I06 TiMEHRI, 



forced, being very clearly shown in parts below the 

 falls, and more particularly in a broad mass by the basin 

 on the eastern bank. Here the dike rock is extremely 

 fine-grained, closely resembling petro-silex, and it is 

 seen branching out in veins along the lines of fra6lure 

 of the granite, whose felspar crystals are of a delicate 

 pink colour. 



Fortunately for us, several woodskins, belonging to 

 Indians who were then staying at the Mission, were to 

 be obtained at the upper end of the portage ; and we 

 were thus saved the trouble of hauling our boats through 

 the forest — a proceeding that would have entailed quite 

 a day's extra work, owing to the very bad condition of 

 the track, and the amount of making up and clearing that 

 would have been unavoidable. 



Above the portage, the banks of the river are formed 

 by high hilly tra6ls, covered with tall forest trees, among 

 which magnificent specimens of mora, greenheart, crab- 

 wood, arrisouroo, siruaballi, etc., are to be found ; and 

 it is not until the wide mouth of the Hooroowa creek, on 

 the East bank, is reached that the change to low and 

 swampy land becomes pronounced. The Hooroowa is said 

 to lead into the Coorabaroo creek, which runs into the 

 main stream at some little distance below Mecropie hill* 

 some 20 miles down, and thus affords a means of avoid- 

 ing the Great Falls in journeying to the upper reaches of 

 the river. Soon after passing the Hooroowa creek, a 

 large lake-like opening is met with, commonly known by 

 the name Aponbaroo, which is said to be the haunt of the 

 muscovy ducks in the dry weather, and where, indeed, high 

 as the water was, three or four of these birds were unex- 

 pe6ledly startled from among the trees at the entrance. 



