COCKATOOS. 281 



and bracing enough for a latitude twenty degrees 

 further south, we followed its upward course, which 

 was more westerly than suited our impatience to 

 proceed direct into the interior. Four miles and a 

 half from the entrance, in a straight line, though 

 ten by the distance the boats had gone, we came on 

 a reach trending south. This improvement in the 

 course was equally felt by all, as was shewn by the 

 bending of the oars to the eager desire of the crew 

 to push on ; but scarcely had the boats glided mid- 

 way through the hitherto untraversed piece of water, 

 when the tragical event occurred, which the name 

 of the inlet serves to recall, although it is too deeply 

 engraven on the memories of both actors and spec- 

 tators ever to be forgotten. 



The mangroves that in patches fringed the banks, 

 whilst all besides was one flat grassy plain, 

 were literally whitened with flocks of noisy cocka- 

 toos, giving the trees an appearance as if they were 

 absolutely laden with huge flakes of snow — a some- 

 what remarkable aspect for a scene in such a clime 

 to wear. It seemed as if the rigid hand of winter 

 had for once been permitted to visit with its icy 

 touch this tropical land ; but the verdure of all 

 around, the serenity of the heavens, warm with the 

 fervid beams of the sun that gilded the rippling 

 waters of the reach, dispelled the illusion. And 

 soon the huge masses of white plumage began to 

 float from tree to tree across the reach, whilst their 

 screams as they flew by seemed a fair challenge to 



