146 Excursion to National Park. [vorxxxi 



During the process of unpacking, several oi the party 

 refreshed themselves by a swim in the river or the ocean, and, 

 after a good lunch, it was decided to put in the rest of the day 

 here and camp for the night, instead of pushing on to the 

 Tidal River, as originally intended. While some of the party 

 elected to explore the immediate vicinity of the river, the 

 remainder visited Tongue Point, a narrow, scrub-covered point 

 jutting into the sea about three miles below the Darby mouth. 

 A well-defined track leads over the high hill separating the 

 Darby flat from the ocean, and winds in and out among low 

 scrub, stunted eucalypts, and sheltered belts of sheoaks. All 

 along this track were to be seen the recent tracks of emus, 

 kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats — conclusive evidence that 

 these animals, introduced into the Park by the Committee, 

 are well estabHshed. On the journey an occasional wallaby 

 was seen, and many native birds, including the small Emu- 

 wren, were noted. 



The excellent view usually obtained from Tongue Point, 

 a favourite spot for tourists, was again marred to a great 

 extent by the mists, but still good views of the numerous 

 islands, such as the Glennie and Anser Groups, Norman and 

 Shellback Islands, were obtained. This point is well worth 

 the walk if only to see the enormous weather-worn granite 

 boulders, of all shapes and sizes, which are scattered about 

 in great, confused masses all along the shore-line. Near the 

 end of the point, at the base, as it were, of the tongue, the sea 

 has almost cut its way through and made an island of it. In 

 the great fissure thus formed are stupendous granite l)oulders 

 which have slipped down from the steep sides of the hill 

 opposite, while other similar masses are apparently ready to 

 slip down at any moment. The point itself is thickly covered 

 with short shrubs of various kinds, many of which were in 

 flower, and duly noted by our botanists. The trip was greatly 

 enjoyed, and camp was again reached about 7.30 p.m., where, 

 after a refreshing tea and the usual enjoyable cam}), chat, all 

 turned in to enjoy a well-earned rest. 



Monday, 28th December. — An early start was made to re-i)ack 

 our horses, which our previous experience enabled us to 

 accomplish more readily, and we were again on the track. 

 Passing through the gate of the Park, we came upon a fine 

 group of five or six emus, so tame that they would hardly 

 move out of our way. The track led through a fine grove of 

 banksias, B. serrata, thence over and around the slopes of 

 some scrub-clad hills to the timbered slopes of Mount Leonard, 

 which towered up on our left to 1,860 feet. Here we met with 

 our second Koala, and from now on these animals, together 



