SAILING DIRECTIONS. 
3G7 
approached. The South-east Trade is suspended in the 
neighbourhood of the coast in the summer season, and the 
winds are almost constant from S.S.W, 
Between the North-west Cape and Point Cloates, which 
is in 22° 33' 5" S., a space of about fifty-two miles, the shore 
is defended by a reef of rocks, extending from three to five 
miles from it. The land is high and level, and of most 
steril appearance : nearer the north end there is a low, 
sandy plain at the foot of the hills ; but to the southward 
the coast appeared to be steep and precipitous. This is 
evidently the land that has been taken for Cloates Island ; 
and, in fact, it is not at all unlikely to be an island, 
for^ to the southward of the latter point, the shore trends 
in, and was so indistinctly seen, that it probably commu- 
nicates with the bottom of Exmoutb Gulf*. At latitude 
23° 10' the coast slightly projects, and is fronted by a reef, 
on which the sea was breaking heavily. 
Cape Farquhau, in latitude 23° 35', and longitude 
113° 35' 35", is a low, sandy point. To the northward of it 
the coast trends in and forms a bay, but not deep enough 
to offer shelter from the prevailing winds. 
Between Cape Farquhar and Cape Cuvier the coast is low 
and sandy; the land has a level outline, and the shore is 
formed by a sandy beach, which did not appear to be 
fronted by rocks. The land of Cape Cuvier is high, level, 
and rocky, and, rising abruptly from the sea, forms a bluff 
point, in latitude 24° 0' 30", and longitude 113° 21' 48". 
This promontory is the northern head of Shark’s Bay. The 
land was iiot seen by us to the S.E., and is laid down, as is 
* Vide vol. i. p. 443, 
A. 
Sect. V. 
N.'West 
Coast. 
