21G 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



canoes. The disadvantage of the Harbor of Nucussa is that a vessel 

 is obliged to beat through a narrow passage. I would therefore re- 

 commend, if a vessel should seek shelter here, that she should wait 

 for the land-breeze, or a favorable slant of wind, before attempting to 

 get to sea. 



The sea-reef to the eastward of the Nucussa and Vicuna Passage 

 trends north 70° east, 10 miles, as far as Unda Point, the most 

 northern point of the island. The sea-reef becomes united to the 

 shore-reef, and is about a mile wide ; there are but two openings in it, 

 but they are narrow and only afford a passage for a boat to the land. 

 The coast is much more irregular in its outline, though the trending 

 from point to point is the same. There are several towns on this part 

 of the coast, and the whole has the appearance of being well inhabited. 

 Unda Point is a long low point, with a knoll at its end ; the reef ex- 

 tends 3 miles to the northeast of it. After turning around this reef 

 off Unda Point the great Bay of Natava is open. The coast now 

 trends south 70° west for 18 miles, and forming Natava Bay. This bay 

 is 15 miles deep, by 7 miles wide ; it has no harbors ; the shore-reef 

 is continuous around it. From the west side there are many pro- 

 jecting reefs, and the water is very deep in most parts of it ; the land 

 around is high, and there are many volcanic peaks perceived jutting 

 up in the interior. There are many small villages on the west side ; 

 but the principal town lies at the foot of Natava Peak, on the east 

 side ; there is nothing to induce the visit of a vessel. 



Unda Point is in latitude 16° 7' 30" south, and longitude 179° 55' 

 29" west. 



RAMBE ISLAND. 



Rambe Island lies off Vava Point, the eastern point of Natava 

 Bay, from which it is separated 3 miles ; the channel between is prac- 

 ticable, although the coral patches project from both shores ; it is 4 

 miles in length. Rambe Island is of a triangular shape ; its longest 

 side trending northeast and southwest, and the other two north and 

 south and east and west. It is of volcanic formation, and rises to a 

 considerable height in peaks, the eastern ones having flat tops. It 

 contains but few inhabitants. From its northeast point the coral reef 

 projects to the northeast for II miles, and forms, as is often the case 



