LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 303 



bed of agglutinated gravel of whinstone pebbles, fifty to sixty 

 feet thick, dipping S.E. and S., upon which, as the upper 

 stratum, ridges 700 to 800 feet high of loose sand in some 

 parts incrusted as above. Large masses of the pudding-stone 

 were scattered on the beach ; the whinstone pebbles of which 

 it was composed were mostly spherical, and about the size of 

 a 32lb. shot. The vast sands which rest on this detritus? of 

 the last catastrophe of our planet, are of a brownish colour 

 (probably tinted by iron everywhere prevalent), and contain 

 many small clear crystals. The only vegetable that appeared 

 capable of maintaining an existence in such an extreme steri- 

 lity of soil was Arundo australis, which grows in small tufts, 

 and probably having long roots, found nourishment deep 

 beneath the surface, where doubtless there is water; since in 

 the declivities we observed a smart percolation of that ele- 

 ment, which in the progress of its descent to the actual beach, 

 frequently was taken up by the thirsty aridity of the sands, 

 and as often burst forth again at the surface, as the situation 

 or position of the sand ridge might be. From the summit 

 of the Head we had a distinct view of the entrance of the 

 river, which we had just apprehension to fear, from all re- 

 ports of it, was pregnant with danger.* However, notwith- 

 standing the wind was acting against the ebb tide, the break 

 of the sea was only in parts on the bar, which is said to be 

 of various depths, extending from one shore to the other. 

 We perceived patches, over which we were told there were 

 four'fiuhoms at low water, which did not break, and which, 

 to a person on shipboard, knowing the boundaries of the 

 danger, might be considered a safe channel of entrance to 

 vessels as large as 400 tons, having a leading wind and flood 

 tide. Respecting the little missionary vessel which we had 

 expected to meet here on our arrival, we learned that a native 

 liad seen a small craft answering to her description two days 

 since, off the mouth of the river, which at length stood off to 



* They were expecting a small vessel belonging to the Missionaries, to 

 meet them at this river. 



