184 
SURVEY OF THE XNTERTROPICAL 
1819, 
June 5. 
king was passed at this island, and the following 
morning (5th), our tasks being completed, we left 
the bay. 
This island having been already described 
by Captain Flinders, little is left for me to say. 
The hills are intersected by numerous gullies, and 
are consequently supplied with streams: but 
the most convenient watering-place for ships is 
the one we used, except during a northerly or a 
westerly wind, when the practicability of landing 
on any part of the north side of this island, is very 
questionable ; for the task was difficult even with 
the wind blowing off the shore. Tracks of natives, 
but not of recent date, were noticed. In our walks 
over the hills we saw abundance of quails, but 
no animals were observed ; very few sea-birds 
frequented the beaches perhaps on account of 
the contiguity of the barrier reefs, upon which 
they can much more plentifully procure their 
food. 
On the hills, which are very rocky, the grass 
grew luxuriantly, although the soil is shallow and 
poor ; but in the gullies Mr. Cunningham found 
some good loamy ground, in which he sowed a 
few peach-stones, which would doubtless thrive, 
were it not for the fires of the natives. 
We saw very few pine-trees that exceeded 
forty feet in height, and the cones were not yet 
formed. Mr. Cunningham remarked a great simi- 
