COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
31 
sand, mud, and clay, in which the first bore the ^ 
greatest proportion. Feb. ^ 
On no part of the coast did we find the heat 
So intense and oppressive as in this river ; the 
thermometer stood at 94°, and the ground was so 
heated, that we we re obliged to beat a bush down 
4o stand upon, whilst we were taking the 
bearings of some of the islets in the offing. 
Some natives and a dog had very recently 
been crossing the little creeks that fell into the 
river> for the impressions of their feet were ob- 
served below the high-water mark ; the mouths 
of the creeks were planted with weirs, similar to 
those in the river at Oyster Harbour. 
The river appeared to abound in fish, but the 
only sort that was caught was what the sailors 
called cat-fish; they were of a nauseous taste. 
Pelicans and curlews were very numerous, parti- 
cularly the latter, in consequence of which the 
inlet was called Curlew River ; but the most nu- 
merous and annoying of the inhabitants of this 
part were the flies, from their constantly creeping 
into the eyes, nostrils, and mouth, particularly 
during our meals; and it required some little 
trouble to partake of our repast without also 
conveying with it several of these trouble- 
some insects. 
On our return to the cutter, our party very 
