the lagoon. This pass carries from 3 to 6 fathoms water, with room to work through.

The eastern side of the lagoon is moderately clear of shoals, but the west side is full of dangers.

If bound for the anchorage off Ujae, after entering by the pass recommended, it is advisable to follow the eastern reef of the lagoon about one mile distant, and not to approach Ujae under a depth of 5 fathoms.

The pass south of Bock Island is deep, and can be used when leaving.

The inhabitants number about 300.

Wottho (Schanz Islands).—The lagoon of this group is accessible to small vessels by a pass having 4 fathoms water between Ombelim Island and Eirek Island. Some rocks obstruct this passage, but they may be avoided by keeping nearer to Ombelim.

The northern pass is full of rocks, and should be avoided.

The anchorage is off the south-west side of Wottho Island, the north-eastern island of the group.

Bikini (Esch-holtz Islands).—The north side of this atoll is submerged to a considerable depth, but at the south side there is a wide passage through the reef carrying from 11 to 12 fathoms water.

• United States, Hydrographic Notice, No. 57 of 1880.

† Berlin, Annalen der Hydrographie, Heft 6 of 1879, Heft 10 of 1881, and Heft 3 of 1882. See Admiralty charts—Pacific Ocean, North-west Sheet, No. 781; Marshall Islands, No. 983; Plan of Port Rhin on No. 984. Scale m = 48 inches. Ebon and Arhno Atolls, No. 988. Also Hydrographic Notices 1873, pages 107, 109, 112, 114, 118, and 119; No. 3 of 1876, No. 44 of 1878, No. 34 of 1880, and No. 22 of 1882.