COASTS OF AUSTRALIA, 
201 
brig and the western shore, and found very good I822. 
anchorage in all parts : at about one mile to the Feb. 9. 
westward of our situation, the bottom was of 
mud, and the depth nine and ten fathoms: the 
land appeared a good deal broken, like islands, 
but from the vessel the coast seemed to be 
formed by a continuity of deep bays, that may 
perhaps afford good anchorage. On one of the 
sandy beaches at the back of the bay near Park 
Hillock, so called from its green appearance and 
being studded with trees, eight or ten natives 
were observed walking along the beach close to 
the low-water mark, probably in search of shell- 
fish ; some of them were children, and perhaps 
the others were women, except two or three 
who carried spears; a dog was trotting along 
the beach behind them. 
After dark, according to a preconcerted plan, 
port fires were burnt every half hour for Mr. 
Roe’s guidance, and before midnight the boat 
came alongside. Mr. Roe informed me that 
there was good anchorage round the point; and 
where he landed, at Point Cunningham, there 
was plenty of fresh- water ; but he saw nothing 
like land to the S.E. ; the coast trended from 
Point Cunningham to the south, and was of low 
wooded sandy land. The heat was excessive ; 
the thermometer, at noon, out of the influence of 
