Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/250

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I?' ?av?.� OF THE INTERTROPICAL Islg.- been.left dry: its-western edge was so-steep, thaf June 9. we were very quickly in deep water again. Wean- chored at sunset in the' centre of a tide eddy, under' Pine Head, in sixteen fathoms sand and shells: the night was passed without accident? The next. morning we landed on the Island of lo. which Pine Head is the south-easternmost extre? miry, and from its summit obtained an extensive set of bearings. The island possesses the same rocky character with the rest of this group; but the soil, although* shallow, nourished some luxur/ant grass, whicii reached up to our middle, and COncealed the rocks that are plentifully strewed over the ground. The trees ar?/low and stunted? but the steep slope of the head is COvered with pines, .?and forms one of the most remarkable features of Whitsunday Passage. Whilst we were on shore, Mr. Bedwell short? ened in the cable preparatory to weighing; but on tloing it the anchor tripped, and it was with ?lifiiculty that the cutter was kept clear of the iocks, close to which she was drifted by the ?ldies. On arriving on board, we steer'ed to the h6rthward through Whitsunday Passage, and afterwards stood towards Captain Cook's Cape Gloucester, the extremity of which turned out to be an island (Gloucester Island,) of five rail. es