5S WHIRLWIND PLAINS. 



in a north-east direction, whilst on the south- 

 east side, and distant about eighteen miles from 

 where we stood, low ranges of hills were visible. 

 Here and there over the plains were many small 

 whirlwinds appearing in the distance like streaks 

 of smoke curling upwards through the air. These, 

 though affording relief to the eye in the wide 

 prospect that opened before us, are fraught with 

 danger when occurring on the river ; for on one 

 occasion they nearly upset the gig, and threatened 

 to consign its crew to a watery grave. In the 

 present instance they gave an impulse to our 

 invention, suggesting the propriety of designa- 

 ting the level tract of country before us, Whirlwind 

 Plains. The high land rising suddenly out of it, 

 and bounding it very abruptly on the north-west 

 side, we named Sea Range. We could trace the 

 river passing along at its foot in an E.N.E. direction 

 for nine miles, when it appeared to cross the plain ; 

 a large island lying midway changed its course for 

 a short distance. 



I found a strange kind of fruit growing in a- 

 hollow, near the top of Curiosity Peak ; the tree 

 was small and leafless, with the fruit hanging in 

 bunches about the size of a damascene plum, of the 

 colour of a peach, and containing a large stone. I 

 afterwards had a pie made of this fruit, which 

 proved to be by no means bad eating. 



Besides the sandstone of which the peak is com- 

 posed, I found a kind of slate on the north-west side. 

 Several banks shewed themselves, leaving at 



