110 LOED HOWE ISLAND. 



between the various hills afford excellent gathering places, whence heavy 

 gusts sweep down on the surrounding sea, especially the Lagoon, in the form 

 of miniature whirlwinds, taking up the water in masses of spray. These 

 " wollies," as they are termed by the inhabitants, resemble the heavy winds 

 which traverse the deep ravines and valleys of St. Helena, and are so dan- 

 gerous to passing shipping. The approach of these gusts when passing over 

 the more level portions of the island can always be detected by the loud 

 rushing noise which heralds it. 



The heaviest rain is from the south-east ; but true periodical rains are said 

 not to occur. Showers, however, are abundant throughout the year. 



The temperature during summer is fairly warm ; we were told that it was 

 sometimes as much as 80°, but the winter is tolerably genial. On the whole, 

 it may be described as more equable than that of the general sea border of 

 New South Wales. 



The Admiralty Islets are eight in number, six in the main cluster, and two 

 more or less detached representing North Island, some little distance removed 

 from the former. The central and largest is nearly half-a-mile long, exceed- 

 ingly steep, and, like Lord Howe, precipitous on its eastern side. It is 

 probably about 300 feet high. An elevation of ten fathoms would place these 

 islets in communication with the main island. 



Mutton Bird Island is a rather quadrangular, rocky, and inaccessible islet, 

 seven miles east of Blenkinthorpe Beach, 265 feet high, and with a central 

 dome-like eminence. It lies within the 20-fathom line. Both it and the 

 Admiralty Islets can only be approached in the finest and most settled 

 weather, a landing at any other time being quite impossible. 



Close to, but separated from King Point, the southern extremity of Lord 

 Howe, is a small circular islet, known as Grower Island, with deep water 

 immediately outside it. 



The only other islet contiguous to Lord Howe is G-oat or Eabbit Island, 

 within the Lagoon, an oblong piece of land 114 feet in height. Its outer or 

 western end gives attachment to a portion of the fringing reef. 



By far the greatest interest, however, centres itself in the isolated and 

 mysterious Ball's Pyramid, situated some eighteen miles to the south-south- 

 east of Lord Howe. In outline it is described as pyramidal,* rising, without 

 a break, 1,816 feet abruptly from the ocean. Mr. H. T. Wilkinson states 

 that its base is but sixty chains long and twenty-five chains wide. A landing 

 can only be effected, and with the greatest difficulty, on the north-east side. 



Three maps of Lord Howe Island are extant. The earliest, by Mr. Surveyor 

 H. F.White, is dated 1835 (PI. IX). As a separate map this has never appeared, 

 but a reduction was published by Mr. E. S. Hillf. We are indebted to Mr. E. 

 Twynam, Deputy Surveyor- General, for tracings of Mr. White's original 

 chart, and for permission to publish it. The map bears the following title, 

 " Survey of Lord Howe Island, in latitude 31' 30" S, longitude 139° E. H. 

 E. White, Assistant Surveyor, 7th January, 1835." It is on a scale of half- 

 an-inch to one mile, and gives the outline of the island in a remarkably accurate 

 manner, especially at the northern end. The map is, however, particularly 

 interesting to the geologist from the statement that the Coral-reef is a " bar 

 of sand," and the entrances one fathom in depth. I shall have occasion to 

 refer to this matter when dealing with the Geology. Mr. Twynam has also 

 furnished us with a tracing of the original chart (PL VIII) of Lieutenant 

 Henry Ledgbird Ball, the discoverer of Lord Howe Island. The map bears 

 the following inscription, which is worth quoting : — " There is no danger in 



* H. T. Wilkinson, Geological Report, loc. cit., p. 6. 

 t Lord Howe Island, loc. cit. , frontispiece. 



