338 MAGNETICAL ISLAND. 



and by 9, p.m. rounded its northern extreme called 

 Cape Bowling- Green, at a distance of six miles, in 

 17 fathoms, steering then to pass about four miles out- 

 side the Palm Isles. During the whole night our 

 soundings only varied from 17 to 19 fathoms. The 

 weather was gloomy with passing showers of rain 

 and a moderate S.S.E. breeze; but all was bright 

 again by daylight, {July Ist,) when Magnetical 

 Island bore S. 9° W., and the south and largest of 

 the Palm Isles N. 81° W., which, corresponding 

 with the log, shewed there had been no current 

 during; the niijht. Magnetical Island was so named 

 by Cook, because he fancied it affected the Endea- 

 vour's compass in passing it. There is good 

 anchorage on the west side, where it is densely 

 covered with trees, amidst which a few straggling 

 pines reared their lofty and angular shaped heads, 

 giving by their variety a picturesque appearance 

 to the scene.* We passed the Palm Islands 

 early in the forenoon. The largest we found to 

 be 750 feet high, with a remarkable white rock 

 off its S.E. extreme. Behind these isles we saw 

 numerous blue streaks of smoke from the fires of 

 the natives, indicating the state of population on 

 the slope of that lofty range of hills, which may 

 be called the Cordillera of Eastern Australia, and 

 which at this point, tower to a great height, over- 

 looking the coast. t We were abreast about noon of 



* See the view annexed. 



f The proximity of this high land to the coast, may account 

 for the gloomy weather of the previous night. 



