The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)Phillip, Arthur
History
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)
Phillip, Arthur
Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Discovery and exploration; Norfolk Island
greatly disappointed; both the north and south sides are surrounded by
rocks, over which the water flows, without the least opening for a boat;
however, Capt. Sever ordered the small boat to be hoisted out, and went
on shore accompanied by Mr. Anstis: they found great difficulty in
landing, and, when upon the rocks, they had to mount a very dangerous
precipice, in order to gain the level part of the island. This island
forms very high at the west end, and slopes gradually to the east end,
where it terminates in a cliff of a moderate height: both sides have a
range of these cliffs extending the whole length, which are chiefly
composed of white sand. The whole of the island bears the strongest marks
of being a volcanic production, having great quantities of pumice stone
on it, and the rocks quite burnt up. The top of the land was covered with
a coarse kind of grass, and the place affords great plenty of the wild
mangrove. The extent of this island is about two miles and an half,
nearly in the direction of east-south-east and west-north-west; the soil
a mixture of mould and sand. The inhabitants are the brown gull, the
light-grey bird, ganets, and a parroquet of the same species with those
met with at Lord Howe's Island. The gentlemen could scarcely walk a step
without being up to the knee in holes: they saw a great number of rats
and mice, and found many birds lying dead at the entrances of their
burrows: they saw no appearance of fresh water, though from the gullies
that were formed in various parts, the island must certainly be subject
to very heavy rains. This island was named Macaulay's Island, after G. M.
Macaulay, Esq; and the two islands to the southward, Curtis's Isles,
after Timothy and William Curtis, Esqrs. At five in the afternoon, the
Captain returning on board, the boat was hoisted in, and they made sail,
standing to the eastward with a moderate breeze at south-west. Macaulay's
Island is situated in 30°. 09'. south latitude, and 180°. 58'. 37''.
east longitude.
6 June 1788-10 July 1788
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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