spread over it:  the channel also appeared deep leading into the inner haven.  There is plenty of fresh water in swamps, on almost every part of the shore on which we were.  The higher lands abound with good timber, the points nearest the sea being covered with Banksia integrifolia, of large dimensions, fit for any kind of boat timber.  It is high water full and change at ten minutes after nine, and the tide appears to rise between four and six feet.  From a point near the entrance, several bearings were taken; and we also saw another large lake, or perhaps fresh water lagoon, Under the southernmost of the Three Brothers.  A sunken rock was also discovered off to sea, lying upwards of two miles from the next point southerly of us, and bearing S. 5.  W.:  a deep clear channel lies between it and the shore.  At one o’clock we departed, and by sunset had accomplished near fourteen miles of our journey.  We saw the large lake under the Brothers from a high point on the coast very clearly, and found that on the north it was bounded by the North Brother, and separated from the sea by a strip of low marshy land about three quarters of a mile wide.  This lake I think is a fresh water one:  it was named Watson Taylor’s Lake.  The country west and southerly of the Brothers consisted of low forest hills; and a range of hills of moderate height, the entrance of which bore west-south-west distant twenty or twenty-five miles, ended near Cape Hawke, the country being to that range very low with marshes.  A strip of sandy land half a mile wide bounds the shore, on which is good grass and water.  On the beach where we halted we found a small boat nearly buried in the sand, but quite perfect.  It had belonged to a Hawkesbury vessel, belonging to one Mills, which had been lost some time ago, and the crew of which perished.  We halted on the beach, the South Brother bearing W. 32.  N., and the Reef N. 53 1/2.  E., and which we now saw extended near three quarters of a mile north and south, and lying two marine miles from the shore.  It appears dangerous, since in fine weather (as to-day) the north part of the reef only breaks occasionally.

October 19.—­Proceeded on our journey up the coast:  on attempting to cut off a point of land which would have saved us a distance of some miles, we found that the low part of the country was an entire fresh water swamp, interspersed with thick barren brushes, in all respects resembling the country between Sydney and Botany Bay.  We therefore returned again on the beach, and crossing nearer to the point in question found the remains of a hut, which had evidently been constructed by Europeans, the saw and axe having been employed on it.  About four miles farther on the beach, towards Cape Hawke, our progress was stopped by a very extensive inlet, the mouth of which was nearly a mile wide.  It was near high water, and the sea broke right across with tremendous violence, affording us little hope, circumstanced as we were,