364 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
3820 . tween 'which and Endeavour River, we had an 
July 27. opportunity of laying down the reefs in the offing, 
particularly that on which the Endeavour struck, 
and which so nearly proved fatal to her enter- 
prising commander and his companions. 
As it was our intention to visit Endeavour 
River, to complete our former observations for 
the determination of its longitude, we hauled 
in for the land, and upon reaching the entrance, 
with which I was sufficiently acquainted, steered 
over the bar on which the least water was ten 
feet, and secured the cutter to the beach on the 
same spot occupied at our last visit. 
Being anxious to see what change had taken 
place during an absence of twelve months, our 
steps were naturally first directed to the spot 
where our boat had been built; the remains of 
our encampment were still visible, and the car- 
penter’s bench was exactly in the same state as 
it had been left: the Mermaid’s name, which had 
been carved on a tree, was also legible ; but in a 
short time would have been defaced by the young 
bark which had already nearly covered it. Upon 
visiting our former watering place, we were mor- 
tified to find that it was quite dried up ; and this 
may probably account for the absence of natives,, 
for there was not a single vestige of their presence 
on this side of the port ; but, as large fires were 
