APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTUY. 



85 



caused a rather heavy swell, which rendered the 

 attempt to enter this inlet an impracticable task ; 

 however, it was tried. We found between the ship 

 and the shore six, four, and two fathoms, but as the 

 mouth of the inlet was filled with breakers, ap- 

 parently on a bar extending out half a mile, I 

 was fully convinced that further perseverance would 

 only amount to waste of time and needless risk, and 

 therefore, after taking a few angles to fix the position 

 of the boat, we returned on board. It appeared at 

 low water to be nearly dry, and then only amounted 

 to a collection of mud and sand banks. The exa- 

 mination quite satisfied me that it partook of the 

 same character as the one already spoken of as seen 

 yesterday, and that they are alike useless. 



We were soon under way, and standing towards, 

 or rather along, the shore ; and as the day advanced, 

 the wind drew more to the westward, a common 

 occurrence, enabling us to lay along the shore, 

 N. J E. By four, p.m., we were within two miles of 

 it, in nine fathoms. 



The coast here is fronted with a range of sand 

 hills, some of which are topped with verdure : 

 several low black rocky points extend for some 

 distance from the flat sandy beach into the sea. 

 I have no hesitation in saying, that this is a kind 

 of black sandstone, often found at the bases of most 

 cliffy points, and probably coloured by the chemical 

 action of the salt water. The sand hills, which 

 form the coast line, do not appear to extend more 



