opening fall to our
good fortune; as we proceeded inwards, several beautiful medusae passed
the ship, and our hopes were roused to the highest pitch by the muddy
appearance of the water. At sun set the anchor was dropped in five
fathoms; Point Pearce, a cliffy level projection, bearing North-West by
North five miles, and about one and a half from a low rocky point.

FOSSIL HEAD.

A bluff projection, bearing South 65 degrees East seven miles, bounded
our view to the southward, and a range of sugarloaf hills, the highest
being 350 feet, rose about eight miles in the rear of it.

October 10.

We were naturally very anxious to proceed, and as soon as there was
sufficient light to read the division of the bearing compass, the ship
was gently stealing onward in the direction of the bluff, and furthest
land seen last evening to the South-East. We had not proceeded far before
we discovered a distant level range, beginning to show itself to the
right of this projection, adding still more to the zest with which we
pursued our search. The tide, however, making against us, and the wind
gradually failing, we were compelled to anchor abreast, and distant three
quarters of a mile from the north-west point of a bay two miles wide.

The bluff headland, before alluded to, forms the south-east point of this
bay, and to which Captain Wickham and myself hastened instantly the ship
was secured.

We found a few fossils on the side of this ridge, as we ascended, which
at once induced us to name it, Fossil Head. Our view was decisive of the
fact, that all further progress eastward was at an end, but to the south
sandbanks and patches of dark-coloured water bounding our view left still
great hope. The high land terminated abruptly to the southward, whilst
looking to the northward it appeared to subside in an East-North-East
direction. The base of this range was fronted by a low piece of land,
stretching out on its north-west side, and forming a point which bore
South 35 degrees East five miles from Fossil Head.

TABLE HILL.

But the most remarkable feature in the scene was an isolated flat-topped
hill, having all the appearance of a bastion or fortress, rising abruptly
from the surrounding plain, to an elevation of 650 feet, the upper part
being a line of cliffs, greatly adds to the appearance it presents, that
of a complete fortification. It bore North 85 degrees East, fourteen
miles from Fossil Head; and the country between was very l