NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
703 
If from the northward, steer to make Observatory Islet, and when that is sighted, proceed as' 
before directed. 
If from the eastward, steer to make Observatory Islet, which should on no account be brought to 
the westward of S.W. until Failure Rocks bear S. f E., in order to clear the Challenger Shoal. 
Buchan wL Moseley, and Murray Islands . — Five miles west of Maclear Island are three small 
islets, Buchanan, Moseley, and Murray, connected by a reef which extends some little distance from 
them. Between this reef and D’Entrecasteaux Island there is a wide and apparently deep channel 
into Hares Harbour. On Buchanan Island, the southernmost of the three islets, is a conspicuous tree, 
considerably higher than those surrounding it, and nearly in the centre of the island. 
Boudeuse Bay is a small indentation in the north coast of Admiralty Island, 4 miles to the east- 
ward of Nares Harbour. In it is a small village and several streams of fresh water, from which 
vessels may obtain a supply, but there is no anchorage off it in the northwest monsoon, so that they 
must despatch their boats from Nares Harbour. 
The land surface in the vicinity of Nares Harbour consists of a series of low irregular 
ridges rising one above another, with wide flat expanses at the heads of bays on the 
coast, which are scarcely, or not at all, raised above sea level, and thus are in a swampy 
condition. The mountains appear, from their form, to be volcanic ; and it is probable 
that the obsidian used by the natives for their spear heads is procured from them. A 
trachytic lava was found to compose one of the outlying islands, and a similar rock was 
observed on the mainland where it commenced to rise. A platform of coral sand rock 
forms the coast line of the main island in many places ; and a similar rock is the only 
component of most of the small outlying islands. 
From the position of the Admiralty Islands with regard to the Equator, their climate 
is necessarily damp. Dense clouds of watery vapour hung about the forest-clad ranges, 
keeping the mountains most frequently concealed ; and in the evening mist hung about 
the lower land, looking like smoke rising from between the densely-packed trees. In 
a bay some miles to the eastward of the anchorage of the Challenger, the mouth of a 
small river, apparently the outlet of the drainage of the mountains on this side, was found, 
and also a very small brook; but running water was not elsewhere observed, and the rain 
probably drains to a large extent into the swamps. 
The main island, as viewed from seawards, is seen to be densely wooded everywhere. 
Along the summits of the ridges cocoanut palms show out against the sky, accompanied 
by Areca palms, as can be made out on a nearer view. The general dark green mass of 
vegetation on the hillside is festooned with creepers, and the smaller outlying islands 
dotted about in front of the main island are all thickly wooded. Those which are 
inhabited may be distinguished at once by the large number of cocoanut trees growing 
upon them, and forming the main feature of their vegetation. 
Upon the mainland where the shore is not swampy, the trees overhang the sea with 
immense horizontal branches. The bases of many of their trunks are constantly washed 
(narr. chall. exp. — vol. x. — 1885.) 89 
