258 CHIMMO ON THE [Jan. 12, 1857. 



and they all sat down on a small elevated spot and watched most 

 intently onr proceedings. I then backed the boat in, and gave the 

 chief, biscuits, pipes, tobacco, and fish-hooks. He also obtained a 

 large coloured pocket handkerchief, which nearly distracted him 

 with joy ; wrapping it round his head and waist, and dancing most 

 vigorously on his heels in the mud, sinking at every jump up to 

 his knees. Their anger had now subsided, and they appeared 

 pleased. I cannot tell what this demonstration of violence could 

 be owing to, and I dreaded any act of hostility for t^ie sake of 

 those coming after us. In some of these natives I observed the 

 loss of the eye-tooth, which indicates that they had arrived at the 

 age of puberty, generally 16 to 17. Horizontal scars, along the 

 body, were also seen, 5 to 6 inches in length, gradually decreasing 

 from the chest downwards. Circumcision was also general. There 

 were no women among them, which was a sure sign that their visit 

 was not intended to be friendly. They followed us for 15 miles 

 along the banks, until a creek prevented any further communication. 

 We gave them some parting presents, including another coloured 

 handkerchief, and they brought their weapons to barter freely and 

 eagerly. I was glad when they turned their backs on us, evidently 

 pleased at the meeting. Every expedition that had visited these 

 shores had suffered from the treachery of the aborigines, and I 

 should have exceedingly regretted if any circumstance had occurred 

 which would have left a bad impression or kept up any spirit of re- 

 venge on those so soon to follow in our footsteps. 



For 12 miles, on first entering the river, nothing can be seen but 

 a dense mangrove bush on either side, growing on soft mud. Be- 

 yond this, the monotony is slightly changed by the elevated appear- 

 ance of some gum and acacia trees. Then, where the river is 

 deflected in a south and south-west direction, bare patches of cliff 

 from 10 to 30 feet in height, separate the mangroves and diversify 

 the scene. Small mangi-ove islets with sandy spits, at low water, 

 appear. When nearly 40 miles up the river, a change is altogether 

 met with; the mangroves are separated by various gums and 

 acacias, with an occasional palm-tree. On the borders of the river, 

 bamboos, rushes, creepers, and long grasses form altogether a 

 dense and diversified foliage. The river is, in general, tortuous, 

 and presents when low, a far different aspect to that at high water. 

 Snags, sand and mud banks, embryo islets, forming round sunken 

 logs, are, at high water, all covered, and an unbroken surface is 

 presented. 



I visited the Bountiful Island and Sweers Island of Flinders. 

 At the former wc found turtle abounding on the beach and in the 



