Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/59

40 a well with a small supply of water, near which we observed a flat stone with some writing on the surface. This appears to be the place where the French navigator watered: the ship and captain's names, with the particular dates, were cut on this stone; but being in French, we paid little or no attention to it, not at the time imagining it would be of consequence at any future period. Close to Point Marsden in Nepean Bay, about twenty yards from the sea at high water, behind the bank washed up by the sea, we dug a hole about four feet deep; it immediately filled with fresh water. We put a cask into it, which was always filled as fast as two hands could bale it out. The water was excellent, as clear as crystal, and I never tasted better. This hole supplied us whilst we were in Nepean Bay, and so plentifully, that we had no occasion to look farther for fresh water thereabouts. When on the south and west coasts of the island, we had no occasion to dig for water, having always found plenty in lagoons close to the beach. The water of the lagoons, though not bad, is not so good as that of the springs: the people settled on the island (mentioned hereafter) had not dug for water till I arrived there, but depended entirely on the lagoons: they however followed my example, and I was told had no difficulty in obtaining excellent water by digging in various parts of the island. On the return of the boats, in three or four days, we weighed and stood farther into the bay, in a much more safe anchorage, being sheltered from all winds. We moored ship, and each individual took part in pursuing the objects of the voyage: my own lot, with another person, was to stay by the ship, during which time I had many opportunities of examining the bays, harbours, sands, and different anchorages, with many other occurrences and incidents which I could not now relate from lapse of time.

From a point five miles south of Point Marsden a sand spit runs out at least six miles in a south-easterly