410 Transiictions. — Bolamj. 



probably composed of trailing masses of ice-plant (Mcscmhyy- 

 aniiicmum australe) and Cojrrosma haucriana ; and Nvith the 

 glass some stmited flax and toetoe grass {Aruiido conspicua) 

 could bo seen growing on the top, as also a few shrubby plants 

 which it was impossible to identify ; but, on the whole, the 

 island presented a barren appearance, and was little more 

 than a bare rock. 



From the eastern point of this island eight or nine tail 

 conical rocks extend in an almost straight line in the direction 

 of the Great King. The}' vary in height from 70ft. or 80ft. to 

 iSOft. or more, and are separated by deep and narrow passages, 

 through which a small steamer could probably be taken in 

 case of need. Their linear arrangement is very singular, and 

 their whole appearance highly romantic and picturesque. One 

 of them is perforated ; another overhangs considerably ; and 

 almost every one has some striking pecirliarity of shape. Some 

 of the larger ones are occupied as breeding-places by gannets 

 and other sea-birds, which find on them a home secure at any 

 rate from man's invasion. On one or two some green patches 

 of vegetation show, doubtless Coprosma hcniericma and Mcsevi- 

 hrijantlievium. The smaller ones are bare, black, and forbid- 

 ding, and are probably washed over by the spray in heavy 

 gales. 



Leaving these behind, and proceeding in the directiou of 

 the Great King, another island was reached, rough and rugged 

 enough, but yet presenting a nmch more promising appearance- 

 than those just described. It is usually called the West King,, 

 although, as mentioned above, it is not the one to which tha.t 

 name is applied on the Admiralty charts. 



The West King is about three-quarters of a mile in greatest 

 length by not quite half a mile in greatest breadth. In shape 

 it is roughly triangular, the apex pointing a little to the south 

 of east. The west side, or base of the triangle, is bounded by 

 bare and inaccessible cliffs from 200ft. to 300ft. in height, 

 against the foot of which the sea continually breaks. The 

 south shore is also liigh and precipitous, and offers no prac- 

 ticable landing-place. On the north the island slopes more 

 gradually to the sea, and in several places the cliffs are com- 

 paratively low. But, although this side of the island was 

 carefully scanned from the deck of the " Hinemoa," no place 

 could be seen where the cliffs could be scaled, even supposing 

 it possible to land at their foot. After steaming round the 

 island, the only locality which seemed to promise a tolei'ably 

 safe landing, so far as we could judge, was at the extreme 

 eastern point. From this point, too, a rocky ridge rises with 

 a steep but practicable slope, so that once on shore there woukd 

 (.'vidently be no great difficulty in reaching the top of the 

 island. 



