258 PORT PHILLIP. 



at most seasons of the year, in a canopy of 

 orev mist. On some occasions, however, the bold 

 outline of the mountains is relieved against a clear 

 sky, and their loftiest points catch the first rays of 

 the morning sun, as it rises from the eastern ocean. 

 Many small islands are dispersed over the sea in 

 front of this promontory, and partake of its character, 

 being apparently the tops of mountains thrusting 

 themselves up from the deep, and suggesting the 

 belief that new countries are about to be disclosed. 

 Passing Port Western, generally called Western 

 Port, a high mound on the south-eastern extremity 

 of Grant Island was the most conspicuous object. 

 The next remarkable feature in the coast is Cape 

 Shanck, a projection at the western end of a long 

 line of cliffs. Lying close off it is a rock, named, 

 from its exact resemblance, Pulpit Rock. 



In a small bay on the east side of this headland 

 we caught a glimpse of some rich valleys ; but from 

 thence for a distance of IG miles, the coast retains a 

 barren sandy character to Port Phillip, which we 

 reached on the afternoon of the 18th. We scarcely 

 found any ripplings in the entrance, an occurrence 

 of extreme rarity ; for it will readily be imagined that 

 a body of water required to fill a bay thirty miles deep 

 and twenty broad, passing tnrough an entrance 

 one mile and a half in wndth, must rush with great 

 violence ; and when we take into account the ex- 

 treme unevenness of the bottom (soundings varying 

 from 40 to 25 and even 9 fathoms) no surprise can 

 be felt that such a stream, particularly when op- 



