DESCRIPTION OF COUNTRY. 209 



g*one up about a mile^ when further progTess was 

 stopped by a ridg-e of rocks stretching' across from 

 side to side markino- the hmits of the tidal influence. 

 Over this the rush of fresh water formed a strong- 

 rapid backed by a deep^ slug-g-ish^ winding- stream^ 

 draining- a larg-e basin-like valle}^ bounded behind 

 by the central ridg-e of the island^ the principal 

 hills of which attain an elevation of from 992 to 

 1421 feet^ and one^ Mount Eattlesnake^ is 2689 

 feet in heig-ht. At times the body of water dis- 

 charg-ed here must be immense^ judging- from the 

 quantity of drift wood and other detritus lodg'ed 

 in the trees twelve feet above the present level of 

 the stream^ probably during- the inundations of the 

 rainy season. These floods must also spread over 

 the low land on the marg-in of the river to a con- 

 siderable distance^ the deep red clay there^ evidently 

 the washing-s of the hills^ bearing* the marks of 

 having- been under water. The jung*le in places is 

 very dense^ but^ with the exercise of a little patience 

 and labour^ it can be penetrated at almost every 

 point. On rising- g-round it is often bordered by a 

 thicket of creeping- and climbing- plants mixed up 

 with bushes and patches of Hellenia ccerulea. The 

 low wooded hills are covered with tall p-rass 

 g-rowing- on ver}^ poor soil — of partially decomposed 

 mica-slate with lumps of quartz. 



It being' considered practicable to water the ship 

 at this place^ we returned on board. In the after- 

 noon the first load of water was brouo-ht off, and in 



VOL. I. P 



