134 A VOYAGE TO t [South Coast. 
180 <2. From a clear spot upon the north-western head of the island, 
aSEysi. 1 traced the main coast to a cape bearin S N - 18 ° W -' where lt was 
lost, but re-appeared at a further distance, and extended to N. %~ W. 
More to the right were three small islands, which I named Sibsey, 
Stickney, and Spilsby Islands, but no other land in a north-east, and 
none in an eastern direction. On the opposite side, six leagues out 
at sea, there was a small cluster of low islands, and some rocks and 
breakers at a less distance: these were called Neptune's Isles, for 
they seemed to be inaccessible to men. In the opening between 
Thistle's Island and the main are several small isles ; and the two 
southernmost so much contract the entrance of the passage, that one 
mile and a half of its breadth, between the main land and western 
isle, was alone safe for ships: I gave to this the name of Thorny 
Passage. The bearings taken at this station, of most importance to 
the survey, were these : 
Hill on the east side of Sleaford Bay, - S. 70 0 50' W. 
Point where the coast turns northward, S. 73 30 W. 
Hill of a conic form, on the main land, N. 35 50 W. 
Sibsey I., centre, over a nearer low rock, N. 12 o E. 
Stickney Island, centre, - - N. 26 o E, 
Spilsby Island, centre, - - N. 33 o E. 
Thistle's I., west side, furthest visible part, S. 35 30 E. 
Neptune's Isles, the furthest, centre, - S. 5 30 E. 
two nearer, the extremes, S. i° E to 4 o W. 
Thistle's Island is about twelve miles long, and from one to 
two or three in breadth, and in the middle part is high enough to be 
seen ten or twelve leagues from a ship's deck. The stone of the 
north-east end was found to be calcareous ; but at the top of the 
north-west head, not less than two hundred feet high, there were 
many small pieces of granite, rounded to all appearance by attrition 
in the water. Some of the cliffs on the western side are white, as if 
composed of chalk, and the soil in general seemed to be sandy; yet 
the island was pretty well covered with wood, principally eucalyptus 
