COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
5V 
as soon as the casks were filled, we set off i83i. 
on our return, but did not reach the brig until July 28. 
eight o’clock in the morning. 
The fatigue and exposure which attended our 29 . 
watering at this place were so great, that I was 
obliged to give up the idea of completing it now. 
We had obtained, by the two trips, enough to 
last until the end of October, which, with the 
chance of finding more upon other parts of the 
coast, was sufficient for our intended mode of 
proceeding. The boats were therefore hoisted 
in, and preparations made to leave the an- 
chorage. 
The river appears to abound with fish, particu- 
larly with mullet ; and porpoises were observed 
as high as the first falls, a distance of fifty miles 
from the sea. A curious species of mud-fish (chi- 
ronectes, sp. Cuvier) was noticed, of amphibious 
nature, and something similar to what we have fre- 
quently before seen ; these were, however, much 
larger, being about nine inches long. At low 
water, the mud-banks near the cascade, that were 
exposed by the falling tide, were covered with 
these fish, sporting about, and running at each 
other with open mouths ; but as we approached, 
they so instantaneously buried themselves in the 
soft mud, that their disappearance seemed the 
