392 
APPENDIX, 
A; 
Sontion 
VIII. 
Inner 
Route. 
SECTION VIIL 
DIRECTIONS FOR THE PASSAGE WITHIN THE REEFS 
THROUGH TORRES’ STRAIT. 
The passage recommended by Captain Flinders for passing 
through Torres" Strait is by entering the reefs at Murray’s 
Island ; by which route a two-days’ passage will carry a 
ship past all danger: but, as the space between Wreck Reef 
and Murray’s Island is strewed with dangers, many of which’ 
have been discovered since the publication of his charts, 
and of which the greater number have only been recently 
seen, it cannot be called a safe navigation. The dangers 
consist of low coral islands, surrounded by extensive reefs, 
upon which in long and dark nights a vessel is in mo- 
mentary danger of striking; the result of which must be 
the certain destruction of the vessel, and the probable loss 
of the crew. The Inner Route was first pursued by Mr. 
Cripps in the brig Cyclops, bound from Port Jackson to 
Bengal, in 1812. It was subsequently followed by Lieu- 
tenant C. JeflPreys, R.N.,in the command of the hired armed 
vessel Kangaroo, on her passage from Port Jackson to 
Ceylon, in 1815*. This officer drew a chart, with a track 
of his voyage up the coast ; which, considering the short- 
ness of liis time, and other circumstances that prevented 
his obtaining the necessary data to lay down with accuracy 
so intricate and dangerous a passage, does him very great 
credit; he filled up the space between Endeavour River and 
Cape Direction, which Captain Cook did not see ; the only 
part that had previously been left a blank upon the chart 
* Horsburgh’s Indian Directory ^ vol. ii. p. 514. 
