The following precautions must not be neglected:  a strict and constant look-out at the mast head, by the commander or his most confidential officer, all the time that the ship is amongst the reefs—­not to pass Murray’s Islands without seeing them, since they are the leading mark for getting into the proper track—­and on anchoring there, or at any other inhabited island, a strict watch must be kept on the natives, who will come off in canoes to barter a few cocoa-nuts, plantains, and their arms, for hatchets and other iron ware.  No boat should be sent to an island where there are inhabitants; but if distress make it necessary, two or three should go together, well armed; for they will certainly be attacked, if the Indians have been able to lay a plan and collect their strength.  A British seaman will, at the same time, studiously avoid all cause of quarrel with these poor misguided people, and not fire upon them but where self-defence makes it indispensable.

Most of the dry sands and the uninhabited islands in the Strait appear to be frequented by turtle; and in the month of August, September, or later, it is probable some might be taken by landing a party of men, who should silently watch for their coming on shore at dusk.  I do not know the kind of turtle most common in the Strait; at Booby Isle they were hawkes-bill, which furnish the finest tortoise shell, but are small and not the best for food.

The advantage in point of time, which this route presents to a ship bound from the Great Ocean to India, or to the Cape of Good Hope, will be best seen by a statement of two passages made at the same season; the one by Torres’ Strait, the other round New Guinea.

I sailed from Port Jackson in company with the Bridgewater, an extra East-Indiaman; and we made Wreck Reef in eight days.  From thence the Bridgewater steered round Louisiade, through Bougainville’s Strait, Dampier’s Strait, Pitt’s Passage, and the Strait of Salayer; and arrived at Batavia in eighty-eight days.  I left Wreck Reef some time afterward, in a small schooner of twenty-nine tons; took ten days to reach Torres’ Strait, three to pass through it, seventeen to reach Coepang Bay, and ten more to pass the longitude of Java Head.  Adding to these the eight days to Wreck Reef, the passage from Port Jackson to Java Head was forty-eight days, including various deviations and stoppages for surveying; and it was principally made in a vessel which sailed no more than four or five knots, when the Bridgewater would have gone six or eight.  The difference, nevertheless, in favour of Torres’ Strait, was forty days; so that it seems within bounds to say, that in going from Port Jackson to India or the Cape of Good Hope, it offers an advantage over the northern route of six weeks; and of four weeks in going from the more eastern parts of the Great Ocean.  In point of safety, I know not whether Torres’ Strait have not also the advantage; for although it