Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/283

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

ship. passing by; several, cocoa-nuts which had been evidently washed on shore, were also lying July above the tides' mark.

The next day our boat was completed and painted. During our stay at this harbour, the weather was such as would have prevented our moving, even had we no occupation to detain us; for since our arrival, the wind had blown little less than a constant gale from the S.E., accompanied with thick rainy weather. This day however appearing finer, I ascended the hill over the tent; but, on reaching the summit, thick weather set in, and deprived me of a sight of the reefs in the offing, for which I had, principally taken the walk. In our descent, our dog started a kangaroo, but it made its escape before we approached near enough to shoot it.

At night, owing to the strength of the tides, the stern anchor came home, and the cutter swung across the tide. This compelled me to haul out to the bower anchor, and the next morning the 7. cutter was moored in the stream. In the afternoon we again ascended the hills over the anchorage, and had a more favourable opportunity of seeing the reefs in the offing, several of which were set.

The following morning, Mr. Roe and Mr. 8. Cunningham examined the river as far as the