VIEW FROM LEADING HILL, 41 



Pursuing our course between the rocky heights, 

 in a south-east direction, the outline of a high 

 peaked hill, standing between two ranges, became 

 visible, appearing, even at that time, so remarkable 

 as to be named Endeavour Hill.* The wind failinof, 

 we pushed into a small opening out of the stream, 

 on the right hand, to pass the night. 



Anxious to trace further the course of the 

 river, Captain Wickham and myself ascended the 

 top of a neighbouring hill before early dawn. 

 The view which presented itself when the day 

 broke, was fraught with every charm of novelty. 

 A rapid stream passing between barren rocky 

 heights, here stealing along in calm silence, there 

 eddying and boiling as it swept past, lay at our feet. 

 By a sudden bend two miles east of where we stood, 

 it was hid from our view ; the ranges overlapping, 

 however, still pointed out the further course of the 

 Victoria. The boat lay in the mouth of a creek, 

 which communicating with another four miles fur- 

 ther down, formed an island on the eastern side of 

 the river, which we called Entrance Isle. 



The formation of this part was a sandstone of a 

 reddish hue, and in a state of decomposition. A 

 wiry grass and the never-failing eucalyptus were 

 sparingly scattered over the face of the country, 

 which round the entrance had a most unpromising 



* Afterwards found to be 690 feet, the highest iu the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



