LATE ALLA.N CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 263 



some were remarkably pure. From the eminence on wliieli 

 we stood, several important bearings were taken, that would 

 prove useful to the future survey of the water before us; which 

 appeared to have its embouchure on the coast, at a suppos- 

 ed bay to the S.W. of the one in which we are now detained; 

 and we observed a tolerably clear channel trending in that 

 direction, although some ramifications were remarked to ter- 

 minate in shoally flats, clothed with mangroves; and in one 

 part a low island occupies a portion of its breadth, which is 

 thereby materially contracted. Upon looking to the W.S.W. 

 over the hills bounding the coast, a considerable arciiipelago 

 (formed of small sand-banks or islets), invests these shores yet 

 to be examined ; and very elevated land was distinguished in 

 that direction at a considerable distance, barely perceptible on 

 the horizon. Large columns of black smoke arose from vivid 

 flames upon the distant inland hills ; proofs of the continued 

 devastation going on, although perhaps not of the actual pre- 

 sence of natives at the particular parts whence the smoke arose. 

 We saw no quadruped, and only the usual indications of kanga- 

 roos ; of birds a few were remarked on the wing, chiefly, how- 

 ever, of the pigeon-family. We were not fortunate enough to 

 discover the least portions of fresh water, either stagnant or 

 running ; but several well-worn stony gullies that intersected 

 our course, having their descents to the westward, suggested 

 to us the direction in which the waters, falling on the neigh- 

 bouring hills during the rainy season, make their exit. 

 About noon, having satisfied ourselves of the existence of a 

 small inland water and its trendings; and finding nothing in- 

 teresting in A country over whose surface the flames were 

 I'aging in every direction, we prepared to return to our en- 

 campment, distant about six miles N. by W., by a less diffi- 

 .cult route, which enabled us to reach our destination in a 

 period of three hours' hard walking, and without adding a 

 single specimen to my collections, excepting an imperfect 

 one of the family of CaryophyllcB. On the 27th, I visited a 

 part of the hills that had not been fired, where I gathered 

 these specimens — Chionanthns axillaris of the east coast, a 



