y smooth and two fathoms
deep. It was upon this outer bar that we had struck, and the other boat
experienced the same fate as ourselves. We of course passed a miserable
night in our drenched and wretched state; but it was at all events some
comfort, when we heard during the night the boisterous wind blowing
outside, to feel that we were safe ashore.

DAMAGE TO OUR PROVISIONS.

March 8.

As soon as we had sufficient light for the purpose I proceeded to examine
the stores. The flour was not very good at starting; it had been packed
in small bags, that being the most convenient form to have it in both for
stowing and transporting it on men's shoulders; and in the hurricane
which we had experienced on Dorre Island this flour had got thoroughly
soaked: from that period to the present time it had been constantly wet
with salt water; last night's adventures completed its disasters and it
was now quite spoilt and an unwholesome article of food; but having
nothing else to eat we were forced to satisfy ourselves with it, and I
directed it to be dried in the sun and then carefully repacked. The wind
was from the south-south-west, about half a gale, and there was such a
tremendous surf on the shore that to launch the boats was impossible. I
therefore started to look for water and to explore the country.

SEARCH FOR WATER.

The point we had landed at was immediately at the base of some bare
sandhills, about four hundred feet high. These are the hills which are
visible from the high land of Dorre Island on the opposite side of the
bay: it struck me that from their great height and their porous nature
there was a probability of our finding water by digging, even in this
apparently sandy desert; I therefore selected a spot at the foot of the
highest hill, in the bare sand, and ordered a well to be opened. Our
efforts were crowned with success; the well had not been sunk more than
four or five feet when we came to a coarse gravelly sand, saturated with
water, which was perfectly sweet and good; and when the well was sunk
about two or three feet deeper the water poured in so fast that there
would have been no difficulty in watering a ship at this point.

APPEARANCE OF A LAKE. EXAMINATION OF IT.

Whilst the men were engaged in filling the water kegs I ascended the
highest sandhill, the summit of which was not distant more than a mile
from the well. When I gained this a most splendid sight burst upon my
view: to the westward stretc