288 RETURN TO THE STIIP. 



(lid not come in sight ; the prints of their feet also 

 seemed quite recent- Near the partially dry lagoon 

 a small fresh water lake was found, and the only rock 

 formation yet seen ; it was a sand and ironstone. 

 About two miles south of the boats we discovered 

 another fresh water lake, literally alive with water- 

 fowl, whose varied colours contrasted charmingly 

 with the bright verdure of the banks that seemed 

 to repose on the silent waters, and were reflected on 

 its glassy surface, now and then disturbed by the 

 birds as they winged their way from one part to the 

 other. Spoonbills and ibises, some white and some 

 glossy rifle-green, and two kinds of a small grey 

 duck, seen once only before on the Victoria, are 

 amono^ those worth enumeratino'. In the afternoon 

 we got back to the boats. I may here mention, 

 that as in Van Diemen's Inlet, the water appeared 

 to be less salt at low tide. 



July 26. — At daylight the boats moved off on 

 their return ; and soon after the sun's bright orb 

 had sunk into the same vast dead level from which 

 it rose, we reached the entrance. Being anxious 

 that the surgeon should see Mr. Gore's hand, I sent 

 the gig on with him to the ship ; next morning, as 

 we crossed the bar, he rejoined us, and I was very 

 happy to find the ablution in brandy had been of 

 great service to his wound. 



After leaviniT Disaster Inlet, the coast was 

 examined to the eastward, and at the distance of 

 fifteen miles, in an E. 5" S. direction, we came to a 



