506 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
around them, and, relatively, in no way disturbed. The slatey forma- 
tion extended as far north along the coast as we examined, which was 
about 5 miles, the general inclination of the stratification being about 
60°, and dipping south. How interesting, from a geological point, 
it would have been to follow the formation round towards Cape North ! 
At a place about 2 miles south of the islet, and right in the bottom 
of Robertson bay, a dark eruptive rock of very great density and very 
hard flowed over the sedimentary formation, and thus completely hid 
from view its southern prolongation. It probably continues underneath 
the lava-flows towards Mount Erebus. At Wood bay it will probably 
be found outcropping again on thesurface. This sedimentary formation 
is of immense interest; it appears to continue north towards Wilkes 
Land, for Dumont D’Urville found slate rock at the place where he 
landed in the neighbourhood of “ Pointe Géologie,” and it possibly 
underlies most of the volcanic rock of the antarctic lands. This slate 
formation also appears among the islands south of Cape Horn. The 
geology of the antarctic is a subject replete with interest for the 
connoisseur. In the extensive sedimentary deposits fossils might be 
found with indications of a warmer climate during some former epoch. 
An attempt made at this time to cross the mountain range was 
unsuccessful. Indeed, it became evident, soon after our landing at Cape 
Adare, that any attempt to penetrate far into the interior would be 
futile, owing to the rugged and precipitous nature of the mountains 
which had to be crossed before reaching the inland ice visible beyond. 
The Admiralty range of mountains in Robertson bay is the most for- 
midable range in South Victoria Land. Rising to an average height 
of about 7000 feet, and partly free of snow on its northern slopes, it pre- 
sents an impassable barrier to a sledge-party. The greatest altitude we 
succeeded in reaching was 5200 feet, a little to the south of Cape Adare. 
On January 28, 1900, the Southern Cross returned to Cape Adare, 
and on February 2 we were all on board and steaming southwards along 
the coast. The coast-line from Cape Adare to Cape Downshire is 
exactly similar to that of the north shore of Robertson bay; the same 
igneous formation, with precipitous cliffs, and here and there pillars of 
rock standing out a short distance from the shore. 
Early on the following morning a landing was effected on a rough 
pebbly beach on the western side of Possession island. This island, 
which is the largest of a small group, is low—the highest part, a 
peculiar abrupt bluff on the south side, being about 300 feet high. It is 
almost entirely covered with a snow-cap averaging from 1 foot to 20 feet 
in thickness, and the whole island is, I should say, about 4 miles in 
circumference. Many large rocks were observed to the south of the 
larger island, two being basaltic pillars rising sheer out of the sea and 
attaining a height of about 100 feet. In another rock the sea had 
perforated three arches, one so large as to almost admit the passage of 
