EXAMINE A NEW RIVEB. 91 



SO had no difficulty in entering- — at a quarter of a 

 mile from the mouth the water was quite fresh. 

 We ascended about two miles and a half^ when it 

 became necessary to return on account of the 

 shoalness of the stream^ the boat* having* g-rounded 

 repeatedly. A party of about twenty natives 

 made their appearance as soon as we entered the 

 river, and after making" ineffectual and repeated 

 attempts to induce us to land, two or three of their 

 number followed us along the bank, while the others 

 made a straig"ht course so as to cut off the windings 

 and meet us at our turning* place. The current 

 here ran one and a half knots, but the quantity of 

 water was trifling and the channel throughout 

 very narrow, at times sweeping under the bank, so 

 as not to allow room for the oars. At first the 

 river \^^as fringed with mangroves, afterwards with 

 dense brush. The natives followed us down until 

 we anchored for dinner in one of the reaches, 

 when they all left on hearing the report of my 

 g-un while shooting on shore. They were painted 

 with red and white, two of them being smeared all 

 over with the former colour, mixed up with some 

 greasy substance. They seemed peaceably disposed, 

 as we saw no arms among them, and they 

 approached close enough to take biscuit from our 

 hands. 



Near the mouth we again landed for half an 



* Our first cutter, very serviceable on such occasions from her 

 light draught ; with fourteen men, arms, provisions, and stove for 

 cooking, &c. she drew only a foot of water. 



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