»79=- fhould reach the vefTels in a lefs fpace of time, Mr. Broughton gave up
■ ec.°” .'!r’i the idea of any further examination, and was reconciled to this mea-
fure, becaufe even thus far the river could hardly be confidered as
navigable for {hipping. Previoufly to His departure, however, he formally
took poffeflion o f the river, and the country in its vicinity, in
His Britannic Majefty’s name, having every reafon to believe, that the
fubje&s of no other civilized nation or ftate had ever entered this river
before; in this opinion he was confirmed by Mr. Gray’s fketch, in
which it does not appear that Mr. Gray either faw, or was ever within
c leagues of, its entrance.
• The friendly old chief, who [till remained of their party, a [lifted at
the ceremony, and drank His Majefty’s health on the occafion; from
him they endeavoured to acquire fome further information of the country.
The little that could be underftood was, that higher up the river
they would be prevented palling by falls. ' This was explained, by taking
up water in his hands, and imitating the manner of its falling from
rocks, pointing, at the fame time, to the place where the fun rifes ;
indicating, that its fource in that direction would be found at a great
diftance.’
By the time thefe ceremonies and inquiries were finifhed, the night
had clofed in ; notwithftanding this, Mr. Broughton re-embarked, and
with the ftream in his favor fat out on his return. All the Indians now
very civilly took their leave, excepting the old chief and his people,
who, their route being the fame way, ftill bore them company. Little-
opportunity had been afforded, efpeeially at the latter part of their journey
up the river, to afcertain the depth of the channels : tofupply this
deficiency, the two boats fpread, and founded regularly all the way
down. By this means a bank was found extending intirely acrofs Baring’s
river, and from thence acrofs the main branch, which they had navigated,
to the rocky paffage at the weft end o f Johnftone’s ifland; the
greateft depth having been only 3 fathoms, Mr. Broughton was confirmed
in the opinion he had previoufly formed, that any further examination
of this branch would be ufclefs.
After
After paffing to the weft o f the rocky paffage, the bell channel is on >792-
the fouthern Ihore, but even that is intricate, and the greateft depth of ■ ’
its water is only 4 fathoms. They took up their abode for the night
about half a mile from their preceding night’s lodging ; having returned
in three hours the fame diftance that had taken them twelve hours to
afcend.
In the morning of the 31ft o f oriober it was low water at four, and
high water at fix o’clock ; the rife and fall o f the water did not appear
generally to exceed two feet, and the ftream conftantly ran down. Mr.
Broughton departed early, and off the village of their friendly old chief
was joined by him and his whole tribe. Soundings were pretty regular,
until the party were abreaft of fome barren land, off which is an ex-
tenfive bank. On this there were only three feet water ; this depth
continued nearly to the eaft point of the illet, that was obferved before
to be covered with wild geefe, and obtained the name of G oose
I s l a n d . The channel here is on the fouthern Ihore, until the paffage
between Menzies ifland and the north Ihore is well open ; this is good
and clear with regular foundings from 3 to 7 fathoms, quite to Belle
Vue.point, where a fpit lies out at fome fmall diftance. The land in
the neighbourhood of this reach, extending about g leagues to Baring’s
river, is on the fouthern fide low, fandy,, and well wooded. On the
north fide the country rifes beyond :the banks of the river with a p leafing
degree o f elevation, agreeably adorned with feveral clumps o f trees;
and towards theeaftern part o f the reach, it fimflieS at the water’s'edge
in romantic rocky projeffing precipices.
The good old chief here took his leave o f the party. In commemoration
of his friendly behaviour, and his refidence being in the neighbourhood,.
this, part o f the river obtained the name of F r i e n d l y
R e a c h , and a point on the northern fhore, bearing from Belle Vue point
S.67E., P a r t i n g P o i n t . From this place’ to the ftation where Mr.
Broughton obferved the latitude on the 29th, the foundings were from 6
to j 0' fathoms ; from whence a bank of fand extended along the weftern
Ihore about a league, reaching over two-thirds of the. channel, leaving
a very narrow paffage o f the depth of 10 to '12 fathoms.. This bank
K 2 terminates