COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
107 
the nature of the Alligator Rivers there is no in- 
doubt but that there are others of a similar cha- May 12. 
racter that empty themselves into the Gulf be- 
tween the easternmost Alligator River and Sir 
George Hope’s Islands, although they are, pro- 
bably, of smaller size and of less importance. 
At midnight the cutter, drifted by the tide, 
passed close to the easternmost point of Melville 
Island near to which two bright fires were burn- 
ing. The next morning, at eight o’clock, we 13. 
were within two miles of Cape Fleeming, the 
north-easternmost extremity of the island ; and, 
bearing up along the north coast of Melville 
Island, passed close to Point Jahleel. On a 
sandy beach to the westward of the last point 
two natives were walking, but they passed on 
without noticing our presence. Eight miles to 
the S.W. of Point Jahleel is Brenton Bay, which 
we had nearly passed before it was observed : 
the vessel was brought to the wind, but it was 
the next morning before we succeeded in fetching u. 
into the opening. It terminates in an inlet 
which, probably, runs some little distance into 
the interior of the island. It is about five miles 
deep, but the depth is so trifling, that we were 
prevented from running into it far enough to 
obtain shelter from the wind. In the evening 
we anchored in a picturesque bay which, although 
