A few wild fruits are sometimes procured, among which is the small purple apple mentioned by Cook, and a fruit which has the appearance of a grape, though in taste more like a green gooseberry, being excessively sour: probably were it meliorated by cultivation, it would become more palatable.
Fresh water, as I have said before, is found but in inconsiderable quantities.

For the common purposes of life there is generally enough; but we know of no stream in the country capable of turning a mill: and the remark made by Mr.Anderson, of the dryness of the country round Adventure Bay, extends without exception to every part of it which we have penetrated.
Previous to leaving England I remember to have frequently heard it asserted, that the discovery of mines was one of the secondary objects of the expedition.

Perhaps there are mines; but as no person competent to form a decision is to be found among us, I wish no one to adopt an idea, that I mean to impress him with such a belief, when I state, that individuals, whose judgements are not despicable, are willing to think favourably of this conjecture, from specimens of ore seen in many of the stones picked up here.

I cannot quit this subject without regretting, that some one capable of throwing a better light on it, is not in the colony.

Nor can I help being equally concerned, that an experienced botanist was not sent out, for the purpose of collecting and describing the rare and beautiful plants with which the country abounds.