848
it. At a little diftance from the peak there were fome pieces o f a
reddifh-coloured ftone, and fome fmall pieces of granite fcattered
about.
Mr. Flinders was fomewhat furprifed at not meeting with any
volcanic appearances, as the pumice ftone in the river, and the fitua-
tion o f thefe ftupendous peaks, (landing upon low flat ground, led
him to form fome anxious expectations upon that head. But it muft
be obferved, that, although be could, not diftinguilh any traces of
fcoria, lava, bafaltes, or. other igneous remains, yet they might
ftill exift, more efpecially about the high glafs-houfe, which he did
not vifit.
As the fteepnefs o f its fides utterly forbade all idea o f reaching the
iummit o f the flat-topped peak, he directed his courfe downwards to
the river, fleering S. S. E. to go clear o f the head o f the creek, and
o f the fwamps in its vicinity ; but this direction took him a great way
inland ; and upon his altering the courfe to reach the place where
he had left the boat, lie had to crofs a broad ftream o f frefh water
which fell in lower down, and to walk near three miles to reach
the water fide. He, however, hit the place with unexpected readi-
nefs, and was very acceptably prefented with a black fwan, which
the people in the boat had caught, and which was at the moment
ready for fatisfying the appetites o f his party, which were not
trifling, for a more laborious and tirefome walk o f the fame length
would feldom be experienced.
The traces of^men and animals were very few, and but rarely
met with in the upper parts o f this excurfion ; but Mr. Flinders
found a new fpecies o f pheafant, about the fize o f an Englifh
magpye. The emu was not feen, although its voice had been fo
often heard, as to induce him to fuppofe that bird muft be numerous.
The more inland part o f the country was fomething higher
and better than in the neighbourhood of the fait water ; but no where
did he meet with any that was calculated for the production o f
wheat.
2 Having
Having reached the ftoop in the evening, as foon as the ebb tide
permitted, the following morning, Sunday the 28th, they got
under weigh to turn down the river, with the wind at S. S. E,
There were many natives on the fhore abreaft of them, who feemed
particularly anxious to be vifited, dancing and finging to attract
attention, and exprefs their own good-will; and, when they could
not prevail upon our people to land, followed the floop along the
banks, their hopes feeming to revive by the trips which in tacking
they occafionally made towards the fhore.
The intricacy o f the channels proving a great impediment to
their progrefs, they could not get out o f the river in one tide, but
anchored about a mile fhort o f the entrance. Three fwans, that
the boat caught in coming down, made the number o f eighteen
which had been procured in this river.
Shortly after anchoring, Mr. Flinders took fome people with
axes on fhore to cut a log of the pine * for the workmen at Port
Jackfon, who might afcertain the kind and worth o f the wood.
There was a houfe and feveral natives near the place, with whom
Bong-ree was in converfation when the tree fell, the crafh and report
o f which ftartled them a good deal, and might probably affift
ih giving them a higher idea o f the power of their vifitors. Thefe
people were ftill Very averfe from the appearance or approach of
a mufquet, keeping a Watchful eye upon their leaft movement.
The gallant and unfufpeaing native, Bong-ree, made them a pre-
fent o f one o f his fpears, and a throwing-flick, o f which he fhewed
them the ufe, for they appeared to be wholly ignorant of the lattei,
and their weapons of the former kind were inferior to his.
Very bad weather detained Mr.. Flinders here for two days,
during which they were occafionally vifited by the natives, who
came down upon both fides of the river, and entertained them with
* Thlsp.newaS pronounced to be of the fame fpecies as that found In the middle harbour
o f Port Tackfon, but was much fuperior to it m .fize. » - .
V O L . t— K K fm g ‘ n g