210 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



to 10 fathoms. Between Henrietta and Rotn Reefs is the North 

 Channel, three-fourths of a mile in width and 3 2 miles long, which 

 leads towards the passage in the Great Sea- Reef, off Kie Island. The 

 course through this channel is north ; and the passage through the 

 reef is distant 7 miles from the entrance into the North Channel. It 

 is the best route to approach the harbor of Muthuata, as the open- 

 ings through the sea-reef are safe, although narrow ; either opening 

 can be made use of, as may be thought most advantageous. Inside 

 the sea-reef there are no difficulties, and the space is believed to be 

 free from coral shoals or sunken patches, but nevertheless a good 

 lookout ought to be kept. 



To the east of the Rotu Reef and Muthuata Island is the Triton 

 Channel, Avhich may be used as well as the North Channel, and is 

 equally safe. At the entrance of it is the Vincent Reef, triangular 

 in shape ; which may be passed on either side. Its northern point is 

 2h miles from the sea-reef, and bearing from the passage southeast. 

 It is best to take the east side of the Vincent Reef, when a south-by- 

 west course will lead a vessel between it and Dimba Reef, then pass 

 around the east end of Rotu, having Coru Reef on the port side of the 

 main channel, near 'Mbiti Island. Three miles to the eastward of 

 Muthuata Harbor is the entrance to this channel ; it is as wide as 

 the north one, and its length about the same. The wind is generally 

 favorable in both channels. Wood, water, and supplies may be had 

 at Muthuata. The west end of Muthuata Island lies in latitude 

 1G° 26' 30" south, longitude 179° 02' 30" east. Four miles to the 

 eastward of Muthuata Harbor are the Tiri Islets, seven in number ; 

 they are all low, and covered with mangrove bushes, viz. : Williams, 

 Green, Mills, Piner's, Pully, Richmond, and Day's. The channel 

 between them, leaves four on the north side, and three on the south 

 side. They extend 3 miles. The depth of water is from 11 to 16 

 fathoms across the channel, which is half a mile wide. The three 

 south ones, Pully, Richmond, and Day's, lie half a mile from the shore, 

 which here becomes steep and rocky, and is destitute of coral. From 

 Muthuata to Middle Point the trend of the coast is east-by -north. 

 There are extensive groves of cocoanut palms along shore. Middle 

 Point has a knoll on it. 



To the northward, in a bend of the Great Sea-Reef, lies the Island 

 of Kie ; rising in a single peak to the elevation of 760 feet. Kie is 

 but half a mile long, by one-fourth of a mile wide ; it is of volcanic 

 formation, the same as the coast. The bend of the sea-reef extends 



