RAFT POINT. 199 



also composed of the same kind of grey slate. 

 The islands we examined differed from those of 

 the same formation in King's Sound, having 

 steep precipitous sides to the N.W. instead of to 

 the S.E. As it was by this time nightfall we did 

 not proceed farther. 



April 12. — Towards the morning there was a S.E. 

 breeze which brought the thermometer down to 

 76" ; it generally ranged between 80" and 96°. 

 The large bay discovered on our way to the south- 

 ward now became the point of interest, and as day- 

 light closed in the boats were secured in a small 

 sandy cove, just within its southern point, where 

 there were several native rafts, constructed pre- 

 cisely in the same manner as those seen in King's 

 Sound, from which circumstance we called the place 

 Raft Point. Immediately over it was the high 

 land first seen in coming down the bay ; huge 

 masses were rent from its lofty frowning crags, on 

 which the rays of the setting sun produced the most 

 grotesque figures. A beautiful stream of water 

 fell into the sea, in leaping cascades, half a mile 

 inside the cove. Several rock kangaroos were 

 seen on the heights ; and after securing observa- 

 tions with some early stars, for latitude, which 

 placed Raft Point in l6° 4' S., we tried an experi- 

 ment to get a shot at the kangaroos, by setting- 

 fire to the grass and small wood growing at the 

 base, and in the interstices of the rocks. This 

 part of the country being very dry, a fire was soon 



