62 Fingal and East Coast. 



A few luindred yards from the Douglas IJiver the 

 sandstone is rephiced by low sand-hills; but it re-appears 

 at the mouth of the river, where it forms the bar to its 

 entrance, so shallow as to render the channel impracti- 

 cable even for boats in fine weather. 



The sandstone which looks out at the mouth of the 

 Douglas dips slightly to N.N.E. and N.E., and almost 

 immediately gives place to low sand-hills, which bound 

 an open beach as far as Long Point. The long swell of 

 the Pacific falls in heavy surf all along the seven-mile 

 beach which I have described. A cattle vessel from 

 Port Phillip, stranded here a few years ago, was not- 

 withstanding got off again, after discharging her cargo. 



Long Point is formed of massive granite, with clay- 

 slate in vertical beds, which have a nearly meridional 

 direction. The granite forms the exterior projecting 

 point of the promontory, opposing an effectual barrier to 

 the sea. The clay-slate varies from laminated schist to 

 rhomboidal and prismatic : it is curiously penetrated 

 by granitic and quartz veins ; and passes through a 

 granular greywacke-like structure at various points, and 

 by a nice gradation into quartzose gritstone, and even 

 into granite itself. 



There is a little bay, formed by a slight curvature in 

 the sandy beach and the projection of the rocky point, 

 where small vessels find anchorage and shelter from 

 every wind, except south and south east. The holding 

 ground is said to be good. In the event of its blowing 

 hard from the exposed quarter, vessels may easily run 

 round, and anchor in comparatively quiet water, 

 and under shelter, on the northern side of Long 

 Point. 



Small craft receive and discharge cargo at Long 

 Point, within a few yards of the rocks : larger vessels 

 could anchor further out. 



