MODES OF PROCURING WATER.

Their mode of procuring this necessary element is singular, and they
exhibit in this particular much ingenuity and great fertility of
resources. They are never harassed with the idea of being without any;
which not only distresses but adds to the horror of thirst with the
European explorer, who has not experienced the constant watchfulness of
Providence, and does not know that he may collect from the leaves, with a
sponge, on some mornings, as much as a pint of water. This has, however,
been done, even on the south coast, where the dews are not so copious as
on the north-west. The natives themselves are never at a loss for that
indeed precious article, water. They sometimes procure it by digging up
the lateral roots of the small gumtree, a dusty and fatiguing operation:
they break them off in short bits, and set them up to drain into a piece
of bark or a large shell. By tapping also the knotty excrescences of
trees they find the fluid, which they suck out. Many of these modes of
obtaining water are of course known to experienced bushmen, like Mr.
Eyre, whose deeply interesting narrative of his hardships and perils has
already enlisted the sympathy of the public.

September 12.

We moved the ship into Port Darwin, anchoring just within the eastern
cliffy head which, to commemorate Lieutenant Emery's success in finding
water by digging, we named after him.

SURVEY OF THE HARBOUR.

All the surveying force was now put in instant requisition; Captain
Wickham went to examine an opening in the coast mentioned by Captain