Jan. 1830. lauiIxV basin — geological kemakks. 



375 



look at the opening, and found a passage, in which were good 

 soundings, leading into a very snug basin, perfectly sheltered 

 from wind and sea, in which the bottom was composed of sand 

 and clay, and the depth of water from five to fifteen fathoms. 

 As soon as I returned we weighed and worked up to the en- 

 trance of the basin ; then anchored, warped into it, and moored 

 with half a cable each way. 



" This was the most secure and sheltered cove I had yet 

 seen. It was called Laura Basin ; and the bay we had crossed 

 was named Euston Bay. I was very glad to discover so safe a 

 place, because it enabled me to ascertain the position of Cape 

 Gloucester and the neighbouring land, with the correctness 

 which so prominent a place required, and because I hoped that 

 it would prove useful as a harbour for vessels. From the top of 

 a high ridge surrounding the basin, I thought Cape Gloucester 

 seemed to be about seven miles off, and seeing a valley lead 

 some distance in the desired direction, determined to go to it 

 overland. I v/as so much pleased with the bay and the basin, 

 that I did not hesitate to spend some time in the examination 

 of their vicinity. The mountains hitherto examined between 

 Cape Pillar and these (the Grafton) islands, consist of green- 

 stone, slate, or sandstone (excepting those near Deep-water 

 Sound, which are of very coarse-grained whitish granite) ; and 

 from the continual action of such heavy seas as break on those 

 shores, the sandstone and slate rocks wear away, and by their 

 detritus not only the bottoms of harbours are covered, but a 

 bank is formed which extends into the offing. A moderate 

 depth of water and good anchorages were found near slaty or 

 sandstone hills, but exactly the reverse in the vicinity of gra- 

 nite.(^) 



" 4^th. Early this morning I sent Mr. Murray in a whale- 

 boat to examine and plan some openings I had noticed on the 

 north side of Euston Bay ; and Mr. Stokes to make a plan of 

 the harbour, and the basin in which we were lying. The master 

 carried six days* provisions with him, in case he should be 

 detained, as on a former occasion, by bad weather. No place 



(fj) See second volume for further remarks on this yubject.-— R. 



