456 DESCRIPTION OF COAST. 



that to tlie eastward the coast trended N. 62° E. 

 to Cape Portland, distant fifty-eight miles ; and 

 that at the distance of eight, eighteen, twenty-nine, 

 forty-eight, and fifty-three miles, the rivers Carrie, 

 Piper, Forestier, Tomahawk, and Ringarooma, empty 

 themselves into wide bays, which increase in depth 

 as they advance eastwards. That formed by the 

 point opposite Waterhouse Island and Cape 

 Portland,* which receives the two last-mentioned 

 rivers, and bears the name of the larger Ring- 

 arooma Bay, is seven miles deep and fifteen miles 

 wide. Mount Cameron lies behind the head of 

 it, where there is a vast extent of boggy landj 

 this is also the case in the next bay to the west- 

 ward, Anderson Bay, which receives the waters of 

 the Forestier River.t The only good soil seen 

 was on the large Piper River, so that the dispro- 

 portion of land fit for cultivation on this part of the 

 northern shore of Tasmania, with that which is not, 

 is very great. Behind the coast the eye wanders 

 over interminable woody ranges of various heights, 

 thrown together in irregular groups, called by the 

 colonists Tiers. They are seldom separated by 

 valleys of any width, but rather by gullies, and are 



* Small vessels anchor beliiud an island on the west side of 

 this cape, to take away the wool from the sheep-stations in the 

 neighbourhood. The rivers mentioned in the text are only navi- 

 gable for boats, and by them only at high water. 



t A small bay, with some outlying rocks oiF its points, bearing 

 S.S.E., seven miles from Ninth Island, affords shelter for small 

 vessels in its north-west corner. The passage inside that island 

 ehould be used with caution. 



