the remains of several of their turtle feasts. Although low, and composed
entirely of sand, we found a native well of excellent water near the
middle of the island, which, having been enlarged, afforded an ample
supply, a circumstance that at once renders this a spot of importance and
value. Both on this and others of the group there were a few small trees
and a sprinkling of brushwood.

We did not notice any of the singular detached hills seen at Port Darwin,
and the greatest elevation any of the land in the neighbourhood attained
was 200 feet; neither did we observe any primary rocks.

The observations were made at the South-East point of Quail Island, which
by them is placed in latitude 12 degrees 30 9/10 minutes South, and
longitude 1 degree 42 1/4 minutes West of Port Essington. The almost
insulated character of this part of the coast, and the quantity of
soundings the openings required detained us until the 6th of October,
when we passed out on the western side of the large reef in the centre of
the entrance, which is the proper one, and received the name of West
Channel. The western entrance point of Bynoe's Harbour, bearing South 15
degrees East, leads through it. This guide is only, however, of service
to a certain distance within the entrance, as it leads over a small patch
that dries at low-water, distant two and a half miles from the
above-mentioned point on the same bearing. To avoid this danger, it is
therefore necessary to haul over towards Quail Island, when the highest
hummock on it bears South-West 1/2 West. The tides follow the direction
of the channel, varying in velocity from one to two knots. The ebb in the
offing set West-North-West.

PORT PATTERSON.