CAPTAIN TLXKEY'S NARRATIVE. &", 



will be evident that the calculated volume of water carried 

 to the sea has been greatly exaggerated. 



The peninsula of Cape Padron and Shark Point, which 

 forms the south side of the estuary, has been evidently 

 formed by the combined depositions of the sea and river, 

 the external or sea shore being composed of ([uartzy sand, 

 forming a steep beach ; the internal or river side, a deposit 

 of mud overgrown with the mangrove ; and both sides of 

 the river towards its mouth is of similar formation, inter- 

 sected by numerous creeks, (apparcndy forming islands) 

 in which the water is perfectly torpid. Tiiis mangrove or 

 alluvial tract appears to extend on both shores about 

 seven or eight miles inland, where the elevated and pri- 

 mitive soil then occurs, and the outline of which is frequently 

 caught from the river, through vistas formed b}^ setting fire 

 to the mangrove, or over the creeks. This mangrove tract 

 is entirely impenetrable, the trees growing in the water, 

 with the exception of a few spots of sandy beach. Small 

 islands have in many places been formed by the current, 

 and doubtless in the rainy season, when the stream is at its 

 maximum, these islands may be entirely separated from 

 the banks, and the entwined roots keeping the trees toge- 

 ther, they will float down the river, and merit the name 

 of floating islands. At this season however, they are 



