SAILING DIRECTIONS. 
359 
and broke away, so that the cable, being a chain, was not 
damaged. 
The islands of DAMPIER’S ARCHIPELAGO, are of 
high rocky character, and very different from either the coast 
or the islands in their vicinity. It consists of about twenty 
islands, besides smaller ones, scattered over a space of 
forty miles in extent : Delambre is the easternmost island, 
and a small sandy island to the S.W. of Enderby Island is 
the westernmost. 
GIDLEY ISLAND, and two others to the eastward, 
extend in a north and south direction ; they are high and 
rocky. The west shore of Gidley Island appeared to be 
fronted by a continuous reef, on which some patches of dry 
rocks were observed. Gidley Island is separated from 
Legendre Island by a very shoal and rocky strait, apparently 
impassable for any thing larger than boats. It has several 
small sandy islets scattered about it, and at low water the 
greater part is dry. There is doubtless a deep passage 
through, but it must be intricate and dangerous, and only 
to be attempted in a case of the most pressing emergency. 
On the island to the southward, are two sandy bays. The 
land to the southward is doubtless a part of the main ; and 
is, like the other islands, high and rocky. It forms the 
eastern shore of Mermaid’s Strait, which is an excel- 
lent port, affording safe and secure anchorage at all 
seasons. 
The islands on the western side of the strait, are Lewis 
and Malus. The north-east point of the latter island, 
Courtenay PIead, is, without doubt, Captain Dampier’s 
Bluff Head. It is a very remarkable point ; its summit is in 
20® 29' 5" S., and 116® 36' 35" E. On its west side is a 
sandy bay with good anchorage in four and five fathoms, 
A. 
Sect. IV. 
N.lVeat 
Coast. 
