14G ASCENT OF THE FITZ-ROY. 



from one to fourteen feet, and its width from three 

 to five hundred yards. In the deep reaches were the 

 wrecks of large trees, rearing their decayed heads, 

 in evidence of the resistless fury of the torrent that 

 had torn them from their roots, during some vast 

 inundation, traces of which still remain on the 

 banks, many feet above the present level of the 

 river. 



The general aspect of the country had improved, 

 and the eastern bank reached an elevation of 20 

 feet ; it was covered with long, green grass, and 

 thickly wooded with a luxuriant growth of the white 

 eucalyptus, while the almost total absence of every 

 appearance of animal life, impressed an air of so- 

 lemn tranquillity upon the whole scene. Perhaps 

 it was from there being little to admire in the sur- 

 rounding scenery that we were so much struck with 

 the beauty of the w^estern sky, as its gilded clouds 

 marked the departure of the great ruler of the day. 

 It was scarcely possible to behold a more splen- 

 did sunset ; but with us, after another sleepless 

 night, his rise, as he tinged the eastern sky, was 

 hailed with even greater delight. 



March 11. — At daylight I climbed the highest 

 tree I could find on the eastern bank of the river, 

 in order to get a peep at the surrounding country. 

 The prospect, however, was but limited. The land- 

 scape presented to my view, was an almost uninter- 

 rupted level ; open woodlands, with here and there 

 a few grassy spots, were its prevailing features. I 



