PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. Dia 
any former occasion. Besides several merchant vessels and small 
trading craft, there were no less than seven war steamers lying at 
anchor—three German, three American, and one British, the 
famous Ca/liope, which so marvellously escaped destruction when 
the other vessels were either driven ashore or on to the reef. 
Notwithstanding the brave, noble, and self-sacrificing efforts of 
the natives of Apia to rescue the shipwrecked mariners, a large 
number of the seamen and officers perished in the raging waters ; 
in all, upwards of 150 lives were lost, among them some of the 
brave Samoans who went to the rescue. 
The lamentable event will, it is to be hoped, convey a useful 
lesson to captains of ships and others not to despise the indications 
given by the weather and the readings of their barometers, to 
place undue credence on the statements of residents, not generally 
well-informed, that the gathering storm will be but partial and 
speedily pass off. The spiral movement of a cyclone current may 
suddenly burst with overwhelming power on a spot which had 
just previously been considered to have escaped the force of the 
hurricane. 
There are really no secure harbours in Samoa, the New 
Hebrides, and the Loyalty islands during the monsoon season. 
The Bay of Pangopango, in Tutuila, which is land-locked, presents 
the safest anchorage; but it is narrow, open to the south-east 
trade, and has a hidden rock near the entrance. Captains of 
sailing vessels, therefore, rarely enter the harbour ; and baffling 
winds, occasioned by the mountains and gullies on either side, 
offer another impediment to its navigation, except by steam 
power. Fagaloa Bay, at the east of Upolu, is also an unsafe 
harbour from similar reasons ; and deep water prevails to within. 
half a mile of the extreme end of the bay. 
2.—EARLY DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION AND 
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIA. 
By A. C. Macponaxp, F.R.G.S. 
3.—AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION. 
By P. G. Mur Ler. 
4ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. 
By Commander Crawrorp Pasco, R.N., F.R.G.S. 
