APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 287 



A partially dry lagoon communicating with another 

 that was wet, to the eastward, and with a slight 

 drain from the inlet to the westward, was crossed at 

 the distance of four miles, when the direction we 

 pursued was changed to S. by W. and a mile further 

 we gained the raised patch of woodland already men- 

 tioned, where we put up a small light-coloured kan- 

 garoo. Descending from this we entered a low plain, 

 the northern part of which is evidently at times under 

 water. It is five miles across, surrounded with 

 trees of small and open growth. Continuing over a 

 clayey soil till we had made six miles from the boats, 

 we turned off to the eastward, for the wood on that 

 side, distant two miles, with the hope of getting a 

 better view of the country around from the top of a 

 tree ; but there was nothing for my eager eyes to 

 wander over but alternate plain and patches of 

 stunted wood, stretching away in unbroken monotony 

 on every side. The furthest we saw of this new 

 country was in latitude 17° 55' S. It was with 

 great reluctance that we turned our backs on a 

 route so direct to the interior of the continent, now 

 comparatively a proximate point ; and the tide of 

 animal spirits that flowed so high during our advance 

 to the southward ebbed rapidly as soon as the re- 

 treat commenced ; and our return appeared weari- 

 some. 



We now varied our track, and traced the head of 

 the inlet, where we saw the smokes of the natives 

 and heard them shouting to each other, though they 



