season; in readiness for their next visit, No natives were seen, not even at our old place in Knockers Bay. The adjoining country was found to be very good forest land, well tim- bered, but parched with drought, which was by no.means in fayour of our views. Having buried a sealed bottle upon the sandy point, containing an account of our proceedings, we named. it Point Record*, and sailed at the exp/ration of two days for Apsley Strait. "Light winds retarded our arrival off Cape Van Diemen until the 9?4th, and it was not before the ?6th that we brought up close to Luxmoore Head, in St. Asaph Bay. Possession was here taken in a similar manher and with the same forms as at Port Essington, and we commenced a strict search for water in every direction in the neighbourhcod of the head, which appeared so desirable and commanding a position, that it 'was with great reluctance we, eventually .gave up all idea of settling there, on not fmd/ug fresh water in its neighbourhood. "At the expiration of five or six days a small river and plenty of water was discovered on Melville Island abreast of Harris' Island; and an eligible situation for the intended new settlement
- Pelnt Record is the low sandy point on the left of the picture,
in the view of Port Es?ington.?Vol. L p. 86.
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