ADAM BAY. 4^7 



The generally discoloured state of the water pre- 

 vents the shoals from being seen, as well as the 

 coral reefs extending from half to three quarters of a 

 mile off the east side of the bay, where there is excel- 

 lent anchorage. Sea and land breezes prevailed; the 

 former blowing from the N. W. which gave it the 

 advantage of being of easy access either from the 

 westward through Clarence Strait, or from the 

 eastward through that of Dundas. The spring 

 tides sometimes rise IS feet, when the time of high 

 water is six o'clock. The stream set N. E. and 

 N, W. from half to one knot, changing to the latter 

 direction two and a half hours after high, water. 

 Our observations place Escape Cliffs, (too remarkable 

 and conspicuous to be overlooked, and which ships 

 should anchor abreast of,) in latitude 12° 8i'S. and 

 longitude 0" 15' W. of Port Essington. The varia- 

 tion of the compass was 2° easterly. I was able at 

 this anchorage, by a bearing of a distant point, to 

 ascertain the local attraction in the ship, which in no 

 instance exceeded P, being the amount we had found 

 at Plymouth, previous to our departure from England. 

 Our deeply interesting researches on the south side 

 of Clarence Strait, leading to so important a dis- 

 covery, were now concluded. The success which 

 had rewarded our efforts, made us wish to cling to 

 the spot, and it was therefore almost with regret 

 that we found ourselves leaving to examine the 

 southern shores of Melville Island, where we an- 



