LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 305 



I was surprised to observe in how small a degree the feet of 

 the natives were affected." 



Shortly after this, Mr Cunningham took a canoe expedi- 

 tion up the Cowa-Cowa, a tributary of the Wycaddy, and 

 the following are some of his observations on the primitive 

 forests that h'ne the river's banks : — 



" On this occasion I took with me a fortnight's provisions 

 for self and native servant, and eight small plant boxes for 

 living subjects of desirable genera, whose seeds cannot be 

 transported to our colony, or are not produced in the seasons 

 of my stay in this island. The Cowa-Cowa at its confluence 

 with the Wycaddy, appears full a mile wide, from which 

 ample breadth however, it soon diminishes to about five 

 hundred yards, and at the extent of ten miles narrows to 

 rapids not more than twenty yards in width. The waters of 

 these rapids we found of very considerable strength, rolling 

 over a coarse pebbly bottom that required no ordinary exer- 

 tion on the part of our natives to use their paddles effectively 

 against its influence. Passing round the extremity of a small 

 island formed by the deposits of successive freshes for years 

 past, and now clothed with a density of vegetation particu- 

 larly of Coriaria, Coprosma, Ga/mia, Logania, §t., we stop- 

 ped antV encamped en a bed of gravel. A succession of 

 moderately elevated rounded mounds or hills, densely wooded 

 with small timbers, generally characterize the banks on each 

 side the Cowa-Cowa, — the dividing or interjacent valleys 

 presenting many minor ravines worthy of examination in my 

 descent of the river next week. A gannet that was shot fur- 

 nished not only a repast for our natives, but its feathers were 

 converted into ornaments for their heads. The next morn- 

 ing (Oct. 18th), we continued our course up the river which 

 preserved a nearly uniform breadth of twenty yards, for the 

 most part of deep water, and bounded by close brushes and 

 shaded forests. At a short distance from our encampment, 

 we observed some patches of land cleared for cultivation, and 

 in its vicinity is situated a native village of some magnitude. 

 Beyond this spot, the banks, which are not above eight feet 



Vol. IV.— No. 30. 2 Q 



