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1798             the schooner, which was nearly ready to sail, having received the greater
February       part of her cargo; but he wind continued north easterly till the 25^th . During this time, we went round Preservation and Rum Islands, got bearings from the principal projections and eminences, as also from two on the opposite shore of Cape Barren. The altitude of the suns upper limb, measured from the southward, on the south side of Rum Island, gave 40° 28' 20" south, which differs something from the two observations taken on land near to places connected by the survey. In placing them in the sketch, a means is struck between them, giving to each, the weight which their separate goodness appeared to deserve.
    The wild geese were more numerous on Preservation Island, than on any other that we landed upon: they were always shy. The kanguroo seems to abound on Cape Barren and Clarkes Islands, as well as on Preservation Island; and on the two former, these remarkable badger-like animals are equally numerous, but in most places, from the thickness of the brush, it is impossible to pursue either of them.
    A peculiar transformation seems to take place in a part of the trees of Preservation Island. The biggest of these were not thicker than a mans leg, and the whole of them were decayed, but whilst in some cases, the branches continued to be of wood, the trunk was of a white substance something like chalk, and sometimes composed of both; the petrifaction appeared to commence at the root and proceed upwards. The situation