16 
nection with the Asiatic continent than that which exists now. 
It is useless to speculate on the connection that would ensue 
between Australia and Asia by an upheaval of three or four 
thousand feet, because we cannot be sure it would be general 
and extensive. 
The question now meets us as to whether the subsidence of 
the north-east coast was sudden or gradual. The evidence of 
the coral reefs, if Mr. Darwin’s theory be true, is that it has 
been very gradual, and this is to some extent confirmed by the 
extent of the alluvium on the plains. The accumulations are 
extensive and must have taken some long time to form. They 
are sometimes found to include extinct animal remains, such as 
bones of Diprotodon. But the country is too little known and 
explored to conclude much more with certainty than that there 
has been extensive denudation, so I must leave this part of the 
subject to future enquiries. 
In conclusion, I must ask my readers to bear in mind that 
I claim no more correctness for these cursory observations than 
what a hurried journey through a new country would enable me 
to effect. A very different kind of survey must be made ere 
the geology of North Queensland can be thoroughly known. 
Any conscientiously recorded facts must be of value, and this 
is why I have lost no time in recording what I saw in the 
preceding pages. 
Note. — Quite recently an impression has been current that 
the coast of Queensland is rising. A good deal has been written 
on the subject, but not one well-recorded observation has been 
brought forward. On several occasions I have gone to what 
were described as raised beaches, but they had no resemblance 
to anything of the kind. A Mr. Chas. Devis stated publicly 
that sea shells of existing species had been found on the Barcoo, 
but in answer to my questions as to where they were found and 
who identified them I have received no information. By the 
marine surveyors I have been informed that there has been no 
change of level in the last thirty years. I have found some 
evidence of outpouring of lava at Cleveland during recent times 
on the sea bottom, and fossils of existing species are found 
under the lava mud. This, however, must form the subject of 
a separate paper. I have no doubt that there has been some 
very circumscribed local upheavals in connection with these 
volcanic outpourings, but we have no evidence so far that it has 
affected or is affecting the whole Queensland coast. 
dAios C. Beal, Government Printer, William street, Brisbane. 
