BATHURST ISLA.ND. 171 



contend with it, and therefore proceeded to a hill 

 on the east end of Bathurst Island. A large flock 

 of white cockatoos screamed violently, as if wishing 

 to dispute our landing, and it was not till their num- 

 bers had been thinned, of which our evening meal 

 felt the benefit, that we could get any peace. We 

 reached the summit of the island by following up a 

 ravine, which formed the only break in the cliffs 

 that faced the S.E. side of the island. There was 

 a thick growth of red gums and the papyrus, on 

 its sides, and near the summit we found rocks con- 

 taining iron ; a vein of the same vitrified matter I 

 have described as seen at Swan Point, separated it 

 from the prevailing rock of the island, which was 

 composed of sandstone and fragments of quartz. 

 The rocks containing metal had a strange appear- 

 ance, being heaped together in the form of a whirl- 

 pool ; the ground beneath appeared quite hollow. 

 Our view was very commanding, and fully repaid 

 us for the scramble up ; there was a clear sea to the 

 N.E., and bearing E.S.E. were some small islands, 

 which I afterwards found to be situated near the 

 depth of Collier Bay. The Macleay Isles of Captain 

 Kinff bore N.N.E. about six miles : between the latter 

 and a group farther west, there was a clear wide 

 channel, which appeared to lead between the island 

 we were on and the next to the westward. As this 

 was the first part of the coast, since leaving Port 

 Usborne, that a sailing vessel could approach with- 

 out great risk, we proceeded to examine that chan- 

 nel more minutely, and were sorry to find the exten- 



