ENDEAVOUR STRAIT. 371 



the Strait, until we got abreast of Wallis Isles, 

 Cape Cornwall bearing E. by N.^N. ; when the 

 water shoaled to four fathoms and a half. Finding 

 by hauling up on either tack, that we were on a 

 ridge extending from the Cape, we ran to the west- 

 ward, until we could cross it, which we did in three 

 and a half fathoms, North Wallis Island bearing S.W. 

 five miles. I saw at the time from the mast-head, a 

 blue streak of water to the southward, still affording 

 hopes of there being a deep outlet to Endeavour 

 Strait ; but as the day was far advanced, with a 

 fresh breeze from E. S. E., it was not deemed pru- 

 dent to get the ship entangled in shoal water ; 

 therefore, after crossing the ridge extending off Cape 

 Cornwall we steered N.W. J W. for Booby Island, 

 in regular soundings of six and seven fathoms, and 

 late in the afternoon anchored nearly a mile from 

 its western side, a flag-staff bearing S. 65° E. This 

 we found on landing had been erected in 1835 by 

 Captain Hobson,* of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, who at 

 the same time placed in a large box, made for the 

 purpose, a book with printed forms, which every 

 ship passing filled up, with the addition of such 

 remarks as were thought of consequence. Over 

 this box in large letters were painted the words 

 '* Post Office," a name by which Booby Island 

 must be quite familiar to all who have navigated 

 these seas ; ships being here in the habit of leaving 



* Afterwards Governor of New Zealand. 

 2 B '2 



