« 
Arnhem Bay .] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 243 
heavy rain prevented sounding in the first half of the way; but we 
then had nine feet, and nearly the same to the beach, where we Wednes. % 
landed at dusk. The wood was very thick here, the ground swampy, 
and the musketoes numerous and fierce ; so that between them and 
our wet clothes we had very little rest. 
In the morning, after bearings had been taken from a project- Thursday *. 
ing part of the iron-stone shore, we steered four miles to the S. S. W., 
mostly in 2 fathoms, to some low cliffs of red earth ; where Mr. 
Bauer examined the productions of the main land, whilst I took bear- 
ings from a small islet or bank of iron ore, lying near it. 
The ship at anchor, dist. 8 or g miles, bore N. i° 15' E. 
Mallison's 1 , south-western cliffs, - N. 50 25 W. 
Low islet in the bay, centre, - S. 89 30 W. 
Seeing that the shore took a western direction about five miles 
further on, we steered for the low islet ; and at a mile from the 
land had 3, and afterwards 5 fathoms until approaching a long sandy 
spit, which extends out from the east end of the islet and W'as then 
dry. I landed upon it in time to observe the sun’s meridian altitude, 
which gave 12 0 22' 6" south, but a passing cloud deprived me of the 
supplement. The islet is little else than a bed of sand, though 
covered with bushes and small trees; there were upon it many marks 
of turtle and of turtle feast s ; and finding the musketoes less numerous 
than on the main, we stopped to repose during the heat of the day. 
In the afternoon, after taking bearings, we steered over to the 
south side of the bay, four miles off, with soundings from 7 at the 
deepest, to 3 fathoms at a mile from the iron-stone shore. The 
land is low and covered witli wood, and the traces of kanguroo being 
numerous, the surgeon was induced to make a little excursion into 
the wood, whilst I took bearings and Mr. Bauer pursued his botanical 
researches. Mr. Bell found the country to be tolerably fertile, but 
had no success in his hunting ; and at night we returned to the islet to 
sleep, hoping to procure some turtle ; but no more than three came 
on shore, and one only was caught, the laying season appearing to 
be mostly past. 
