N E Vv^ SOU T H V/ A L E S. 
indofed by a reef of coral rock, through which there is 
a- paffage only for a boat ; and during the tide of floods 
when the wind is wefcerly, the landing is rather dan- 
gerous, hi one of the debarkations a midfliiprnanj 
who w^as ordered to lie within the reef, that he might 
attend the boats comina; to fliore, iroDrudentlv fufrered 
his own boat to drive into the fiirf, and was loft, with 
four men. He had been once before overfet in confe- 
quence of a limilar inattention, and then had loft one 
man. On the coaft of the ifiand are feveral fmall baySj 
and there are ftill hopes that a better landing place may 
be difcovered ; but the neceffity of employing all the 
men in fiieltering themfelves and the ftores from the 
weather^ or in clearing ground for various purpofes, has 
hitherto prevented Mr. King from fending out any per- 
fons to complete the examination. Should this enquiry 
prove unfuccefsful, it is propofed to attempt tiie blow- 
ing up of one or two fmail rocks, by wdiich the reef 
is rendered dangerous. If this expedient alfo flioukl 
fail, the evil muft be borne w^ith patience. In fummer 
the landing will generally be fufficiently fecure ; and fea- 
men, who have feen the bay of Riga, in the Baltic, de- 
clare, that it v/ili at all times be faier for a iliip to load 
with mafl:s and fpars at Norfolk Ifiand, than in that 
place^ where fo many Ihips are freighted yearly, . 
Rats 
