144 JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY INTO 
was at this time very full, the water in it nearly salt, and grass scarce 
on its lower part. Poor Smiler having been left behind on the oppo- 
site side of the bar, standing in the estuary up to his saddle-girths, 
unable to move another yard, Messrs. Gregory and Ridley brought 
him into camp late in the evening, somewhat revived by his refreshing 
halt. It was nevertheless but too evident that, without further rest, 
he would be quite unable to accomplish the remainder of his journey, 
or even to reach Mr. Cheyne’s establishment at Cape Riche, although 
~ not more than twenty miles distant. T therefore availed myself of this 
necessity for a halt, to examine the Pallinup River upwards, as it was 
crossed hereabouts by the line of direction taken by the shales from the 
vicinity of West Mount Barren. About our camp the granitic strati- 
fied rocks preserved the corresponding direction of W. 18° to 25° S., 
and had a dip to S. 25? E. of about 70°; besides which, our hopes 
were further raised by observing an outerop of red sandstone, with va- 
rieties of a lighter colour above it, and by a recollection that this was 
the river on which we had first noticed so many red and yellow cliffs 
about twelve miles higher up, on the 18th of November last. 
The hills on the eastern side of the bar are entirely composed of 
such rocks, covered over with a loose sandy soil, but on the opposite 
sides they speedily rise to granite-hills of greater elevation, and termi- 
= mate very abruptly to the eastward at Point Irby, or, as the sealers are 
. in the habit of calling it, * Groper Bluff." "This name has been applied 
by them in consequence of the locality being much resorted to by a 
_ large species of rock fish, weighing from thirty to one hundred pounds, 
which they have dignified with the name of Groper, in consequence of 
. its feeding among the rocks, and detaching from them large limpets, 
. Sea-ears, etc., with its stout long teeth, resembling those of a pig. We 
: caught one weighing about forty pounds, and found it of a dingy black 
colour, short, sturdy, and very strong, with large black scales, and a 
. pointed head. It was well supplied with fins, and had soft protruding 
. lips or gums, adapted to its peculiar mode of obtaining food. It proved 
_ excellent eating, very gelatinous and nourishing. Some wild ducks and 
. duck-eggs were also added to our larder, the nests being found among 
the low bushes, from 100 to 300 yards back from the river’s bank. 
.. On the morning of the 7th of January every surrounding object be- 
yond ten yards was completely obscured by the densest fog I have ever 
seen in Australia. Its appearance at that time was rather inopportune, 
———— staid 
