BEZOUT ISLAND. 205 



examination of that part of the coast between the 

 Turtle Islands and Roebuck Bav. The Beagle was 

 consequently anchored under Bezout Island, one of 

 the eastern isles of Dampier's Archipelago, and 

 boats were sent to examine the coast to the south- 

 ward of Cape Lambert. 



It may, perhaps, be worthy of remark, that should 

 a vessel be brought by any chance to this dreary 

 part of the world in May, June, or July, anchorages 

 exposed to easterly winds should be left at or before 

 daylight — that being the time they set in ; by noon 

 all is again quiet. Bezout Island is of the same 

 formation as Depuch ; and so are many of the 

 broken ridges, with bare stony summits, of a dark 

 brown hue, on the main near Cape Lambert, trend- 

 ing S. S. W. A more dreary sterile country can 

 scarcely be seen ; yet it still maintains inhabitants. 



August 26. — The weather has been truly strange 

 for the last four days. The winds, instead of being 

 easterly have been from S. W. to N. W., light 

 with the former during the mornings, and moderate 

 with the latter in the evenings. On this day they 

 were from all quarters, with distant thunder in 

 the north-west, and several rain squalls. In the 

 night it settled at east, a fresh breeze bringing with 

 it fine weather. In connection with our former 

 remarks on striking^ vicissitudes in the weather 

 occurring near the change of the moon, we should 

 mention that it was new moon the day following. 



The material for the chart collected in this part 



