SAILING DIRECTIONS. 319 
Islands from the main land: it is seventy-five miles long, 
and from seventeen to thirty-five wide. The narrowest part 
is at about its centre, between Cape Gambier and Cape El- 
don, and in this space is a group of four low rocky islands, 
covered with mangroves (Vernon’s Islands), from which 
considerable reefs extend towards either shore. 
The best channel is probably on the northern side, near 
Cape Gambier, which is in latitude 11° 56' 20"; and there 
also appeared to be a wide and safe channel on the south 
side ,* but the neighbourhood of Vernon’s Islands is rocky. 
The flood-tide sets to the eastward into the gulf. 
MELVILLE ISLAND is of considerable size, and forms 
the western side of Van Diemen’s Gulf ; its greatest length 
from Cape Van Diemen to Cape Keith being seventy- two 
miles, and its greatest breadth thirty-eight miles ; its cir- 
cumference is two hundred miles. 
We did not land on any part of it, excepting in the en- 
trance of Apsley Strait, at Luxmoore Head, (latitude 11° 21', 
longitude 130° 22'), from which we were driven by the natives. 
It appeared fertile and more elevated than the coast to the 
eastward, and to possess several good harbours, particularly 
Apsley Strait, besides several bays on its north coast; and 
from the appearance of the land on its east side, and the 
extent and abrupt shape of the hills, it is probable that there 
may be a port there also. 
Brentoij Bay is the mouth of a small inlet, which 
may probably prove to be a fresh-water stream; and the 
bottom of Lethbridge Bay appeared likely to yield one 
also. The hills and coast are wooded to the brink of the 
cliffs and sandy beaches that vary the northern shores of 
Melville Island. 
The most unproductive part appeared to be the narrow 
A. 
Sect. III. 
N. Coast. 
