MOEETON ISLAND. 47 



the level of hig'li water^ projects for more than a 

 mile in the sea ) and from both sides of this^ mud- 

 flats^ that become dry at low water^ extend for a 

 very considerable distance. The anchorag'e off this 

 point must be of necessity in the stream of tide^ 

 which^ when it sets ag'ainst even a moderate breeze^ 

 causes a heavy sea. And as the point affords no 

 shelter whatever for boats, it will be absolutely 

 necessary to build a breakwater^ at least as far out 

 as three fathoms at low water." 



Moreton Island^ under the lee of which the 

 Rattlesnake was at anchor, is 19 miles in leng-th, 

 and 4i in greatest breadth. It consists for the 

 most part of series of sand-hills^ one of which^ 

 Mount Tempest^ is said to be 910 feet in heig'ht ] on 

 the north-west portion a larg-e tract of low g"round^ 

 mostly swampy^ with several lag'oons and small 

 streams. The soil is poor^ and the g-rass usually 

 coarse and sedg'e-like. All the timber is small^ and 

 consists of the usual JEucalyj)fi, BanksicB, &c. with 

 abundance of the cypress-pine (CaUifris arenaria) 

 a wood much prized for ornamental work. The 

 appearance along" the shores of the Pandanus or 

 screw-pine^ which now attains its southern limits^ 

 introduces a kind of intertropical appearance to the 

 veg'etation. Among* the other plants are three^ 

 which merit notice from their efficacy in binding* 

 dow^n the drift sand with their long* trailing* stems^ 

 an office performed in Britain by the bent grass 

 (Arundo arenaria) ^ here represented by another 



