RAILROADS FROM SYDNEY. 497 



Hummock Island,* which affords the best shelter for 

 ships in westerly winds, 



The north-west part of Flinders Island has a 

 bold rugged outline. From our position off Cape 

 Frankland, we carried a line of soundings across 

 the passage south of Craggy Island, passing two 

 miles to the eastward of it in twenty-seven fathoms. 

 We then ran out of the strait and up to Sydney, to 

 leave what stores were not absolutely required 

 during the passage to England, for the use of the 

 ships on the station. 



Having spoken of the feasibility of rail-roads in 

 other parts of New South Wales, I cannot leave 

 Sydney without suggesting what appear to me to 

 be the most practicable directions for lines leading 

 from that capital. As the country between Para- 



* This island, wliich affords a plentiful supply of fuel, is between 

 five and six miles long, and scarcely half a mile in width, with a N. 

 by E, trend. The anchorage lies abreast of the middle Hummock, 

 where the depth is six fathoms, and may be approached by passing 

 round either the north or south end of the island. Some low islets 

 lie a mile and a half off the latter, with a narrow passage between ; 

 and a reef extends three quarters of a mile off the north point, 

 which is in lat. 40o 1' S.,long. 3° 27' W. of Sydney, or 147° 49' E. 

 It is distant three miles and a half from the nearest point of Flin- 

 ders, where is situated the settlement of Tasmanian natives. A 

 tide of from half to one knot sets through between, and the flood 

 stream comes from the northward. The outline of Hummock 

 Island is so remarkable that it cannot fail of being recognised. 

 In thick weather the navigator may know he is approaching this, 

 and the other islands fronting the western side of Flinders, by 

 having a depth of less than thirty fathoms, 



VOL. II. 2 K 



