29-6 On Norfolk Island, 



small spot of land in the Pacific Ocean, south latittide* 

 29° 2', east longitude 168° 1'. From the capital of Tas^ 

 mania, of which it is a dependency, it is 1200 miles distant, 

 and about 900 from the port of Sydney. With it are asso- 

 ciated Phillip and Nepean Islands on the southern side, and 

 the Bird Islands, orEocks, seven or eight in number, on the 

 northern sliore. The variation of the needle is 11°"00, E. 



The group is isolated, not only from its distant position, 

 but its inaccessibility. There is no secure harbour, and 

 the surf beats so heavily on the coral reefs and igneous 

 rocks with which the coast is guarded, that often for weeks 

 together no landing can be effected. A moderate depth of 

 water extends some miles from the shore, the bottom con- 

 sisting of banks of coral sand mixed with shells,* and 

 affording, although exposed, anchorage; but nearer in, and 

 especially between the islands, the ground is hard and 

 rocliy, rendering the holding insecure and fouling frequent. 

 The insecurity from this source is much increased by the 

 force of the current, which often runs at the rate of 2g- or S 

 knots an hour between the islands. 



The general tides are regular and usually equal, flowiug 

 by the shore six hours each way. They make, however, two 

 hours sooner on the Norfolk Island coast than in the stream, or 

 over towards Phillip Island. f The flood runs to the S.W. by 

 S., the ebb to the N.E. by N. The rise is from 5 to 7 feet, 

 and the flow, at full and change, 7f hours. Commonly speak- 

 ing, the tides on this coast will carry a ship clear of danger, 

 not into it. The only exceptions are with respect to the 

 Bambora Eocks at the S.W. extremity of Norfolk Island, and 

 a low point almost corresponding to them, projecting from the 

 S. W. point of Nepean Island. J On both these the tides set 



* Cook's Voyages, 148. f Biu-ney's Eeport, 



% Keppd's Voyage, vol. ii. p. Sli. 



