they are hidden from the view by the woods o f large timber which
overhang their fummits. With this handfome difpofition o f the
ground, the valley extends feveral miles to the S. E. in the figure
o f a fmall fegment of a circle. The tops o f its hills, though ftoney,
produce abundance of tall timber, which, as it defcends the Hopes,
diminilhes in fize, and thins off to a few fcattered fhe oaks and gum
trees, interfperfed with fmall coppices o f the beautiful flowering
fern.
The foil along the bottom, and to fome diftance up the Hopes, is
a rich vegetable mould, apparently hardened by a fmall mixture o f
clay, which grows a large quantity o f thick, juicy grafs, and fome
few patches o f clofe underwood.
Herdfmaris Cove, (fo named by Lieutenant Flinders from the furrounding
country) above Rifdon Creek, has a large trad; of good
pafture land lying at its head. The country, which is unufually
thin o f timber, is finely rounded into graffy hills o f various moderate
afcent. The foil confifts o f more brown earth than black vegetable
mould; upon the fides and tops o f the hills, it is frequently
ftoney ; but in fome o f the vallies rich and fine, and capable o f profitable
cultivation. A chain o f ponds interfeding the hills afforded an
almoft continual ftream o f frelh water into the h'ead o f the Cove.
As it was not fuppofed that the floop could proceed above Herdf-
man’ s Cove, Mr. Bafs and his companion went up the river in her
boat, imagining that one tide would enable them to reach its fource;
but in this they were miftaken, falling, as they believed, feveral miles
fhort of it. Where the returning tide met them, the water had become
perfedly frefti; the ftream was two hundred and thirty yards
in breadth, and in depth three fathoms. It was wedged in between
high graffy hills that defcended to the river upon a quick Hope, and
had a grand appearance. But the only cultivable land that they faw
was fome few breaks in the hills, and fome narrow flips that were
found at their foot clofe to the water’s fide.
In
In their way up, a human voice faluted them from the hills ; on
which they landed, carrying with them one o f feveral fwans which
they, had juft Ihot. Having nearly reached the fummit, two females,
with a fhort covering hanging loofe from their fhoulders, fuddenly
appeared at fome little diftance before them, fnatched up each a fmall
bafket, and fcampered off. A man then prefented himfelf, and fuf-
fered them to approach him without any figns o f fear or diftruft.
He received the fwan joyfully, feeming to efteem it a treafure.
His language was unintelligible to them, as was theirs to him,
although they addreffed him in feveral of the diale&s of New South
Wales, and fome few o f the moft common words o f the South Sea
Iflands. With fome difficulty they made him comprehend their wiih
to fee his place o f refidence. He pointed over the hills, and proceeded
onwards; but his pace was flow and wandering, and he often
flopped under pretence o f having loft the track ; which led them to
fufpedt that his only aim was, to amufe and tire them out. Judging,
then, that in perfifting to follow him they muft lofe the remaining
part of the flood tide, which was much more valuable to
them than. the fight o f his hut could be, they parted from him in
great friendfhip.
The moft probable reafon o f his unwillingnefs to be their guide
feemed, his not having a male companion near him; and his fearing
that if he took them to his women, their charms might induce
them to run off with them—a jealoufy very common with the natives
of the continent.
He was a fhort, flight made man o f a middle age, with a countenance
more expreffive o f benignity and intelligence than of that
ferocity or ftupidity which generally charaifterifed the other natives ;
and his features were lefs flattened, or negro-like, than theirs. His
face was blackened,' and the top o f his head was plaiftered with red
earth. His hair was either naturally fhort and clofe, or had been
rendered fo by burning, and, although fhort and ftiffly curled, they
B b 2 did