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MAY, 1902.)
THE ANDAMANS IN THE XVIITH CENTURY.
289
South west from Cape Thornhill at the distance of two leagues there is another promontory but it is flat an 1 low, and it also has the Appearance of being insulated : particularly so when viewed from South west, for on the south side there is an extensive Inlet (now Temple Sound]. This Inlet has an island (now Paget Island) near the entrance and several extensive coral reefs, which appear to bar the entrance.
On this part of the Coast the ground in general is coral with very great over falls. S. S. W from the last Inlet and distant two leagues there is a dry rock (now Boojum Book] which is situated about one league from the Coast Two leagues further and nearly in the same direction, there is a small flat island about the same distance from the great island. The line of the Coast from the above Inlet in Lat. 13.24 [?] is nearly in the direction of south, with two projections in Ldag 18. 20 and 13. 16 and there is an Appearance of an Inlet Eb N from North reef island [P Casuarina Bay).
The passage [Interview Passage] to eastward of north reef Island to Port Andaman has dcep water near the island ; but at the distance of two miles to Southeast there is rocky ground, with alarming over falls in the Soundings, which will appear in the Chart.
From North reef island which is in Lats 13.06 the bank of Soundings extending near Six leagues and near the edge, there is an extensive (West) Coral Bank reaching from Lat! 13.04 to 19° 25.80 Lieut. Wales who examined it in the Ranger could find nothing less than 7 fms. but from the irregularity of the sounding and quality of the ground, there probably may be less water, I have an Extract from Captain Nimmo in which he mentions to have had so little as near the North end of this Bank. It certainly Should be avoided by large Ships.
Having in a former report began my narative with an Acconnt of Port Andaman and Continued it progressively along the west Coast and round to Old harbour; this finishes the circuit of the Andamans.
I have in a former report noticed the very rade and uncivilized State of the Natives, which I find now to be general I gave instances of their hostile inveteracy to Strangers these prejudices may have Originated from having been in a state of Slavery ; but there are certain and Recent causes for the Continuance of this infortunate propensity ; several of the Natives have been carried off to gratify an unwarrantable curriosity and others entrapped and sold for sleves, unless those alleviating Circumstances are considered a most unfavorable and anjast opinion would be formed of the Natives Our entercourse with those, in the neighbourhood of Old harbour afforded frequent opportunities of Observing that they are susceptible of the most tender impressions and that their dispositions are happy.
It now remains to make some Observations on the Passage between the Little Coco and Land faul island.
The little Coco bears from the Center of East island N 22.30 E. distant nineteen miles, and from the North point of Landfall island N 82.30 E. distant twenty miles. It is connected with the Andamans by a Bank of Soundings the edges of which are nearly paralel to the line of Bearings between it and the north extremety of Land fall island, and are also nearly equi distant from it the major part of the Shoal water is however on the east side of the line.
Union Jackson and Ranger Ledges afford a Striking example of the dangers always to be dreaded wbere the Bottom is Coral.
I have already Observed that for the distance of two miles to Northward of Jackson and Ranger Ledges that the depth was unequal I made a very particular examination further to northward by sounding and a good Eye at the mast bead. To my great Satisfaction I found po abrupt inequalities in the depth with a bottom of sand quite across the Bank ; and there was no appearance of Shoal water from the most head. Those lines of Soundings only that I can havo a Dertain dependence on, are inserted in the Chart It will be perceived that N bE from
