NAERATIVE OF ME. CAERON. 136 



the boat. It is but just to state, that Captain 

 Stanley of the Rattlesnake, both in landing our 

 horses and stores, and in crossing- this river, 

 rendered us every assistance in his power, and 

 seemed throughout to take a strong interest in the 

 expedition, and its object. 



While landing our things at the other side of the 

 river, the natives assembled in great numbers about 

 our luggage. As they appeared to be friendly, we 

 permitted them to come within about 150 yards of 

 our landing place ; with some few we had a little 

 difficulty, but for the most part they would sit down 

 quietly as soon as a sign was made for them to do so. 



June Gth. — Early this morning Lieutenant 

 Simpson of the Rattlesnake left us, he having 

 stayed all night at the camp, and we were now left 

 entirely to our own resources. We loaded our 

 carts and pack-horses, and proceeded about three 

 miles inland, but again finding it impossible to cross 

 the swamps, we returned to the beach, and about 

 dusk came to another river, also emptying itself into 

 Rockingham Bay, and two miles south-west of the 

 first we had to cross. This river was much wider 

 than the first, being about two hundred yards wide 

 where we crossed it near the mouth. At the mouth 

 of this river is a sand-bank, over which the water is 

 about four feet deep. Inside the bank the water is 

 ten feet deep. The tide flows up for about a mile ; 

 there appears to be a great quantity of fresh 

 water discharged into the sea from the river, which, 



