Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/445

 Rh the neighbouring reefs and islands were obtained from the summit, particularly of the reefs, n and o, and of the deep water channel between them.

Our next anchorage was under Sunday Island; and, on the 14th, we proceeded outside the Bird Isles, and between two coral reefs, v and w, that appeared last year to be connected. Several reefs were also noticed to seaward, that had escaped our observation last year, but they are all of small extent, and on the greater number there is a dry bank of sand, which on some is bare, whilst others are covered with bushes and small trees.

As the day was too far advanced to permit us to pass round Cape York before night, we anchored in the afternoon under Cairncross Island, and spent the evening on shore. This island is low and wooded like the other, and is not more than a mile in circumference. It is thickly covered with bushes and trees, among which Mr. Cunningham found a great many plants that interested him, particularly the bulbous roots of a species of pancratium, and some large specimens of minusops kauki in fruit, besides which he observed a remarkable tree, which he has described in his journal by the name of guletarda octandra. "It is a strong luxuriant tree, having a stem six feet diameter, whose