BEDOUT ISLAND. 375 



of which we found to be in latitude 19" 35' 45'' S., 

 long. 119° 08' 45" E. It is a circular sand islet 

 twenty feet high, and half a mile in extent. Off 

 its western side ripplings and rocks extend nearly 

 three miles ; in other parts it is fronted by a circu- 

 lar reef a mile in extent, and of a different kind 

 from the Turtle Isle reefs, being composed of live 

 corallines and fan-like leaves, which giving way 

 readily to the feet, we suddenly found ourselves 

 immersed almost up to our necks ; within fifty yards 

 of the island this became worse. The reefs and 

 breakers abounded with turtle of two kinds, the 

 Mydas and a species of the Imbricated. We were 

 in time for the noddy's eggs ; but the other birds 

 had hatched theirs, and left for sea, returning only 

 at night. From their great abundance and constant 

 visits they had formed a kind of guano on the 

 island. Among the varieties of the feathered tribe 

 was the golden plover. 



On the following afternoon we stood over, S.S.E. 

 for the main ; but were again prevented by shoal 

 water from approaching within twelve miles of the 

 nearest part, which was the western point of the 

 bay seen from Mount Blaze. Broken water and 

 dry sands extended between south and east, and to 

 the south-west the entrance of Breaker Inlet and 

 other parts of the last year's survey were readily 

 distinguished. 



Oct. 22. — During the forenoon the boats com- 

 pleted the soundings, and in the evening the ship was 



