226 



The soil between the above points resembles, in its sur- 

 face, the sandy soil of the shores of Port Jackson, more than 

 any hitherto seen ; but, on digging a few inches, it is found 

 to contain a considerable proportion of loam. The valleys 

 and head lands furnish an excellent soil, more particularly 

 that of Garden Point. Here we planted several Bananas, and 

 seeds of all sorts of culinary vegetables. This Point pro- 

 duces an immense quantity of herbaceous plants, amongst 

 which I observed a pulverulent species of Goode?iia, and a 

 species of Centaurea. 



The botany of Point Heathcote is splendid, consisting of 

 magnificent Banksias and Dryandras, a remarkable species 

 of Hakea, two species of Grevillea, a species of Lepfospernmm, 

 and a beautiful dwarf species of Calytris. Here we came to 

 great abundance of fresh water on the beach, by scratching 

 the sand with our fingers, within two inches of low water 

 mark. The beach at Garden Point is of the same character, 

 and I doubt not but every beach within the heads will be 

 found of the same description. This was afterwards found 

 to be the case, not only on the river, but on the beaches 

 of the islands of Buache and of Berthollet. 



The view from Pelican Point is exceedingly grand ; the 

 contrast between the dark blue of the distant mountains and 

 the vivid green of the surrounding forests, is such as must in 

 a peculiar manner strike the attention of a person long accus- 

 tomed to the monotonous brown of the vegetation of Port 

 Jackson. It is indeed materially different from any thing I 

 have yet seen in New South Wales. 



From Point Heathcote to the islands, the country seems 

 to improve, as far as I could judge from the immense quantity 

 ofherbage.it produced. 



Point Belches, on the opposite shore, the only spot of that 

 shore examined, was found to produce Banksias and Eu- 

 calyptas. The shrubs consisted of a beautiful Isopogon, a species 

 of Acacia, and a Jacksonia, with crimson flowers, together with 

 the general productions of the opposite shore. Tlie soil is 

 sandy, and the cliifs, which are of very considerable elevation, 

 are formed of fossil, lime and sandstone. The view from 



