342 BULLEN RIVER. 



sombre fortresses over the green and yellow soil 

 to the westward. It looked as if constant 

 floods had washed away the lighter earth, and 

 left those solid masses as monuments of their 

 ravages. We made for a distant blue peak, and 

 passed a cluster of islands ; one of which was 

 remarkable for being overgrown with willows, 

 while its neighbours were as sterile as the de- 

 sert. Keeping close to the western shore, we 

 rounded a jutting point, and opened upon a 

 deep bay which received the waters of a broad 

 river. This river has been named after my 

 much respected friend Captain Superintendent 

 Sir Charles Bullen, of Pembroke Dock Yard, 

 under whose command I had once the happi- 

 ness to serve. It is difficult to conjecture where 

 it may take its rise ; but from the powerful effect 

 upon the current at two miles below its mouth, 

 there can be no doubt that an immense body 

 of water flows through its channel. A little 

 beyond, a wide westerly bay almost tempted us to 

 search for an outlet, the current having now got 

 so slack as to be imperceptible ; and numerous 

 islands and openings at different bearings occa- 

 sioned some embarrassment as to the course, 

 until, after pulling inshore a little, the loom of a 

 large sheet of ice arrested our attempt in that 

 quarter; and having again regained the current, 

 we yielded ourselves to its guidance, and were 

 again led to the eastward. 



