EXAMINE ENDEAVOUR STRAIT. 329 



half a mile to the south. The weather looked un- 

 usually threatening the previous night. Between 

 the observations for rating the chronometers I ful- 

 filled my intention of making a cursory examination 

 of the entrance of Endeavour Strait, and anchored 

 a mile and three quarters off the North Wallis 

 Island, bearing S. '^23" E. It is a conical rocky 

 isle, upwards of 70 feet high, of a coarse sandstone 

 formation ; an extensive coral reef fronts it on all 

 sides, except the north. The result of a night's 

 observations on shore placed the summit in latitude 

 1 0" 5 r 25" S. ; the true bearing of Booby Island was 

 N. 22° 13' W. The natives appear to make a 

 cemetery of this island ; for on a small sandy point 

 on the north side we found a large grave, covered 

 with turtle backs, and containing several skele- 

 tons. This is a very different mode of burial from 

 that noticed in Flinders River. 



Leaving our anchorage, we steered W. i N., six 

 miles, in soundings of 6 and 7 fathoms. We then 

 crossed in 4^ and 5 fathoms, North Wallis Island 

 bearing S.75'E., a ridge which appeared to be an 

 elbow of the spit extending off the latter, and form- 

 ing the south side of the channel. Continuing the 

 same course, the depth soon increased to 6 and 7 



and to the northward and eastward (N. to N. E.) only from four 

 to five hours. The latter stream commences about an hour 

 before high water, which takes place at 4*30, on the full and 

 change days, when the rise at springs is 12 feet, and at neaps 7> 

 the length of flood and ebb is nearly six hours. 



