COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
^97 
day, which was unsuccessfully spent in examin- isid. 
ing the gullies in search of fresh water: a hole Sept. 22 . 
was dug in one of the most favourable spots 
we could find ; and, at the depth of three or 
four feet, the earth gradually became so moist as 
to flatter us with the hope that our labours would 
be rewarded by success: at three feet deeper, 
water began to ooze through ; but, upon tasting 
it, it turned out to be quite salt. Another place 
higher up was tried with the same result, upon 
which further search w;as abandoned as useless. 
In the evening we ascended a hill near the an- 
chorage ; whence a favourable view was obtained 
for the construction of my chart. The space 
behind the beach to the foot of the hill, is occu- 
pied by a level plain that has evidently been 
formed by the deposition of alluvial soil; over 
which, in many places, the last night’s high tide 
had passed; but those parts which it had not 
reached were covered with a thin layer of salt, 
which at a distance exactly resembled hoar- 
frost. Upon it was observed the track of a dog 
that had evidently been running towards the salt 
water-pits to quench its thirst ; and this, I fear, 
is only a proof of the total absence of fresh 
water, which, indeed, the desolate and burnt up 
appearance of every thing around was sufficient 
of itself to bespeak. The country at the bottom 
