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The principal and only moderately civilized island which is most frequently resorted to by country vessels, is Car Nicobar, the northernmost of the group. The natives here are very honest, kind, and hospitable, and most of them speak a little broken English. There are a number of villages round the island; you can approach within 10 or 11 fathoms, hoist all your colours, and you will soon have the natives off to show you the best place to anchor. Tell them what you have come for, and after you have got your ship comfortably at an anchor, and decks cleared, show them your barter; you will soon get familiar with them. They are very forward in their manners, and take many liberties, but do not mean any harm. It is only for the want of knowing better, being only half civilized; therefore on no account get angry with them. They will do anything for kindness.

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Articles best adapted for Barter for Cocoa-Nuts, and Instructions to Commanders, the most appropriate Mode to deal with the Natives, paying particular Attention as to the Characters in the different Islands in the Group, as described in these instructions.

A vessel leaving England with coals for Aden, or Galle, and bound to Burmah for a cargo, and intending to touch at these islands for cocoa-nuts, should purchase the articles for barter before leaving. The following assortment are the most likely to please the natives, viz. :-A quantity of gay cotton handkerchiefs; common white and coloured long cloth; common red and blue turkey and blue punjams; pigtail, cavendish, and shag tobacco; a quantity of spirits, rum or arrack, which had better be bottled off; small hatchets; straight cutlasses; some showy common fowling-pieces or muskets, with flint and steel locks; canisters of powder and bags of shot; some blue and red common flannel shirts; some Scotch caps; German silver spoons and sauce ladles; German and real silver ware, of sizes; long straight common Birmingham or Sheffield carving-knives, pointed, and good length. This assortment I think sufficient for all purposes, always calculating the size of the ship, and the quantity of nuts she will carry, so as to have an equal assortment; but should you have any surplus barter it will always bring a profit here.

In trading with the natives it is necssary always to conciliate them, and endeavour to make them attached to you. On no account allow your crew to interfere with them, or to go on shore.

In calculating the value of the different descripitons of articles you have for barter, bear in mind you must only pay four to six annas, or from 6d. to 9d., per hundred for cocoa-nuts. The nuts are larger and cheaper in the centre island than they are at Car Nicobar.

Edible birdsnests, tortoise-shells, ambergrease, and betel-nut, are also procurable at these islands, and abundance of beche-de-mer on all the reefs.

In paying particular attention to these instructions it is impossible to err, and the author again sincerely hopes that they may prove beneficial to the community at large.

N.B.-A thorough knowledge of these islands, the bays, and splendid harbours, would be of the greatest service to shipmasters, and most beneficial to shipowners and underwriters. Vessels leaving the River Hooghly, Arracan, and other different ports on the Pegu and Tenasserim coasts, in getting disabled, with loss of spars, or other incidental accidents, such as springing a leak, short of water, &c., would be spared the painful necessity of bearing up to the ports of Moulmein, Rangoon, or Calcutta, for their required repairs, which are well known to entail ruinous expenses; and the vicinity of these islands, with the knowledge of them, and their facilities, as these instructions describe, would, I am convinced, be most advantageous to the whole of the mercantile and shipping interest, and encourage civilization.

Shipping Gazette.

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holm, N.W
Point

54. Lille Blegen, Bommelo Is. F.
Langevaad East side
54. Mosterhavn Midtholmen

Lat. 1° 16'4', long. 1030

Fog bell established to answer vessels.
Buoys on edge of Cape Romain Shoals.

Bell boat outside of Main Ship Bar.

Est. 1st Dec., '55. Lat. 35° 53-7', long. 5° 17 2
W. Revolves once a minute.
Est. 1st July, '55.

half minute.
Est. 28th Nov., '55.
tween S. W. and
5° 56' E.

Varied by red flashes every

Visible from westward be-
N.E. Lat. 58° 24′, long.

10 Est. 28th Nov., 255. Visible from sea between
W b.8. and W.b.S.48. Inside Guleholm it is
visible from W.S.W. round North to E.N.E.
Lat. 58° 26', long. 5° 50' E.

16 3-4 Est. 16th Dec. '55. Lat. 59° 87', long. 5°
16' E.

87 4-5 Est. 16th Dec., '55. Lat. 59° 42', long. 5°
24' E. Visible from N.N.E. round by East
and South to S.W.b.W.

F.

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8. Passage to Bergen.

The fixed harbour lights of Little River and Prospect Harbours, in the State of Maine, have been changed: the first to a fixed light varied by flashes, and the last to a revolving light of one minute interval.

Est. 15th Nov, '55 Lat. 32° 40′ N., long. 117°

13'.

Est. 1st Jan., '56. Lat. 35° 7.7′ 8., long. 137° 52′
E. See Addenda.

F. Fixed. Ft. Fixed and Flashing. R. Revolving. I. Intermitting. Est. Established."

No. 1.-Directions.-Vessels bound through Investigator Strait into St. Vincent Gulf, should make Troubridge Light on a N.E. N. bearing, and steer E.N.E. N. to pass it a distance of 7 miles, bringing it to bear W.b.N. } N.'; thence a course N.E. N. 30 miles will reach a berth 2 miles south-west of Port Adelaide light-ship, when heave to for a pilot or a steam tug.

Vessels from the westward and southward should not approach the Troubridge Light nearer than 4 miles, where they will find soundings in from 10 to 14 fathoms.

Vessels bound down the Gulf in westerly gales will find good anchorage under the lee of Troubridge Island with the light bearing S.W. about 1 miles distance, in 8 fathoms over a clean sandy bottom.

GUICHEN BAY, South AustrALIA.

Harbour Office, Port Adelaide, South Australia, 26th September, 1855.

Sir, I have the honour to enclose you a copy of the late published Sailing Directions for Guichen Bay, South Australia, for your information, in the hopes that you may find a space for them in your valuable publication. The Light on Troubridge Shoal and Island, Investigator Strait, which is to be a flashing one, 80 feet above high water mark, will be exhibited in January, 1856. I have already sent a description to the Hydrographic Office at the Admiralty, which I presume will be duly made public when necessary.

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I have, &c.,

B. DOUGLAS,

Naval Officer and Harbour Master, South Australia.

To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine, London.

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Harbour Office, Port Adelaide, South Australia, 12th September, 1855.

Cape Dombey, Baudin Rocks, Obelisk.-Guichen Bay is formed by Cape Dombey, in lat. 37° 9′ 45′′ S., long. 139° 44′ 15′′ E., on its southern extreme, and Baudin Rocks and Reefs, N.b.W., four and a half miles from thence at its northern extreme. From Cape Dombey a reef of rocks extends N.N.W. one mile and a quarter; from Baudin Rocks another reef a mile and a quarter in a S.E. direction. Cape Dombey may be known by an obelisk of white stone on its extremity; being about one hundred feet above the sea level, it is visible twelve miles from the deck of a moderate sized vessel. The coast to the southward is composed of sandy hillocks lightly wooded. Breakers reach fully two miles off this part of the coast; and, from their treacherous nature, and the heavy ocean swell setting directly on them, should be most carefully avoided. Baudin Rocks form a group of islets visible about seven miles.

The Bay Guichen Bay is three miles deep, a clean sandy beach; the bottom (quite clear) is excellent holding ground, depth gradually shoaling from five fathoms in the stream of the reefs to the shore, with the exception of a few rocky points near the township, which terminate a few fathoms from the beach...

Moorings. Frigate's moorings have been laid down in four fathoms, under the shelter of Cape Dombey and its reef, ready for vessels of any tonnage, the water being rather deeper at the eastern buoy. Vessels to use the moorings must haul up on the small chain until they can shackle on to the heavy buoy chain of lain, of which there is thirty-seven fathoms to each buoy, being sufficient to heave in to the bits; but small vessels using them with small hawse pipes, must shackle on their best bower chain, or both, if requisite, on the approach of bad weather; and any vessels should then veer away, using their own chains, so as to ride easily in case of any swell coming in.

Jetty.-A convenient jetty, with a tramway, is now completed, terminating in six feet at low water, where boats can load in any weather, having a line fast to a grapnell outside, to steady them and haul off by.

Directions to Vessels coming from the Southward.-Vessels bound from the southward, should bring the Obelisk on Cape Dombey to bear S.E. two miles and a quarter, when the point of the reef will bear E.S.E.; having a leading wind, run in East until the obelisk bears S.S.W., shorten sail, and from thence steer South for the mooring buoys, to which make fast as above

directed. Small vessels will find excellent anchorage inside the buoys, with the pier-head S.W.b.SS, and the obelisk W. N., in three fathoms, veering away a good scope of chain at once, and, in the event of bad weather, having a second anchor ready to let go.

Directions to Vessels coming from the Northward. Cape Bernouilli and dangerous Reef-Vessels from the northward should carefully avoid the reef off Cape Bernouilli, in lat. 36° 55′ 30′′ S., long. 139° 35′ 30′′ E., by giving the point a berth of at least ten miles; for though the outer rock is not more than five miles from the beach, the bottom is so uneven that the sea often breaks in deep water, in bad weather, with such violence as would jeopardize a small deep-loaded vessel.

Having sighted the obelisk, and brought it to bear S.E., six miles, and the Baudin Rocks East two miles and a half, steer S.E.b.E., keeping the Reef off Baudin Rocks on the port hand or to the eastward until the obelisk bears S.W.b.S. S., when shorten sail and run to the moorings or the anchorage, keeping close to the eastern mooring buoy; or, by passing between the two, anchoring as before directed.

Small Vessels to avoid a rocky Point.-Small vessels in the winter season should carefully avoid anchoring too close to a rocky point at the eastern end of the town, as, in the event of their wanting to veer away cable, such a position might be inconvenient.

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Working in.-Vessels working into the bay with head winds will find the channel between Baudin Rocks and Dombey Reefs fully two miles and a quarter broad; by not closing them within the above mentioned distances, and keeping the lead going, they may work in safely, taking care not to approach the shelf which lies inside Cape Dombey, in a line with the mooring buoys, too closely.

Barometer.-The barometer in this bay, as is generally found on all parts of the coast, is an invaluable guide. The mercury falling, with a N.E. wind and sultry close weather in the winter season, is a sure precursor of bad wea➡ ther, for which preparation should be made.

In conclusion, I have much pleasure in corroborating the very correct opinion my predecessor, Captain Lipson, R.N., has given of it, and can add from personal experience that it is undoubtedly a most valuable anchorage and harbour of refuge, being situated on the very part of the coast which vessels find so much difficulty in avoiding, and near some of the finest land in the colony. I fully agree with Captain Lipson as to commanders of vessels seeing this anchorage, a personal examination of which, in the event of necessity, will render them confident in running for it in the very frequent westerly and southerly gales, against which it is almost useless to contend without great wear and tear, and possibly finding the Cape Bernouilli Reefs under the lee. There is positively no sea in the anchorage with even a N.W. gale; an occasional swell rolls in, but a good scope of chain will always allow ships to ride easily.

B. DOUGLAS,

Naval Officer and Harbour Master of South Australia. The bearings are magnetic; variation 5° E.

DARTMOUTH HARBOUR LIGHT.-The Castle Light at the entrance of the harbour is at present discontinued, because the master gunner, who has attended to the light, has a claim of about £60 for three years' salary, which he cannot get paid, and consequently refuses any longer to light the lamp.

CAY SAL LIGHT.-It appears also, by that valuable paper the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, the Light on the Cay Sal Bank is discontinued from some similar cause! What is our Colonial Lighthouse Board about?

NO. 2.-VOL. XXV.

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CROZET ISLES AND THE SHIP" BEN NEVIS."

A statement appears in that valuable paper, the Shipping Gazette, (21st Jan.,) purporting to be a communication from the "correspondent" at Liverpool, relating to the Ben Nevis passing the Crozet Isles on her way to Melbourne. It would seem, from the general appearance of the very unsatisfactory account stated to be an extract from the log of the Ben Nevis, that her commander is under the impression that he has discovered some unknown island in the vicinity of the Crozet Isles, which are laid down in the Admiralty charts between 45° 55′ and 46° 30′ S., and 50° 20′ and 51° 20′ E. As far as the published account is intelligible, it would seem that the Ben Nevis has had a narrow escape of being wrecked on those islands, as it is pretty clear she was entangled on the western side of the western isles, with the Twelve Apostles, Hog Island, the Heroine Rocks, and the Penguin Islands, under her lee! placing her while among snow storms and in dark nights in a very critical position, and that the Ben Nevis has really found no new land whatever. This view of the case may, however, be erroneous, and we trust that her commander, for the benefit of his brother seamen, will submit the ship's log to some close investigation as to her reckoning, observations, and such matters on which geographical position depends, in order to establish the reasoning on which some safe conclusion can be arrived at regarding a subject so important to navigation.

MOUTH OF THE HOOGHLY.

Calcutta, December 9th, 1855. The Mutlah question, as it is called, approaches rapidly to a solution. The mercantile world in Calcutta, has long been of opinion that a secure outlet is necessary for the commerce of the capital. This they conceive may be found in the salt water creek called the Mutlah, which runs parallel to the Hooghly to a point within twenty-five miles of Calcutta. After a wearisome amount of discussion, the Chamber of Commerce has requested Government to buoy off the Mutlah. The request has been granted, and an enterprising firm, Messrs. Borradaile and Co. are about to load three ships there. They believe the saving will amount to at least £1 per ton.

To make the experiment succeed, however, we need a railway to the new river; it would be about thirty miles long, and receiving, as it would, all the trade between the capital and its port, it must answer well. It is hoped that the East India Railway Company may take up the project, and thus complete their line from the North-West to the Mutlah. The territory on the banks of the creek is a barren desolate region, but private speculation is fast clearing the jungle, and with a little expenditure of capital the land may be redeemed. The Government displays considerable eagerness in the matter. Messrs. Borradaile were assured that not only would every facility be given them, but their losses, if any, in the experiment would be defrayed. It would be well worth the while of the Court of Directors to build the railway for themselves. They would save at once half the expences of their pilot establishment, which are rapidly increasing.

Mr. Alfred Gregory has submitted to our inspection his improved mechanical method of cleansing the basins of closets by a very ingenious and not expensive contrivance, which is easily applicable to them, and, whether ashore or afloat, would much contribute to cleanliness. For ships the method is pecularly desirable.

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