356 SECOND VISIT TO PORT ESSINGTON. 



informed that better spots existed farther back in 

 the country, but these were principally described as 

 lagoons covered with water in the rainy season. 

 The general character of the land of Cobourg's 

 Peninsula was acknowleged to be much the same as 

 that we had seen, and beyond the peninsula nothing 

 was known of the country, no one having yet crossed 

 the isthmus on to the main land. From Captain 

 King's description of the adjacent shores they seem 

 to be as barren as the rest of the north coast of 

 Australia is described to be, by all who have visited 

 it from the time of Flinders to the present. 



In September, 1844, we touched at Port Es- 

 sington, and left there our party of convict 

 masons under the charge of Lieut, (now Commander) 

 Ince, while we went to Java to refit. Mr. Macgil- 

 livray also remained there. They stayed during the 

 rainy season, or till the following February, and 

 during that time were healthy. Messrs. Ince and 

 Macgillivray expressed themselves as much pleased 

 with their sojourn of four months at Victoria, as 

 they found good sport among the wild fowl in the 

 neighbouring lagoons. Their stay also was enlivened 

 by the arrival of the new party of fifty marines to 

 relieve those previously stationed there. The old 

 party returned home, with diminished numbers and 

 broken health, under the command of Lieut. Timson, 

 and with Dr. Sibbald, our former assistant-surgeon, 

 who had exchanged with Dr. Whipple. 



Our third visit to Port Essington was at the 



