according to Mr. Tyers’ plan, received from Mr. Pascoe, a mile in extent east and west, and half a mile north and south; while the nearest part of it is distant from Vashon Head and Point Smith very nearly five miles.  From its extremes the following are the bearings; from the western, Vashon Head South 49 degrees West, Point Smith South 55 degrees East:  and from the eastern the same points bear South 60 degrees West and South 48 degrees East.

(Footnote.  The loss of a ship is always looked upon as a most untoward event, on the occasion of a new settlement being formed, and is ever forcibly imprinted upon the memory of all ship-masters.  This was felt to a most serious extent at Swan River; and many masters of vessels in speaking of Port Essington, have at once expressed their fear of proceeding thither, deterred by the loss of the Orontes.)

ORONTES REEF.

The least depth on the Orontes reef is about a fathom, but the generally discoloured state of the water, renders it impossible to determine its exact position, and thus greatly increases the injury done by its presence to the mouth of the harbour.  The same difficulty prevents the end of the reef fronting Point Smith from being made out.  After rounding the latter, we hauled to the wind, South-West by South up Port Essington.

CHAPTER 1.11.

Port Essington. 
Bearings from shoals in the Harbour. 
Appearance of the Settlement. 
Meet Captain Stanley. 
Church. 
Point Record. 
Prospects of the Settlement. 
Buffaloes escape. 
Fence across neck of Peninsula. 
Lieutenant P.B.  Stewart explores the Country. 
Natives. 
Uses of Sand. 
Tumuli-building Birds. 
Beautiful Opossum. 
Wild Bees. 
Escape from an Alligator. 
Result of Astronomical Observations. 
Geological Formation. 
Raffles Bay. 
Leave Port Essington. 
Popham Bay. 
Detect error in position of Port Essington. 
Melville Island. 
Discover a Reef in Clarence Strait. 
Cape Hotham. 
Native Huts and Clothing. 
Geological Formation. 
Discover the Adelaide River. 
Interview with Natives. 
Attempt to come on board. 
Messrs. Fitzmaurice and Keys nearly speared. 
Exploration of the Adelaide. 
Its capabilities. 
Wood-ducks. 
Vampires. 
Another party ascends the Adelaide. 
Meet Natives. 
Canoes. 
Alligator. 
Visit Melville Island. 
Green Ants. 
Thoughts of taking ship up Adelaide abandoned. 
Tides in Dundas Strait. 
Return to Port Essington. 
Theatricals. 
H.M.S.  Pelorus arrives with Provisions. 
Further remarks on the Colony.

PORT ESSINGTON.