CHAPTER VII 

 THE RIVER SMITHFORD TO LYELL 



STARTING out from Smithford and sailing up the river 

 several bends were passed, the appearance of which was 

 much like that of those below the town. The character 

 of the scenery, too, was unchanged. A flat alluvial plain 

 bounded the river on either hand, and there were the 

 usual low embankments bordering the stream. 



It was soon noticed, however, that the current had 

 become stronger, and at the same time the course of the 

 river less sinuous. The banks became higher, and were 

 seen to consist of yellow sand. Farms were fewer and 

 more scattered, and had a less prosperous appearance ; 

 eventually cultivation gave place to a rank growth of 

 coarse grass, and this again to clumps of whins. 



Later on we reached a district almost devoid of 

 vegetation, bent grass and a few thistles being the only 

 flora. Here we effected a landing and found that we 

 were on a wide-spreading cone or fan of sand, sloping 

 towards the south, and having its apex at a point where 

 the river issued from a range of hills which could be 

 seen to the north, stretching from west to east, and 

 apparently closing in the head of the valley. 



Here and there, over the surface of the country, we 

 saw lines of low sand-dunes, not unlike those we had 



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