MOEETOTS ISLAND. 47 



the level of hig'h water, projects for more than a 

 mile in the sea ; and fi-om both sides of this, mud- 

 flats, that become dry at low water, extend for a 

 very considerable distance. The anchorag-e off this 

 point must be of necessity in the stream of tide, 

 which, when it sets against even a moderate breeze, 

 causes a heavy sea. And as the point affords no 

 shelter Avhatever for boats, it wiU be absolutely 

 necessary to build a breakwater, at least as far out 

 as three fathoms at low water." 



Moreton Island, under the lee of which the 



llattlesnake was at anchor, is 19 miles in length, 



and 4i- in greatest breadth. It consists for the 



most part of series of sand-hiUs, one of which, 



Mount Tempest, is said to be 910 feet in height ; on 



the north-west portion a large tract of low ground, 



mostly swampy, with several lagoons and small 



streams. The soil is poor, and the grass usually 



coarse and sedge-like. All the timber is small, and 



consists of the usual Eucalypti, JBanksice, &c. with 



abundance of the cypress-pine (Callitris arenaria) 



a wood much prized for ornamental work. The 



appearance along the shores of the Pandanus or 



screw-pine, which now attains its southern limits^ 



introduces a kind of intertropical appearance to the 



vegetation. Among the other plants are three, 



which merit notice from their efiicacy in binding 



down the drift sand with their long trailing stems, 



an office performed in Britain by the bent grass 



(Arundo arenaria), here represented by another 



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