FOSSIL HEAD. 31 



Thus did the exploration of this wide and in- 

 teresting- opening fall to our good fortune ; as we 

 proceeded inwards, several beautiful medusae passed 

 the ship, and our hopes were roused to the highest 

 pitch by the muddy appearance of the water. At 

 sunset the anchor was dropped in five fathoms ; 

 Point Pearce, a cliffy level projection, bearing N. W. 

 by N. five miles, and about one and a half from a 

 low rocky point. A bluff projection, bearing S. 65" 

 E. seven miles, bounded our view to the southward, 

 and a range of sugar-loafed hills, the highest being 

 350 feet, rose about eight miles in the rear of it. 



October 10. — We were naturally very anxious to 

 proceed, and as soon as there was sufficient light to 

 read the division of the bearing compass, the ship 

 was gently stealing onward in the direction of the 

 bluff, and furthest land seen last evening to the 

 S. E. We had not proceeded far before we dis- 

 covered a distant level range, beginning to shew 

 itself to the right of this projection, adding still 

 more to the zest with which we pursued our search. 

 The tide, however, making against us, and the 

 wind gradually failing, we were compelled to anchor 

 abreast, and distant three quarters of a mile from 

 the north-west point of a bay two miles wide. 



The bluff headland, before alluded to, forms the 

 south-east point of this bay, and to which Captain 

 Wickham and myself hastened instantly the ship 

 was secured. 



We found a few fossils on the side of this ridge, 



