Page:A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 1.djvu/379

Spencer's Gulph.]

each of the other isles composing this group. The main coast extended northward from Point Bolingbroke, but the furthest part visible from the top of Kirkby Island was not more than four or five leagues distant; its bearing and those of the objects most important to the connection of the survey were these; Granite forms the basis of Kirkby Island, as it does of the neighbouring parts of the continent before examined; and it is in the same manner covered with a stratum of calcareous rock. The island was destitute of wood, and almost of shrubs; and although there were marks of its having been frequented by geese, none of the birds were seen, nor any other species of animal except a few hair seals upon the shore. This description, unfavourable as it is, seemed applicable to all the group, with the exception of Reevesby and Spilsby Islands, which are higher and of greater extent, and probably somewhat more productive.

The latitude of the north side of Kirkby Island, observed from an artificial horizon, was 34° 33′ 1″ south, and longitude by time keepers, 136° 10′ 8″ east. The variation from azimuths taken on board the ship at anchor, with the head south-by-west (magnetic as usual), was 2° 40′ east; which corrected to the meridian, would be 2° 2′ east, the same nearly as was observed in Memory Cove, and at the entrance of Port Lincoln; but an amplitude taken on shore with the surveying theodolite, gave 3° 57′ east. This seemed extraordinary when, except at Point Donington, no local attraction of importance had been found in the shores of Port Lincoln, where the stone is the same. It was however corroborated by the bearings; for that of