Those Islands That

Vanish

PTAIN D. S. McLEOD. master of the Rarotonga schooner Te Aroa (formerly Ornant, see iary), reported an interesting ent which happened en route uckland in December, len 200 miles east of the Ker ;cs, at 6 a.m., December 18,

lelmsman reported two sailing

ahead. The weather was and fine but with a hard wester blowing. On going into rigging, Captain Mcrcod was ised to see that the supposed were in fact two conical shaped Is, one almost white, the other j at the summit but earthy i at the waterline. He esti 3 them as about 7 miles it. hough the sea was very rough le time, the islands appeared in a clear patch, with no sign reaking water round their s. eful sights, checked against a time signal, led Captain od to the reluctant conclusion they must be a new discovery, ver, his hopes were dashed , 25 minutes after sighting one of the boys came down port that they nad suddenly reared. re seems little doubt that the s were in fact a mirage of the adecs or the L’Esperance Rock ir south. Many such mirages ported each year in the Marine ver, journal of the Britisn rological office, very distant s sometimes appearing as one above the other, side e, or with one or botn images ed. a vivid mirages are un- Jdly one explanation of islands ed by reliable observers in days of Pacific exploration, earched for later unsuccess-