T799-1 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



461 



The rocks confift of hardened clay, in which are mixed great num- 

 bers of fmall ftones, varioufly tinged, fome with red, others with yel- 

 low. Small portions of calcareous fpar lie ft uttered about upon the 

 furface of the rocky ground ; flrata of which are depofited irregularly 

 in fiffures formed in the body of the rocks themfelves. 



Leaving Twofold Bay, the floop proceeded to the fouthw r ard ; and 

 on the 17th me made a fmall clufter of iflands, In latitude 3 8° 16', 

 which now bears the name of Kent's Iflands. Thefe are fix or feven 

 in number, and of various fizes. Their height is very confiderable ; 

 and they are as irregular in figure as can w T ell be imagined in land 

 whofe hummocks are no one of them more lofty than another. Tl is 

 fmall group appears to be formed of granite, which is imperfect ;/ 

 concealed by long draggling dw T arfim brum, and fome few ftlll more 

 diminutive trees; and is curfed wdth a fterility that might fafely bid 

 defiance to Chinefe induftry itfelf. Nature is either working very 

 flowly with thofe iflands, or has altogether ceafed to work upon them; 

 for a more wild deferted place is not eafily to be met with. Even 

 the birds feemed not to frequent them in their ufual numbers. 



Having pafTed Kent's group, Handing to the fouthward, the next 

 morning Furneaux's Iflands were in fight, and on the following day 

 they anchored at Prefervation Ifland, which is one of them. Thefe 

 iflands appear to confift of two kinds, perfectly diffimilar in figure, 

 and, moft probably, of very unequal ages, but alike in the materials 

 of which they are formed. Both kinds are of granite ; but the one is 

 low, and rather level, with a fand covered with low brufh and tufted 

 grafs : the other is remarkably high, bold, and rocky, and cut into a 

 variety of fingular peaks and knobs ; fome little vegetable foil lies 

 upon thefe. 



Prefervation Ifland is of a very moderate height. A furface of 

 fand, varying in depth, and mixed in different fcanty proportions with 

 vegetable foil, fcarcely hides from view the bafe, which is of granite. 

 In feveral places, vaft blocks of this ftone lie fcattered about ; as free 



from 



