BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 607 
numerous Caprimulgi were sweeping round us in all di- 
rections, and the distant roar of thunder announced the 
coming tempest, when we made the unlucky discovery that 
our canoe was actually too broad for this creek. There 
was no choice—all round us was covered with water; I could 
not think of returning, and it was impossible to remain 
where we were; so a passage was forced with axes and cut- 
lasses. To augment our distresses, we were drenched with 
rain; and we must, after all, have passed the night in this 
howling wilderness, if the incessant flashes of lightning had 
not disclosed to our view an elevated spot, where a family 
of Bush Negroes had erected a hut for the purpose of wood- 
cutting. Hither we made our way, and felt tolerably com- 
fortable when seated near a large fire, and treating ourselves 
to a cup of strong coffee, our sensations of thankfulness being 
enhanced by the storm which raged without. The country 
which we had hitherto passed was low and uninteresting, and 
the plants such as can be had almost anywhere in this colony. 
From Semiribo to the Wana-creek, the whole land is a mo- 
rass, clothed with a bush which seems to struggle against 
the overspreading waters. We were obliged to hasten to the 
Marowina, which rendered it impossible for me to collect 
plants, much less to dry them ; still, the few that I did gather 
and preserve enable me to assert that they can be dried at 
any period of the year, for assuredly, never could we have 
encountered with a more unfavourable time. 
On the 29th, before quitting our night-quarters, we did 
our utmost to prevent the rain from soaking through our 
tent, by the assistance of the large leaves of a Heliconia. 
We met with the same obstacles as before, the paddles being 
useless; so that our advance was very slowly effected by 
oving along the canoe with long poles, a tedious process, 
which occupied us till late at night. Fatiguing as the passage 
proved, through this doleful waste of waters, I fear the de- 
scription of it will be quite as much so to you, and therefore, 
I prefer to tell you that the surface, in the more open places, 
was entirely covered with a Nymphea, much similar to the 
