2 Richard J. A. Berry: 



on it. It extends about eighty miles in length from west to 

 east, and is 32 miles broad on the meridian of Caj^e Gan- 

 theaume, or 137 deg. 29 min. East, which is nearly its central 

 meridian. The jjarallel of 35 deg. 50 min. South intersects it 

 centrally. Its coast line presents numerous headlands and bays. 



The rocks generailly are devoid of stratification, 



and belong to the trap class. Its area has been estimated at 

 2,500,000 acres. The greater part of the surface is covered with 

 matted bush, which swarms with snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, 

 and mosquitoes. The trees principally belong to the classes 

 of Eucalj-ptus and Casuarina. The few streamlets which flow 

 north are dried up in summer ; but a few on the south side flow 

 permanently. Some patches of grain of good quality are grown, 

 and about 2000 sheep are at present pastured upon it. Stone 

 is occasionally brought from it to Port Adelaide ; also fine cray- 

 fish, and salt, which is' supplied by several extensive lagoons. 

 A lighthouse has been erected on Cape Willoughby, its south- 

 east extremity, which is 16 miles south-south-east of Cape 

 Jervis.'' 



Whatever pi'ogress the Island may have made during the 

 latter half of the nineteenth century will l)e shown by the two 

 descriptions which follow : — 



Chisholm, the editor of Longmans "(jazetteer of the World," 

 writing in that Avork in 1(S95, says (2): — 



" Kaingaroo Island, South Australia, is separated by Investi- 

 gator Strait (at the mouth of Gulf St. Vincent), from Yorke's 

 Peninsula, on the north ; and by Backstairs Passage from the 

 mainland of South Australia on the east, Kingscote, on the 

 north-east coast, was the first settlement in South Australia. 

 The area fit for cultivation and pasturage is extremely small, the 

 island being covered with scrub. Discovered by Captain 

 Flinders in 1802 ; uninhabited up to 1828 ; from 1877 inmaigra- 

 tion increased rapidly, but latterly the settlers have been re- 

 duced to great distress by the sj^rea-d of a wild plant. Length, 

 east to west, 87 miles. Average breadth, norih to south. 20 

 miles. Area, 1679 sK^uare miles. Population in 1881, 379; in 

 1891, 599." 



In the last edition of the Admiralty sailing directions which 

 is available to me (3) the island is thus described: — 



