NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
543 
On the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th September, the ship dredged each day, shortening 
sail and putting over the trawl or dredge ; the water being shallow, no steam was required. 
The dredging on the 10th (Station 188) was remarkable for the number of Cephalopods it 
yielded ; there were five species of Sepia, of which four are certainly new, an undescribed 
species of Loligo, and an Octopus, too young to determine with certainty. A sounding 
was also obtained every two hours to ascertain the depths between Torres Strait and 
the Arrou Islands. On the lltli, the cutter was anchored by the trawl, and no current 
was detected. 
On the 14th September, at 10 A.M., the Arrou Islands were observed on the starboard bow from 
the masthead, and at 11 A.M. from the decks. At noon the north side of Ngor Island bore N. 53° E. 
(true) distant 8 or 9 miles, and a N.W. by N. course was steered until 3.25 p.m., when the coast 
of Trangan Island could be distinctly made out, soundings of from 19 to 17 fathoms being obtained. 
At this time the two small islets off the south point of Trangan Island were seen ; the outer one is 
merely a rock, which appears white when seen against the green background, and was consequently 
named White Rock. It is in lat. 6° 58' S., long. 134° 13' E., and about 20 feet high. The 
other islet close to White Rock is small, with a few scattered trees, and just north of it is the south 
point of Trangan Island, about which there is nothing remarkable; eastward of the south point, 
however, are some red cliffs, which are very conspicuous (see Sheet 32). 
The islands of Krei and Batu Goyang were not seen, although the ship passed within 5 or G 
miles of the positions assigned them ; so that if they exist they are not correctly placed on the 
chart. 
From the south point of Trangan Island, the coast trends northwest for 2 or 3 miles (to a cleared 
point), and then runs away to the northward, forming a bay, the southwest point of which is a bluff, 
with a red patch near its extremity, by which it may readily be distinguished. The extremity of 
this Red Patch Point is in lat. 6° 51^' S., long. 134° 4|' E., aud as it was seen at a distance of 1 0 
miles, it cannot be less than 200 feet in height to the top of the trees. Three or four miles northeast 
of Red Patch Point is a flat-topped hill in lat. 6° 49' S., long. 134° 8J' E., which is conspicuous 
from the southward. The tops of the trees on it were estimated as 300 feet above the sea level. 
The whole of Trangan Island is covered with trees, which give it a very uniform appearance from 
the sea. 
At 5.40 p.m., White Rock bore N. 87° E., Red Patch Point N. 18° W., and Flat Hill N. 11° E., 
the depth being 13 fathoms. From this position the ship was steered W.N.W. until 8 p.m., and then 
N.W. by W., but at 9.30 p.m. the water suddenly shoaling from 13 to 7 and then 5 fathoms, the 
anchor was at once let go and sail shortened, the wind beiug very light, so that the ship had barely 
steerage way. On anchoring the tide was found setting W.N.W.; at 2.15 a.m. on the 15th it turned 
to E.S.E., its velocity being a quarter of a mile per hour. 
On the 15th, at daylight, the position of the anchorage by star observations was found to be 
lat. 6° 54' 38" S., long. 133° 57' 30" E., Red Patch Point bearing - K 66° E,, and White Rock S. 79° E. 
The wind being light and variable steam was raised, and at 6.45 a.m. the anchor was weighed and the 
ship proceeded to the northward round a shallow patch with about 1 fathom on it, on which the vessel 
would certainly have run had the anchor not been promptly let go the previous evening. This patch, 
which was named “ Blackburne Shoal,” in lat. 6° 55' S., long. 133° 57' E., is about one mile in diameter 
(narr. chall. exp. — vol. i. — 1885.) 69 
