COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
303 
as well as the recent tracks of kangaroos. The isi9. 
only animal that we saw, during our excursion, Sept. 25. 
was a small kangaroo-rat ; it was skipping about 
the rocks near the sea. A ravine, of appearance 
the most favourable for our search for water, was 
selected from a great many as most likely to 
afford it; and we landed for that purpose; but 
we met with our usual bad success ; torrents had 
once poured down it, the effects of which alone 
were left. Recent traces of kangaroos were 
again seen here : these animals can require but 
little drink, unless the dew that is nightly de- 
posited is sufficient for the purpose of quenching 
their thirst, for we did not see a drop of fresh 
water in any part we landed at. 
We reached the vessel a short time before 
sunset, and terminated the examination of this 
gulf, which, at one time, bore so flattering an ap- 
pearance, as to leave little doubt of our being 
able to complete our water, and that even with 
facility. I felt so much disappointed, that two 
or three small openings, which probably served 
but to drain the vast plains of inundated country 
that environ the hills on the shores of this gulf, 
were passed by unheeded; among which was 
the extensive branch that trended to the south- 
east, under Mount Connexion; this opening ap- 
