152 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



followed the " Mermaid's " track of 1818 to Booby Island, via 

 Prince of Wales Channel. The " Bathurst " left BOOBY ISLAND, 

 where she parted with the " Dick " and " San Antonio" on 1st 

 July. CAPE WESSEL was reached on ^rd July, 1821, and SYDNEY 

 on 25 tb April, 1822. 



The series of Admiralty Charts issued after King's surveys, 

 bringing the charts of Cook and Flinders up to date, may be said 

 to have set the hydrography of the Coral Sea on a firm foundation. 

 There were, however, many shoals, reefs and other dangers still 

 to be located before Torres Strait could be safely navigated by 

 sailing vessels. 



King was responsible for the " INNER PASSAGE " in the first 

 issue of the Sailing Directions. 1 Two notes from the " Directions " 

 may be quoted here, with a view to their preservation : 



1. The " Lalla Rookh" passing eastward through Torres 

 Strait in 1821, struck a reef " inside of " (/.<?., east of) BOOBY ISLAND. 

 She was repaired at PORT LIHOU, on the south side of Prince of 

 Wales Island, and concluded her voyage to Sydney outside of the 

 Barrier Reef. 



2. H.M.S. " lamar " touched at MOUNT ADOLPHUS ISLAND in 

 1824. 



1 I have not seen this first edition, but it is reprinted in Complete Sailing Directions 

 for the Various Passages to and through Torres Straits ; Comprising the Inner Passage 

 by the late A dmiral King and the Outer Routes by Raine Island, and by the North-Eastern 

 Entrance, by Captain Blackwood, R.N . : to which are added The Exact Positions of Outlying 

 Islands, Reefs and other Dangers in the Outer Route of the Straits, as lately determined 

 by Captain Denham, H.M.S. " Herald." 2nd Edition, Reading and Wellbank, Sydney, 

 1864. 



