NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
701 
centre. On the two inhabited islands there are numerous cocoanut trees, whereas neither of the 
other small islands, nor the coast of the larger island in the immediate neighbourhood of the harbour, 
have any. 
Observatory Islet, in lat. 1 55' 0" S., long. 146" 38' 40" E., lies E. by N. 8 cables from the east 
point of Wild Island, and about a quarter of a mile inside the eastern extremity of D’Entrecasteaux 
Reef, which here comes to a point. It is small and stony, but has a few trees growing on it. 
Challenger Shoal, over the west end of which the Challenger passed, lies E. by S. f S. P4 miles from 
Observatory Islet. On it are 3|- fathoms, with shallower water apparently to the eastward. When 
passing over the shoal, Observatory Islet was in line with the north extremity of Sulim Island. 
Eastern Channel is a safe and deep channel one mile broad, between Challenger Shoal and the east 
extremity of D’Entrecasteaux Reef, leading into Hares Harbour. 
Wyville Point, the northwest extremity of Admiralty Island and the southwest extremity of 
Hares Harbour, lies S. \ W. nearly 5 miles from D’Entrecasteaux Island. The point itself is rocky, 
and has a coral reef stretching off it a short distance from all parts ; from it the coast to the westward 
trends nearly south to the west point of Admiralty Island, while to the eastward is a large but 
shallow bay, formed between it and the next point (Moseley Point), which lies H.E. by E. E. a 
little over 4 miles from it. This bay, named Shallow Bay, was mistaken by D’Entrecasteaux for a 
strait separating a considerable tract of land from the main island. 
Shallow Bay, which is 4 miles wide from Wyville Point to Moseley Point at its entrance, is about 3 
miles deep. It has not been sounded, but as the Challenger’s pinnace, with an exploring party, grounded 
several times, ships should not at present attempt to make use of it. There are no inhabitants in the 
locality, nor could any stream of fresh water be found in or near it. In the centre of the bay are three 
small islands named Higham, Button, and Ferguson, all of which are low, flat, and thickly wooded. 
From Wyville Point the land rises in a gradual slope to a saddle-shaped hill, 500 feet high, S. by E. 
2\ miles from the point. This is the highest hill in the vicinity of the harbour, but there is higher 
land some miles to the eastward of it. 
Maclear Island. — Between Wyville Point and D’Entrecasteaux Island is Maclear Island, the 
summit of which, 200 feet high, lies H. by E. | E. nearly 2 miles from Wyville Point. It is thickly 
wooded, nearly circular in shape, 900 yards long, 750 yards in breadth, and is surrounded by a coral 
reef, on the western edge of which are two small rocks about 20 feet high, named the Twin Rocks. 
Between the coral reefs of Maclear Island and Wyville Point there is apparently a deep passage 
one mile in width, but it has not been sounded. 
Moseley Point, at the eastern entrance of Shallow Bay, is 4 miles N.E. by E. \ E. from Wyville 
Point, 5 miles S.E. from D’Entrecasteaux Island, and 3| miles S.W. by S. from Observatory Islet. 
Eastward of it the coast trends to the E.S.E. for nearly 3 miles, when it juts out slightly, forming 
a small promontory, which has a “ boat cove ” on its western side, and a small islet (Richards Islet) to 
the eastward of it. From this promontory the coast of Admiralty Island trends more to the south- 
eastward for a short distance. 
Between Moseley Point and D’Entrecasteaux Island are three islands, named Carpenter, Browne, 
and Tracey, and nearly one mile E. by S. from Moseley Point is a small island, named Pigeon Island 
from the large number of those birds which frequent it. 
The whole of that part of the coast of Admiralty Island which was explored to the eastward of 
Moseley Point is fringed with a coral reef, extending from 2 to 4 cables from the shore. 
Failure Pocks are two small bare rocks about 5 or 6 feet high, on the edge of the reef which 
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