APPEARANCE OF THE COl'NTRY. 43 



of the river very slight, and at the end of sixteen 

 miles it suddenly turned oif to the eastward, which 

 I was sorry to find, as its diverging from its original 

 south-easterly direction, appeared likely to disap- 

 point our expectation that the Victoria would prove 

 a high road to the interior of the continent. The 

 width had hitherto been almost two miles, but 

 there was not sufficient depth to give us any hope of 

 bringing the ship up thus far. 



The countrv now betjan to assume a more cheerful 

 aspect. The hills exhibited no longer the same 

 rugged outline, and were better clothed with vege- 

 tation. From the top of one of a conical group, 

 forming the north point of the river where it changes 

 to the eastward, I could trace its direction but little 

 further. 



On the opposite side the hills receded, form- 

 ing an amphitheatre round a level plain, through 

 which ran a creek. On its banks, for the first time, 

 we s^w fires of the natives. Here, also for the 

 first time, we noticed the gouty-stem trees ; whilst 

 the slope of the hill we ascended was covered with 

 a tolerable sprinkling of grass. Kangaroos, like- 

 wise, were observed on every side springing along 

 the turf; and a few great alligators passed up the 

 stream, after reconnoitering our boat at the risk of 

 a shot or two. 



We were now nearly thirty miles from the ship ; 

 and a few stations were still necessary to be made 

 to complete the survey so far. Our proceeding 



