LEAVE PORT CURTIS FOR THE NORTHWARD. S9 



ment, and rejoin us at Cape Upstart. For the next 

 two days lig'ht northerly winds prevailed, after 

 which we had the wind from about E.S.E. 



Dec. Srd. — Percy Isles. The Asp having- made a 

 sig-nal for assistance, and it being- ascertained that 

 she had lost her ding-ey and bumpkin by a sea which 

 struck her while crossing- a tide-race, it was judg-ed 

 necessary to run for the nearest place where the 

 damag-e could be repaired. We consequently 

 anchored under No. 2 of the Percy Isles, to 

 leeward of its south-west point, in 10 fathoms, mud, 

 between it and the Pine Islets of the chart. 



Here it blew so hard from E.S.E. that a second 

 anchor was let g-o ; the yards were pointed to the 

 wind, and the top-g-aUant masts sent on deck. A 

 party which attempted to land were forced to return, 

 nor was it thoug-ht expedient to repeat the attempt 

 on the following- day. We remained at this 

 anchorag-e until the 7 th, and found the g-ale to 

 subside into the south-east trade. 



This is the larg-est of the Percy Isles, being- 

 about twelve or fourteen miles in circumference. In 

 structure, it may be said to consist of a series of hills 

 running- in ridg-es, many of them covered with g-um- 

 tree scrub; and all with long grass g-rowing- in tufts, 

 concealing- the loose stones, and rendering- walking- 

 very laborious. On the western side of the island, 

 about a mile from the anchorag-e, the sea communi- 

 cates, b}^ a narrow entrance, with a larg-e basin 

 partially blocked up with mangroves, among- which a 



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