152 IMPEDIMENTS IN THE RIVER. 



and unknown continent, with the present condition 

 and future destiny of which our thoughts were so 

 often busy. Scarcely, however, had we made good 

 another mile, when we found ourselves entangled 

 amonff a cluster of small islets, and sunken trees, 

 which almost wholly choked up the channel. The 

 river thus pent up, ran through the small open- 

 ings in this barrier with great velocity ; while above, 

 it had again assumed the deep still character which 

 I have before had occasion to describe. 



We had partly overcome this impediment, when 

 Captain Wickham decided upon giving up the at- 

 tempt, and ordered the boats to return, considering 

 the evident risks too great to justify further perse- 

 verance. We therefore gave up the exploration of 

 the Fitz-Roy, in lat. 17<^ 44' S., long. 124° 34' E., 

 having traced its course for 22 miles in a general 

 S.S.W. direction, and having penetrated 90 miles 

 from the coast line, towards the centre of Australia, 

 from which we were still distant GOO miles. My 

 view from the tree top extended about four miles 

 beyond the furthest point we had reached on the 

 river, it had been our good fortune to add to the 

 geography of Australia. Its banks here were 20 

 feet high, and covered with grass ; partially broken 

 or washed down, they disclosed to view a rich 

 alluvial soil, nearly two feet deep. 



The trees we found most common during our 

 expedition into this portion of the new lands of 

 Australia, consisted chiefly of two species of palm, 



