6 PORT DARWIN. 



imbedded in quartz. The point was called in con- 

 sequence, Talc Head. The other rocks near it were 

 of a fine-grained sandstone : — a new feature in the 

 geology of this part of the continent, which afforded 

 us an appropriate opportunity of convincing an old 

 shipmate and friend, that he still lived in our me- 

 mory ; and we accordingly named this sheet of water 

 Port Darwin. A few small bamboos grew on this 

 head ; the other trees were chiefly white gums. 

 I climbed to the top of one of them, and obtained 

 thence a view of another opening in the eastern 

 part of the harbour. It now being low water, an 

 extensive shoal was discovered, reaching from 

 abreast of Talc Head to the point separating the 

 S. E. and S. W. openings, an extent of nearly five 

 miles. This somewhat diminished the value of 

 our discovery, as it limited the capabilities of 

 the bay as a harbour. 



We now proceeded to explore the north-eastern 

 and largest opening, distant six miles from our 

 station. A large islet and a reef left the entrance 

 only a mile wide. Expanding again, it formed two 

 arms, one running south, the other E.S.E., between 

 small groups of singular isolated haycock -shaped hills, 

 about 250 feet high. Following the latter, being the 

 largest, we found that it soon curved round, taking 

 a southerly direction. A bank free from mangroves 

 occurring in this bend, we availed ourselves of it, 

 as the day was closing in, to secure some early stars 

 for latitude and longitude. The intense pleasure 



