'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎235] (344/496)

and sunken rocks, guided entirely by the eye, the Captain and Mr.
under water, and were again entangled,—not a clear spot visible as far as
the eye could reach,—.every moment meeting with greater obstacles and
difficulties, and every moment our position was rendered more perilous
than ever. So thoroughly was the brig ensnared amongst the maze of
coral shoals, that we all began to despair of ever getting out of them: it
was certainly a most puzzling affair, though anything but agreeable to
us. At noon, Murray’s Island bore JST. 43° E., distant about eight
leagues. Kept away W. K. West and stood on this course three miles, skirt
ing the southern reefs of Hibernia’s Passage, which is about three miles
vule ; but many sunken rocks were discernible in various parts. At 1,
Murray s Island could no longer be perceivable, and by this time there
seemed to be some prospect of our being able to extricate ourselves from
this labyrinth of dangers ere the sun had set, for the channel now be
came fairer and more open, the soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. more regular, and the rocks
and shoals fewer in number and wider apart. As we progressed, Half
way Island hove in sight, and the white foamy ridge of breakers, which
were previously seen dancing and gleaming in the sunshine, also became
fainter and fainter, until at last they faded away altogether from our
view.
than two or three leagues, though not more than a mile or so in circum
with a coarse kind of grass and trees, chiefly of the Pandanus palm, the
fruit of which serves as food for the natives. The soil is composed of de
composed vegetable matter, and could be brought to a high state of fertili
ty. There are no springs or wells, and it appears quite destitute of
water, though I have no doubt this might be procured by digging. The
island is surrounded by a belt of coral rocks, extending a short distance off
out three or four miles, and affords excellent shelter from the S. E. trade.
It is situated in latitude 10° 18' S. and longitude 143° 18 7 E., and bears
from Murray’s Island S. 61° W., distant fifty miles. We found the ebb
tide here setting to the N. Westward at the rate of three miles per hour, but
perhaps to the vicinity of the reefs and shoals. At 3 P. M. anchored off the
island in seventeen fathoms, coral sand, half a mile from the shore, the