Description of Nangkaurl Harbour. 85 



witliin a few fathoms of the southernmost of these with vessels 

 of any size. 



On tlie west side of the island, ^at the spot where its two 

 halves may be said to blend, the northernmost rugged, the 

 more southerly flat, a pretty good anchorage will be found, 

 which seems to be sheltered towards the S.W. by several 

 solitary projecting rocks. Generally speaking, but more 

 especially to the N. and E., this island presents a steep pre- 

 cipitous shore, so that, with the exception here and there of a 

 few solitary rocks, close in to the shore, there is nothing but 

 clear deep water around almost the entire island to within 

 about 10 fathoms of the land. 



The harbour of Nangkauri is rather roomy, but of very 

 unequal though for the most part considerable depth; the 

 soundings in its midst giving between 20 and 30 fathoms. 

 The promontories are all more or less low-lying, and thickly 

 beset with coral-reefs, and caution is the more necessary, 

 since it is far from unusual after working in from 20 to 16 

 fathoms, to find the water shoal suddenly to foui' or even 

 three fathoms. The anchorage formed by the two islands 

 of Kamorta and Nangkauri has two entrances, from the east 

 and from the west, the navigation of which by large ships de- 

 mands the utmost vigilance. The western entrance is barely 

 a cable's length in width, while the island of Nangkam-i has 

 hardly any fair-way for vessels along its exterior coast-line. 

 In consequence of the two islands trending towards each 

 other at that point, the harbour near its middle is greatly 



