Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/375

 COAST OF AUFRAI2A. 313 recently visited by the Indians: we afterwards landed upon some dry rocks that lie in the mid- channel, and, whilst I was occupied in bearings, the boat's crew fished, but with little success on account of the rapidity of the tide. A/ter this we found and examined a tolerably wide and deep channel on the eastern side of the Middle Rocks; through which, as it ap- peared to be free from daner, the cutter was worked the next morning, andatterwards anchored near the western side of the bay; where the verdant appearance of the g*rass and trees, that clothed the sides of the bitIs, induced me to land for the purpose of searching for water; we were, however, disappointed: large streRm of water had evidently very lately poured down the gul- lies; but there was not the least vestige of any remaining. On the beach of one of the s__ny bays, the traces of natives were more numerous than usual; for we counted as many as forty small fire-places arranl in a straight line along the beach; near to each were lying the. stones on which the Indians had evidently been bruising seeds, par- ticularly of the fruit of a new species of the husks of which were strewed about: near the fire-places were the remains of two huts; one of them was throwu down, but the other was

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