76 CHARACTER OF RIVER. 



quarter of a mile, and we observed a narrow opening 

 leading through the mangroves to the south, in 

 the direction of Entrance Hill. Indeed, it may be 

 said, the river properly commenced here, all below 

 being salt water and mangrove swamps. The 

 river now came from the north, running about 

 north and south for nearly two miles, with a depth 

 of from five to ten feet. At the head of this reach 

 the water was perfectly fresh at high water, which 

 took place at 10 a.m. The depth was then thirteen 

 feet, and the width a quarter of a mile. Entrance 

 Hill bore south-east, and the Inner Hills due south. 

 White cockatoos were very abundant here, as were 

 also black cormorants and brown kites. We saw 

 too, several pelicans, white cranes, and herons, 

 some ducks, a native companion, and other birds. 

 We heard several times a singular booming noise, 

 which we at first took for the drumming of an 

 emu, but had afterwards reason to believe it was 

 made by the pelicans. A native dog now came out 

 on the bank of the river, and looked at us very 

 attentively, belonging, I have no doubt, to a party 

 of natives lurking in the woods. From the head of 

 this reach the river curved to the west, and became 

 shallower, leaving the steep cliff and forest land of 

 the north or left bank, and passing over beds and 

 llats of sand and pebbles that occupied an interme- 

 diate space, till it struck another cliff and forest 

 land on the south or right bank, when we again got 

 some deep holes. There were many trees and snags 



