140 A VOYAGE TO [South Coast, 
Febma'ry. to be 3 ° 2 °'' but u P on the summit it was i" 40', being less than on 
Wednes. 24. board the ship. 
The soil of the land round Memory Cove, and of Cape Cata - 
strophe in general, is barren ; though the vallies and eastern sides of 
the hills are covered with brush wood, and in the least barren parts 
there are small trees of the genus eucalyptus. The basis stone is 
granite, mostly covered with calcareous rock, sometimes lying in 
loose pieces ; but the highest tops of the hills are huge blocks of 
granite. Four kanguroos, not larger than those of Thistle's Island, 
were seen amongst the brushwood ; and traces of natives were found 
so recent, that although none of the inhabitants were seen, they 
must have been there not longer than a day before. Water does 
consequently, exist somewhere in the neighbourhood, but all our 
researches could not discover it. 
Before quitting Memory Cove a boat was sent to haul a seine 
upon the beach, which was done with such success, that every man 
Thaw. 25. had two meals of fish and some to spare for salting. In the morn- 
ing, we sailed for the new discovered inlet, and at two o'clock passed 
round the projection which had been set at N. 18 0 W. from Thistle's 
Island. It formed the south side of the entrance to the new opening, 
and is named Cape Donington . Our soundings in passing it were 
from 7 to 9 fathoms, and in steering south-westward we left an 
island four miles long, named Boston Island, on the starbord hand, 
and passed two islets on the other side, called Bicker Isles, which lie 
off Surfleet Point. On the depth of water diminishing to 5 fathoms we 
tacked, and presently came to an anchor on the west side of this: 
point, in 4- fathoms, soft grey sand. We were then three miles 
within the entrance, and the nearest shore was a beach half a mile 
distant, lying under the hill which had been seen from Thistle's 
Island. This is a ridge of moderately high land about two miles 
long, but when seen to the north or south it assumes a conical form. 
I named it Stamford Hill ; and there being a good deal of wood 
scattered over it, a hope was given of procuring water by digging at 
