COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
91 
Bay, and anchored a little within Point Smith, 1 ^?* 
preparatory to our resuming our examination ol Apri1 
the coast. The heat was now by no means op- 
pressive, for although the thermometer ranged 
between 79° and 86°, yet its effect was lessened 
by the constancy of the breeze, which tended 
materially to preserve the health of the crew, 
who were happily all quite well. 
After anchoring, a squall that had been gather- 
ing all the afternoon burst over-head, and was 
accompanied by heavy rain and strong gusts of 
wind, during which a canoe that had been previ- 
ously observed near the beach drifted past the 
cutter ; it was sent for and brought alongside, 
but the next morning before we got under weigh, 
it was taken on shore, and hauled up on the 
beach out of the reach of the water, and in it 
were deposited several iron tools, to shew 7 the 
natives that our intentions were friendly. 
During our examination of Port Essington, we 
found no fresh water, but our search for it did 
not extend beyond the precincts of the sea- 
beach, since we were not in want of that article, 
having so lately completed our stock at Goul- 
burn Island ; but from the number of natives 
seen by us, and the frequency of their traces, 
which were encountered at every step we took, 
there must be fresh water ; and had we dug holes, 
