The entrance, abreast Bridges Point, by 2 miles in length. It affords good anchorage for a large number of vessels, sheltered from all winds, in depths of from 10 to 25 fathoms over black sand. About 1 mile north of Bridges Point is a hot salt-water creek, with Rabaul village on its northern side. Anywhere between the point and creek there is good anchorage, in a depth of 10 fathoms, over mud, about 1 mile from the shore. Dawapir Rocks, in the fairway, form a slight additional protection to Simpson Harbor. The best entrance lies to the westward of them, as the channel on the eastern side has a patch with 1 fathom water over it at 200 yards eastward of the easternmost rock. The whole length of the passage to Simpson Harbor through Blanche Bay is broad, deep and clear and any sailing vessel could work in and out with safety. The seat of government has been transferred from Herbertshohe to Rabaul, in this harbor. The governor’s house is a conspicuouslow white house with red roof and flagstafl, situated on the crest of the ridge extending north westward from Mount Kombu. The other Government officials reside at Rabaul.

Landmarks. The pier at the head of the harbor and a large shed with corrugated-iron roof situated northward of it also the flagstafl’ and office, with red roof, of the Nord Deutscher Lloyd Co. at Rabaul, are conspicuous objects. Rabaul.—This' settlement consists of 30 or 40 houses. Port of entry.-—Rabaul is the port of entry for Neu Ponnnern

The Nord Deutscher Lloyd pier is 900 feet long and 63 feet broad. The berthing space is 430 feet long, with a depth of 39 feet at the outer extremity and 24 feet at the inner end.

At Malagunan,(sic) on the west side of the harbor there is a pier belonging to the Hamburg South Sea Joint Stock Co. at which there is sufficient water for large vessels to lie.

Coal. A coal hulk is moored close southward of the pier. but the main depot is situated on Matupi Island. There is also a stock of coal at Malagunan, West side of the harbor. Water can be had at the North German Lloyd pier, along which pipes are laid. Dawapir (Beehive) Rocks (lat. 4° 14’ S.. long. 152° 11’ E.) are two remarkable sandstone rocks, in the middle of the entrance to Simpson Harbor westward of Bridges Point. They stand on the south eastern part of a reef about 300 yards in extent and steep-to. These rocks are each about 100 yards in "length and the northernmost is 230 feet above high water. On the small ledge which surrounds these rocks is a village containing about 200 inhabitants, who support themselves by fishing. The patch eastward of the rocks is mentioned above.

Lightbuoy.The shoal of 1 fathom, situated 200 yards eastward of these rocks, is marked by a lightbuoy_showing a flashing white light every second.

Anchorage. The prolongation line of the Lloyd pier (about east and west) forms the boundary between the anchorages for warships and commercial vessels. That for warships lies to the south and that for commercial vessels to the north of the pier. Anchorage is forbidden in front of the Lloyd pier at a distance of less than 437 yards, with the pier head -bearing between 49°, through east and 117°. The space inside the depth of 8 fathoms is reserved from vessels. Volcano Island, on the western side of Blanche Bay, is nearly 600 yards from the main island, with the space between completely blocked with sunken rocks. The island is 1 mile in length by 100 to 1,000 yards in breadth, and rose to its present height of 60 feet above high water at the time of the volcanic eruption and seismic wave in February, 1878. There is a lagoon, with hot sulphureous water, on its south-eastern side. Anchorage. There is anchorage northward of Volcano Island, in from 5 to 10 fathoms water, about ½ mile north westward of the northeast extreme.

Climate The lowland at the head of Simpson Harbor makes that part very unhealthful, and malarial fever is prevalent.

Raluana or Schulze Point, the southern entrance to Blanche Bay, has reef extending to the distance of 400 yards north eastward of it. There are several mission stations on this shore. Anchorage. Temporary anchorage may be obtained westward of Raluana Point Reef, which affords some protection from the easterly swell, in depths of from 10 to 14 fathoms, over sand and coral.

Coast. From Raluana Point the coast trends south eastward to Cape Gazelle, the northeast extreme of Gazelle Peninsula with Herbertshohe between. It is fronted by a reef to the distance of from 200 to 400 yards in places, with deep water beyond.

Herbertshohe (lat. 4° 20' S., long. 152° 16’ E.), situated about 4 miles south-eastward of Raluana Point, is a small settlement among large coconut estates, belonging to several trading firms. It has a cathedral and large mission establishments. There are stores, and the firms have small machine shops. The administrator’s house is on the hill_, 256 feet above high Water, at the back. The blocks of houses on the beach are named Kokopo and Bitaboren. At the latter is the hospital. Herbertshohe is one of the principal depots of the German New - Guinea Co., and cotton and coconut plantations are being developed. Owing to its open roadstead. it is considered to be more healthful than Matupi.

Shallow Water fronts the settlement to the distance of 11 mile. At the point close south eastward a reef extends off to the distance of 200 yards, while to the north-westward a reef, connected with the shore by a sand spit, extends 1} mile off.

Lights.—-A fixed green light is exhibited from an iron beacon erected on the extreme of the reef close to the north westward of the anchorage fixed red light is shown from a front leading beacon, situated about 100 yards from the shore about midway between Kokopo and Bitaboren. A fixed White light is shown from the rear leading beacon which is near the superintendent’s house, and should be visible 7 miles. This beacon is surmounted by a top mark in the shape of an hour glass, and painted white. . The lights from the leading beacons in line, bearing 205°, lead to the anchorage.

Communicati0n. Before the European war a mail steamer called at fixed periods.

Pier. There is a small pier on the beach at Kokopo, with a tramway leading close to it, also several good boat jetties.

Supp1ies. Vegetables can always be obtained, and a plentiful supply of good water can be procured from Matanatua, a small ' stream situated to the eastward of the Roman Catholic mission station

Anchorage—~Directions.—There is anchorage on the sand ridge, about 200 yards wide, extending nearly -§ mile north-north-eastward of the front beacon, with a depth of about 10 fathoms on it and deep water on either side. It should be approached with the beacons in line by day, or lights by night, bearing 205°, anchoring when Ralu ana Point is in line with the light beacon on the northwest reef bearing 306°. During the westerly monsoon trading craft get as far in under the northern reef as practicable, for the purpose of making it easier for ' the loaded boats to reach them from the shore. The houses of the administration, on the hill 256 feet above high water, are a good landmark, being visible about 20 miles in clear weather.

Tide. It is high water, full and change, at Herbertshohe at 9h.; springs rise 3 feet.

Winds—Climate. From mid-April to the end of September the southeast trade prevails; from the end of September to 1nid-November, calms; from mid-November to mid-February is the northwest monsoon period; and from Mid-February to mid-April calms precede the setting in of the trade wind. The southeast trade season, a period of five months, is the most agreeable. The wind increases during the forenoon and blows with great regularity until one or two hours before sunset when, after an interval of calm, there is usually a land breeze. This season is called the dry season, but in this case it only means that less rain falls during this time than during the northwest season. Dry weather for two or three weeks is exceptional. The sky, however, is generally very clear and gales are but rare. - The calm seasons are very sultry and oppressive. The northwest monsoon comes in quietly, but soon develops strength; masses of leaden grey clouds follow each other, almost without intermission, across the sky. Gales, heavy rain squalls, and floods are frequent, but there are also many days of bright sunshine. The nights are rendered pleasant at nearly all seasons by the land breeze. A hurricane was experienced on this coast from December 7 to 9, 1900, doing considerable damage. The mission yacht was wrecked, the Government pier destroyed, and several lighters and boats were broken up.

Temperature. The ordinary day temperature ranges from 86° to 91° and the night from 75° to 77°. The maximum temperature is 97°, but it occurs frequently; the minimum for many years is about 62°. Abrupt variations never occur, so that the cause of the some what frequent fevers can not be assigned to them.