30 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



September 1873, when the "Queensland North-East Coast 

 Expedition," under the leadership of Mr G. Elphinstone 

 Dalrymple, F.R.G.S., landed. Three members of the party 

 have left pleasing testimonies of their first impressions, and 

 I turn to the remarks of the leader for geological definitions. 

 He says — "The formation of Dunk Island is clay slates 

 and micaceous schist. A level stratum of a soft, greasy, 

 and very red decomposing granitic clay was exposed along 

 the south-west tide-flats, and quartz veins and blue slates 

 were found on the same side of the island further in." 

 The huge granite boulders on the south-east aspect and 

 the granite escarpments on the shoulders of the hills above 

 did not apparently attract attention. 



One feature then existent has also disappeared. The 

 explorers referred to the belt of magnificent calophyllum 

 trees along the margin of the south-west beach, and Mr 

 Dalrymple thus describes a vegetable wonder — "Some 

 large fig-trees sent out great lateral roots, large as their 

 own trunks, fifty feet into salt water ; an anchor-root ex- 

 tending perpendicularly at the extremity to support them. 

 Thence they have sent up another tree as large as the 

 parent stem, at high-water presenting the peculiarity of 

 twin-trees, on shore and in the sea, connected by a rustic 

 root bridge." These trees have no place or part now. 



My chronicles are fated to be tinged with the ashen 

 hue of the commonplace, though the scenes they attempt 

 to depict are all of the sun-blessed tropics. 



Satellites and Neighbours 



Consultation of the map will show that Dunk Island 

 has four satellites and seven near relations. Though not 

 formally included in the Family Group it stands as sponsor 

 to all its members, and overlords the islets within a few 

 yards of its superior shores. The official chart has been 

 revised, the original and comely titles of the blacks being 

 substituted for the exotic names of the map-makers. 



