LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 269 



made at Lizard Island, Cape Flinders, Clark's Island, in 

 which island INIr Cunningham discovered on the sides and 

 roof of some weather-worn caves, several curious drawings 

 by the natives; representing tolerable figures of sharks, 

 porpoises, turtles, lizards, &c., they were executed upon a 

 ground of red ochre (rubbed on the black schistus rock), and 

 were delineated by dots of white argillaceous earth. The 

 islands touched at on the north coast, viz., Goulburn Island, 

 Sims' Island, &c., all appeared to be suffering from extreme 

 drought. Their consort, the ship Dick, parted with them on 

 the 9th of July for Calcutta, and the Bathurst continued her 

 course to the westward. Careening Bay was revisited on 

 the 23d, in the hopes of obtaining a supply of water; but the 

 drought within the tropics appeared universal; for although 

 there was a luxuriant growth of vegetation which would seem 

 to indicate no lack of rain, still fresh water was not to be 

 found in any of the places where last year it had been abun- 

 dant ; and Captain King removed his vessel to the Prince 

 Regent's River to take in a supply from thence. Mr Cun- 

 ningham, at this period, was attacked with ulcerated sore 

 throat, which placed him most unwillingly on the sick list. 

 During his indisposition, which precluded his leaving the 

 vessel, Captain King and his officers, on all occasions when 

 on shore, made collections of such plants that fell in their way 

 for the benefit of the invalid, who also always despatched his 

 servant with a vasculum to accompany the shore-going boats, 

 whereby the productions of the coast were not entirely lost. 

 The labour of obtaininj; water at the Prince Regent's River 

 being very great, Captain King left his anchorage there on 

 the 6th of August, and proceeded to Hanover Bay, where he 

 had not much more success. They continued on the coast, 

 with but very few opportunities occurring for landing on its 

 shores, till the 26th of August, on which day they made sail 

 for the Mauritius to refit, and on the 26th of September, they 

 anchored in Port Louis. Mr Cunningham, whose health 

 was very indifferent, having at this period symptoms of a dis- 

 ordered liver, made the best use of his time, as far as his 



