54 FACING ISLAND. 



leaving" to the southward a wide entrance partially 

 blocked up by shoals. Besides the narrow channel 

 described by Flinders as leading* between the south 

 end of Facing' Island and the larg'e bank of shoal 

 w^ater extending* about six miles to the south-east^ 

 a second^ and much safer one^ the least width of 

 which is upwards of a mile^ was discovered between 

 the larg'e bank and others of less extent towards the 

 main land. 



We landed almost daily upon Facing* Island, 

 which was traversed in every direction^ but nowhere 

 could we find a practicable watering* place for the 

 ship ', in fact^ during* our excursions^ it was found 

 necessary to carry a supply of water with us^ not 

 being' able to depend upon obtaining* an}" on shore. 

 The island is 8^ miles long* and 2| in g*reatest 

 width ; it is generally low^ the most elevated part^ 

 Sig'nal Hill^ situated at its south end^ measuring* 

 only 275 feet in heig'ht. Its aspect is various; the 

 shores^ as well as those of the adjacent main land^ 

 are often muddy, and covered with mang-roves^ 

 fring'ing* creeks, and occupying' swamps more or less 

 extensive^ while the remainder of the countr}^ is 

 either covered with the usual monotonous g'um-trees^ 

 or^ as over a larg'e portion of the sea face^ covered 

 with coarse sedg*y g-rass and small bushes^ on sandy 

 g-round^ which rises into a series of low sand hills ex- 

 tending' along' the coast. During- winter there must 

 be much w a ter^ judging* from several nearly dried up 

 lagoons and swamps^ and some empty water-courses. 



