PHYSICAL STRUCTURE. Ill 



approaching Howe's Island. The ' Supply ' anchored there in thirteen fathoms 

 sand and coral ; but there lies about four miles from the S.W. part of the 

 Pyramid, a dangerous rock which shows itself a little above the surface of 

 the water, and appears not to be larger than a boat. Lieutenant Ball had 

 no opportunity of examining whether there is a safe passage between them 

 or not. The island is in the form of a crescent, the convex side towards 

 the N.E. Two points, at first supposed to be separate islands, prove to be 

 high mountains on the S.W. end, the southernmost of which was named. 

 Mount Gower, and the other Mount Ledgbird ; between these mountains 

 there is a deep valley which obtained the name of Erskine Valley ; the S.E. 

 point was called Point King, and the N.W. point, Point Phillip. The 

 land between these two points forms the concave side of the island, facing 

 the S.W., and is lined with a sandy beach, which is guarded against the 

 sea by a reef of coral rock at the distance of half-a-mile from the beach, 

 through which there are several small openings for boats ; but it is to be 

 regretted that the depth of water within the reef nowhere exceeds four feet. 

 They found no water on the island, but it abounds with cabbage palms, 

 mangrove, and manchineal trees, even up to the summits of the mountains. 

 No vegetables were to be seen. On the shore there are plenty of gannets, 

 and a land bird of a dusky brown colour*, with a bill four inches long, and feet 

 like those of a chicken ; these proved remarkably fat, and were very good 

 food ; but we have no further account of them. There are also many very 

 large pigeons and white birds resembling the guinea-fowlf, which were found on 

 Norfolk Island, were seen here also in great numbers. The bill of this bird 

 is red and very strong, thick, and sharp pointed. Innumerable quantities of 

 very fine turtle frequent this place in the summer season, but at the approach 

 of winter they all go northwards. There was not the least difficulty in 

 taking them. The sailors likewise caught plenty of fish with a hook and line. 

 Ball's Pyramid lies about three leagues S.E. of Mount Grower, and may be 

 seen about twelve miles off, from this there are dangerous rocks, extending 

 about four miles S.E. and S.W., those to the S.W. not showing above water. 

 There are also rocks extending four or five miles from the N.E. and N.W. 

 ends of the islands, which are of a moderate height. Within the N.W. point 

 lies a rock with eleven fathoms water close to it, and there is a passage 

 between it and the island. Mount Ledgbird may be seen about twenty 

 leagues off." 



On the reduction of White's map, published by Mr. E. S. Hill, a number 

 of names are given to bays and islands, not on the later maps, and which do 

 not appear to be used now. These, however, are not given by White on his 

 map, but have been taken from Lieutenant Ball's chart. Thus, the North 

 Bay on the latter' s chart is called Callam's Bay ; the bay now unnamed at the 

 Old Settlement is Hunter's Bay ; that portion of the Lagoon impinging on 

 Moseley's Flat is called Prince William Henry Bay ; whilst Blenkinthorpe 

 Beaeh, on the opposite side, is marked Ross' Bay. The island within the 

 Lagoon is spoken of as Blackborne Isle, instead of Goat or Rabbit Island, the 

 names under which it is now known. The Admiralty Islets have the alterna- 

 tive name of Roach Islands, and some advantage would be gained by 

 employing this appellation, as distinguishing these insignificant rocks from 

 the true Admiralty Islands to the north of New Guinea. 



A more detailed survey was made by H.M.Ss. " Herald" and " Torch," and 

 the chart published in 1853, on a scale of three inches to a geographical mile. 

 The general execution of this map, as a specimen of cartography, is rough in 



* Probably Ocydromus sylvestris, Sclater. 



t The White Galinule (Notornis alba) is evidently referred to here. 



