Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/446

 384 base is much like the spurred bulb of a tropical fig." (Cunningham MSS.)

The island is situated at the north-west end of the reef, which is two miles and a half long and one mile broad, and composed like that of Pelican Island, of dead coral hardened by the weather, and cemented by its own calcareous deposit into masses of compact rocks, which, being heaped up by the surf, form a key that probably the high-tide scarcely ever covers The interior is occupied by a shoal lagoon, in which, although not more than two feet deep, our people saw a great variety of fish, and among them a shark five feet long, which, notwithstanding there was scarcely sufficient water for it to float in, contrived to escape. A few shells of the voluta ethiopica, and some clams (chama gigas) were found, but neither sort was plentiful. The natives, as appeared from their traces, occasionally visit the island: our people found some deserted turtles' nests, and Mr, Cunningham saw a pigeon that appeared to be new; it was of large size, and of black and white plumage: besides this, no other bird was seen.

We now began for the first time to feel the effect of our accident at Port Bowen, for the tide, setting against the wind, caused a short swell, in which the cutter strained so much