Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/489

 CO,STS O USRS. 4 the summit of a hill, named by the latter gentle- lssa man 'ater Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq., the ot.s. President of the Horticultural Society. From this elevation they had a good view of the water, which appeared to be either a strait or an inlet of considerable size; it was subsequently called Rothsay Water. The country, between it and our encampment, was very rocky and ragged; but, although almost destitute of soil, it was sprinkled with some dwarf timber of various descriptions; and, had it not been for the late fires, there would have been a good share of grass. The fires were still burning; and, while we were employed upon the vessel, the little grass. that had before escaped the flames was con- sumed before our eyes, which greatly increased the oppressive heat we were experiencing. The thermometer during the day, exposed to a cur- rent of air and shaded from the sun, generally indicated a temperature of between 94° and 98°; and, on one occasion, although it was ex- posed to a fresh sea-breeze, the mercury stood at 101° at noon: at night, however, we were usu- ally relieved by its falling to 75°; and at two o'clock in the morning it generally stood at 73°. The maximum and minimum temperature during fourteen days was 101° and 72 1/2 °. The