N. 77.  E., and the tent S. 15.  W., the true bearing of the latter being S. 13 1/2.  W. Thus the magnetic fluid seemed on this spot to have less influence on the needle, than on the spot where its power was first observed; and at a short distance from the base of the hill the needle regained its natural position.  The rocks, when broken, were of a dark iron grey:  they did not appear to contain any iron, for when tried at the tent, the magnet had no power over them.  I could not discern any regular stratum of rock, the hill being covered with large detached stones, many of which formed figures of five and six sides:  the evening was too far advanced to permit any farther observations to be made. [Note:  The island of Cannay, one of the Hebrides, affects the needle in a nearly similar manner.  A rock in it is named The Loadstone Rock.] Observed the variation of the needle by azimuth, to be 6. 22.  E.

August 8.—­We set off early this morning to ascend Mount Exmouth, distant four or five miles:  at its base we crossed a pretty stream of water, having its source in the Mount; it took us nearly two hours of hard labour to ascend its rugged summits:  we were however amply gratified for our trouble by the extensive prospect we had of the surrounding country.  Directing our view to the west, Mount Harris and Mount Forster, whose elevations do not exceed from two to three hundred feet, were distinctly seen at a distance of eighty-nine miles.  These two spots excepted, from the south to the north it was a vast level, resembling the ocean in extent and appearance.  From east-north-east to south, the country was broken and irregular; lofty hills arising from the midst of lesser elevations, their summits crowned with perpendicular rocks, in every variety of shape and form that the wildest imagination could paint.  To this grand and picturesque scenery, Mount Exmouth presented a perpendicular front of at least one thousand feet high, when its descent became more gradual to its base in the valley beneath, its total elevation being little less than three thousand feet.  To the north-east commencing at N. 33.  E., and extending to N. 51.  E., a lofty and magnificent range of hills was seen lifting their blue heads above the horizon.  This range was honoured with the name of the Earl of Hardwicke, and was distant on a medium from one hundred to one hundred and twenty miles:  its highest elevations were named respectively Mount Apsley, and Mount Shirley.  The country between Mount Exmouth and this bounding range was broken into rugged hills, and apparently deep valleys, and several minor ranges of hills also appeared.  The high lands from the east and south-east gradually lessened to the north-west, when they were lost in the immense levels, which bound the interior abyss of this singular country; the gulf in which both water and mountain seem to be as nothing.  Mount Exmouth seems principally composed of iron-stone; and some of the richest ore I had yet seen was found upon it.