328 SANDAL WOOD. 



not be necessary for me to say anything about them, 

 further than that they are composed of a trap-like 

 compound with an aspect of serpentine, and that 

 either on them or the Northumberland Isles, sandal- 

 wood has been found of late, and taken by a Tas- 

 manian vessel to the China market. Just before 

 dark, the soundings decreased to 29 fathoms, Pine 

 Peak of Percy Group, bearing S.W. 10 miles. 

 Our course was now shaped for Cape Gloucester, 

 the extreme of the Cumberland Isles ; and about 

 this time we felt the flood tide setting S.W. by W. 

 nearly a knot an hour, a sure indication of there 

 being openings in the barriers in that direction. 

 The great distance at which this part of it lies from 

 the islands will render its examination a difficult and 

 hazardous undertaking. The night was anything 

 but favourable for sailing among islands, being very 

 hazy, with passing rain squalls. At midnight we 

 passed nearly two miles from the N. E. side of k. 

 of the Cumberland Group, in 27 fathoms, in which 

 depth we continued till getting abreast of Pentecost 

 Island, the next evening, the 24th, when it increased 

 to 35 fathoms, but still on the same kind of green 

 sandy mud bottom. At 10, p.m. we passed about 

 seven miles from Cape Gloucester, which at that part 

 was nearly IGOO feet high. Yet tli^ night was so 

 hazy, that it was only visible at intervals. Plere we 

 noticed many ripplings which we afterwards found 

 indicated a N.N.W. current of a knot and a half 



