248 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
Isis- Soon a f ter daylight, on the 27th, Wessel’s 
July 27 . Islands, which had been seen the preceding 
evening, were descried bearing from W.N.W. 
to S.W.b.W. ; and, shortly afterwards, lower land 
was observed more to the northward, towards the 
extremity of which we steered. 
The eastern side of Wessel’s Islands presents 
a level aspect ; only a few shrubby trees appear 
at intervals, to break the uniformity of its gently 
undulating outline. The point, which is named 
Cape Wessel, is the extremity of the northern- 
most island of the group, and is separated from 
that to the southward of it, by a narrow, and, 
apparently, a rocky strait. 
On approaching within a mile and a half of 
the Cape, we passed through a strong rippling 
tide without having soundings with fifteen fathoms. 
Six natives were seen sitting on the verge of the 
cliffs that overhang the Cape, watching us as we 
passed ; and farther on two more were observed 
walking on the beach. On the west side of the 
Cape is a small sandy bay, in which there ap- 
peared to be good anchorage. 
In passing this bay, we fell into another strong 
tide race, in which the sea curled and foamed 
about us as if we were in the midst of breakers ; 
but, as before, no bottom was found with fifteen 
fathoms. The water was very thick, from the mud 
