BLACKWOOD BAY. SGj 



pointed rocl<. Altogether they assume a sterile and 

 dreary appearance, in excellent keeping with the 

 inhospitable character of the adjoining coast. 

 Several shoals and much shoal water were noticed 

 in Newcastle Bay. At 4, p. m., we anchored in 

 Blackwood Bay, in a depth of 10 fathoms. Point 

 Dicky bearing South half a mile, and Mount Adol- 

 phus N . E. In the evening a plan was made of this 

 very convenient stopping place for ships, and all the 

 angles taken to the N.W. extremity of the group, 

 place them a mile and a half to the eastward of 

 their position in the chart. Observations were also 

 obtained near Point Dicky, which we found to be in 

 lat. 10'' 38f' S. and long. lO*' 28' E. of Port Es- 

 sinofton. The N. W. extremitv of the singular flat- 

 topped hill being 1' 05" North, and 45" East of this 

 spot. The first question interesting to ships is the 

 supply of wood and water ; the latter we had no 

 time to look for, but of the former there was an 

 abundance, though from the shore being fronted by 

 extensive coral flats, it is difficult to be attained. 



The appearance of the island is similar to that 

 of the Albany cluster, it having the same rocky, 

 bleak, and almost wild look ; from which I conclude 

 they are of the same formation, which in general 

 terms we may call porphyritic. Parts of the island 

 appeared to be intersected by a growth of man- 

 groves. 



There appeared great irregularity in the tides 

 at this anchorage, as if there were a meeting of 



