DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS: MONTAGU I. 175 



ending in Scarlett Point. ^ Further to the west Ues Horsburgh^ Point. On the northern 

 and western sides of the island, on either side of Borley Point,'^ are a number of rocks 

 and reefs lying within a mile of the shore. 



There are good anchorages on either side of Allen Point in depths of 20 fathoms and 

 under. The anchorage to the north of the point gives protection from north-west to 

 south-west, and that in Phyllis Bay from north-west to south-east. Allen Point prevents 

 the swell from following round. To the north-east of the island shoal water extends some 

 distance out to sea but very deep soundings were obtained close inshore in the north- 

 west. 



The island reaches its highest point in the lofty summit of Mt Belinda,* 4500 ft. 

 above sea-level. It is probably the highest mountain in the group of islands, but may 

 be exceeded by Visokoi, where mist prevented accurate measurement. It was only for 

 brief periods that Mt Belinda was in view ; no steam was to be seen rising from it and 

 we think it probable that all volcanic activity has ceased. It is everywhere deeply buried 

 in glacier, which descends from the higher slopes and at the coast sometimes ends in a 

 long and straight ice wall, sometimes falls in broken masses to the water's edge (Plate 

 XXIII, figs. 2, 3) and sometimes hangs at the top of steep rocky cliffs. The eastern side 

 of the island is bounded for 5 miles of its length by a vertical ice face, this being the 

 longest uninterrupted glacier front in the islands. 



The conical hill at the south-eastern corner of the island must once have been a 

 subsidiary volcanic outlet, and though for the most part thickly covered with glacier, 

 it shows features which lead us to believe that it still retains a certain amount of warmth. 

 On its north-eastern side dykes protrude through the snow, which here covers the under- 

 lying rocks but thinly. To the south there is a mass of bare rock, with a deep smoothly 

 excavated trough or valley in the ice surrounding its base (Plate XXIII, fig. i). The 

 trough may be caused by radiation from the rock; but elsewhere, when a rock penetrates 

 the ice covering, the latter shows sharp fractured edges in place of the smooth contours 

 here seen. Above Allen Point, on almost level ground that would normally be deep in 

 glacier, there are several large and almost bare patches, with stones and rock showing 

 through a very thin covering of snow. We think these patches at least afford evidence 

 that the south-eastern corner of the island still retains some traces of volcanic heat. 



As on other islands the lowest strata seen in rock exposures are usually of black basalt, 

 often columnar in structure, and it is of basalt that the outlying rocks are formed. Above 

 it red and yellowish tuffs with some hard grey rock are to be found. At several points 

 the rocks are clearly stratified, showing three or more horizontal layers of dark grey rock 

 separated by narrow bands of red tuff. Sometimes yellow tuff with red inclusions was 

 to be seen and frequently the rocks were much contorted and intersected by dykes. At 

 the north-eastern corner of the island are low cliffs formed of a light grey rock, perhaps 

 volcanic ash. 



^ E. W. A. Scarlett, Accountant, staff of Discovery Committee. 



^ H. Horsburgh, Technical Officer to the Discovery Committee, Crown Agents for the Colonies. 



^ J. O. Borley, O.B.E., member of the Discovery Committee. * Belinda Kemp. 



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