250 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



the entrance. It is high water, full and change, at 5 o'clock ; rise of 

 tide 5 feet. All the islands are near the western side of the surround- 

 ing reef. 



HOORN ISLAND. 



Hoorn Island was discovered by Lemaire and Van Shouten, in 1616. 

 It was passed by the Expedition in 1839. At a distance, it has the 

 appearance of two high islands lying in a northwest and southeast 

 direction ; the height of the western mountain was found to be 2500 

 feet ; they are joined by a low peninsula. The western one is very 

 abrupt and rocky, and has many outlying black rocks ; there is no 

 regular shore reef ; patches of coral are attached to the projecting 

 points of the island. On several low points there are extensive groves 

 of cocoanut palms. The island is well inhabited, but the natives are 

 not friendly. Attempts have been made to establish missionaries 

 among them, but without success. 



I hold the opinion that Hoorn Island may be identical with the 

 Enfant Perdu of Bougainville. The difference of longitude that he 

 makes at the Navigators' or Samoan Group, is nearly the same as his 

 assigned longitude to Enfant Perdu and the true position of Hoorn 

 Island, viz., 2° too far to the east. I have in consequence erased 

 Enfant Perdu from the chart, as having no existence whatever, and 

 believing it identical with Hoorn Island. 



Van Shouten and Lemaire passed some time in one of its bays, to 

 which they gave the name of Eng Vaght, where they received a 

 plentiful supply of fruits and vegetables. 



KERMADEC ISLES. 



These islands are composed of Raoul, Esperance, Macauley, Curtis, 

 and the Rosarette Rock. 



This small group lies nearly in a north-northeast and south-south- 

 west direction. Raoul is the most northern, and Esperance the most 

 southern. Raoul is the largest ; it is triangular in form, about 14 

 miles in circumference, high and rugged, with steep and rocky sides. 

 The landing on it is dangerous, and at all times difficult. It is said to 

 be inhabited by a few sailors or runaway convicts, who have at times 

 come off to whale ships, when cruising in this neighborhood, with a 

 few vegetables. This island is identical with Sunday Island. 



