RENNELL'S RANGE. — LAIRD'S POINT. 43 



this place, by digging a deep pit, when in search 

 of water at the side of the river. 



At 8. 10 A. M. we got under weigh, and in 

 six hours were abreast of a range of beautiful 

 hills, named by Lieutenant Allen, Rennell's 

 Range. Their height was estimated at two 

 thousand feet. — Our course was about north- 

 north-west. 



At 3 p. M. we passed a town on the right 

 bank, which is about fifty feet high. A large 

 extent of cultivated ground appeared at the back 

 of the town, which lay at the foot of the range 

 of mountains and presented a very pretty ap- 

 pearance. The bold point of steatite which 

 we passed was named Laird's Point. Last night 

 a heavy tornado came on, and we lost the canoe 

 which was used for carrying wood, &c. to the 

 vessel ; a loss which was likely to prove inconve- 

 nient to us. On the right bank a great number 

 of diminutive trees were distinguishable. 



In the afternoon the course of the river was 

 west-south-west. We passed two towns adjacent 

 to each other, situate on the right bank; and 

 discovered too late, to our great regret, that we 

 had missed the mouth of the Coodoonia River, 

 mentioned in Mr. Lander's last Journal, although 



