Dobu Passage.

“Most Beautiful Spot In Pacific.”

PROBABLY the most beautiful spot in the Pacific, from the water colour artist’s point of view, is the Dobu Passage, which is the spectacular strait, about four miles wide, lying be tween the steep mountain sides of bril liantly-coloured, jungle-clad Normanby Island, on the south, and mysterious, plum-coloured Fergusson Island, to the northward.

This is the half-way house to the weird, reef-bound coral-flats of the an thropologically-famous Trobriand Is lands (named after the French explorer D’Entrecasteaux’s lieutenant: whose body perhaps lies in that neglected grave on Kuiao Islet); and it was on Dobu Island that the first missionary landed when the group was brought under Christian influence.

Opposite Dobu, a projecting portion of the great Fergusson Island runs out into the calm water of the miraculously lovely Passage. It is called Sebulu

gomwa; and here Mr. E. W. Harrison has his delightful residence and plan tations; and from its shore, which we illustrate, is obtained the extraordin arily beautiful view of the placid inland sea, with its steeply-wooded shores running up into the clouds for five thousand feet or so.

Some day, an hotel here will be known to world-travellers; but, up-to date, the passing voyager, risking his life amid the storm-swept innumerable reefs outside the passage, in small boats and canoes, has to trust to the open-handed hospitality of the well known planter—who once was a mis sionary-doctor himself; and has per

haps the greatest influence over the natives of the Group of any white man.

This picture, which shows the well known landing-place, is from a photo graph by Mr. Harrison and, although not a work of art, will interest many of your readers who have passed that way.

It was on this beach that the Revs.

W. E. (and Mrs.) Bromilow, S. B. Fel lows, J. T. Field, J. Watson, and Mr.

G. H. Bardsley with the Rev. Doctor George Brown, F.R.G.S., and 30 Ton gan, Fijian, and Samoan teachers and their wives landed on their way to Dobu Island, just opposite, in June, 1891. They were taken up by the famous “Merry England,’' the Admin istrator’s yacht, Sir William MacGregor accompanying them.

A memorial church has recently been erected on Fergusson Island to the late Dr. Bromilow, whose old mission buildings still stand on Dobu Island; and command what is probably the most exquisite view obtainable in the Pacific. On his retirement, Dr. and Mrs.

Bromilow had a private school at Randwick, Sydney —being assisted by Miss Newmarch, a niece of Sir Henry Norman, Governor of Queensland — which was attended by many still amongst us. —A.J.V.

Dobu Passage Beach near Mr. Harrison’s house.