VISIT THE SHORE. 407 



The land near the huts was turned up in search 

 of roots, and close by were some large clubs. The 

 thermometer fell in the night to 67", producing the 

 novel though pleasant sensation of cold. 



July 27. — Although apparently we could trace 

 the land, near the head of the opening or bay, 

 still the great set of tide in that direction, left 

 hopes of its being the mouth of a river. We have 

 already alluded to the difficulty of detecting the 

 mouth of Australian streams, and the doubts thus 

 engendered occasioned the greater anxiety. Im- 

 patient to learn the truth, Mr. Fitzmaurice was 

 despatched to examine the head of the bay, w^hilst 

 the ship was moved towards it, anchoring again one 

 mile N. W. from a very remarkable patch of low 

 red cliffs, (which from startling circumstances, here- 

 after to be related, were called Escape Cliffs,) and 

 onlv two cables length distant from the coral 

 ledge, by vvhich this and the shores around were 

 fronted. 



Here another party visited the shore, and those 

 whose occupation did not render their presence 

 necessary near the water, strolled into the country, 

 penetrating about four or five miles inland, but they 

 were rewarded by the sight of no novelty, or even 

 variety in the scenery, beyond what was presented 

 to our view on the visit to Cape Hotham, which it 

 will readily be allowed was little enough. Indeed 

 it will in general be found, that in Australia, a 

 change of formation is necessary to produce any of 



