y with
a heavy surf breaking on it; we then tacked and stood off for the night.

LAND AT BERNIER ISLAND.

February 25.

Soon after daybreak we made the north-western part of Bernier Island and,
doubling the point at Kok's Island, stood in to Shark Bay. Kok's Island
is very remarkable: it is nearly a tableland, about a quarter of a mile
in length, terminating in low cliffs at each extremity; and on the summit
of this tableland are several large rocks which look like the remains of
pillars. The land is low. By noon we were all disembarked on Bernier
Island. The point I had selected for landing on was a sandy beach in a
little bay, the southern extremity of which was sheltered from the
south-east by a reef running off the point. Captain Long of the Russel
made the shore rather to the northward of the point I had chosen and,
owing to his boat getting broadside on whilst they were landing the
goods, he was knocked down under it and nearly drowned.

He had scarcely left us (though the Russel was then more than six miles
off) when we found that our keg of tobacco had been left on board; the
vessel was soon out of sight, and this article, so necessary in hardships
where men are deprived of every other luxury, was lost to us. Everything
else was however found correct. Whilst the men under Mr. Walker's
direction were arranging the stores Mr. Smith, Kaiber, and myself started
to search for water but were unsuccessful. Whilst on our return we saw
three large turtles among some seaweeds in shoal water; and, after a good
deal of floundering about and some tumbles amongst the breakers, we
succeeded in turning them, and then brought a party armed with axes, etc.
and cut them up. One part we immediately converted into soup, and the
remainder was immersed in a cask of pickle as a store against unforeseen
misfortunes. When these portions of the turtle were put into the brine
long after the death of the animals, they quivered for several minutes,
as if still endowed with the sense of feeling.

DESCRIPTION OF IT.

Bernier Island consists of recent limestone of a reddish tinge,
containing many recent fossil shells, and having a coating of sand and
sandy dunes which are arranged in right lines, lying south-east and
north-west, the direction of the prevailing winds. The island does not
afford a tree or a blade of grass, but only wretched scrubby bushes.
Between the dunes regular beds of shells are forming which, when dried
and light, ar