230 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



another on the west, Strahan's Harbor. Besides these there are 

 several places where a vessel may drop anchor. 



The passage leading to it through the reefs from 'Mbua Bay I 

 have called the Sifo Channel ; a west-by-south course from Dimba- 

 dimba Point will take a vessel through, though bordering the coral 

 patches on its northern side, which are numerous and dangerous, 

 and should be avoided if possible ; therefore in passing through 

 the Sifo Channel, if the tide should be setting ebb, it would be well 

 to keep a more southern course until within 2$ miles of Y'Endua, 

 when the Lela Reef will be passed. A vessel intending to anchor in 

 Porpoise Harbor should haul up for Green Point (the south point of 

 the island), and pass to the northward and westward of the outlying 

 reefs, which protect the harbor from the sea on the south ; these reefs 

 are visible, and may be closely approached. If the wind should not 

 enable a vessel to pass to the northward of them, the west end may 

 be turned, and so through between the reefs until the entrance into 

 the harbor is gained, which is near to Green Point ; within the reefs, 

 the water is deep and always smooth ; the entrance is nearly a mile 

 wide. After the entrance is passed, there are three rocks, two of 

 which lie off Aliki Point, both visible : a vessel can pass between 

 them ; the third lies south-by-east a quarter of a mile from the others : 

 it is awash. Porpoise Harbor is a mile in depth by a mile in width ; 

 it is formed by the small Island of Y'Endua Tomba on the west side, 

 and that of Y'Endua on the north and east ; these are connected by the 

 coral reef, over which the tide flows at high water ; the anchorage is 

 in 10 and 11 fathoms water, muddy bottom. The reef that lies across 

 the bay and encloses the harbor, projects from the south point of 

 Y'Endua Tomba to Green Point, and is 1J miles in length. The 

 shores of the islands are in all parts fringed with coral, in width from 

 200 to 500 feet. 



Strahan's Harbor lies on the west side of Y'Endua. It is not as 

 extensive or so convenient as Porpoise Harbor, and is only separated 

 from it by a tongue of low land, fringed on each side by coral. In 

 it there are many coral patches, which occupy a large part of the 

 area, curtailing the anchorage to a very limited space : these patches 

 are discernible, and by ordinary care may be avoided ; the chart 

 of the harbor will be the best guide to point out these obstructions. 

 Under Modonovi Point (the north point of the island), there is like- 

 wise a temporary anchorage. The east side of the island offers no 



