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SAN TADEO BLACK RIVER. 



Dec. 1829. 



DO deep channel ; and, except in very fine weather, an attempt 

 to cross is hazardous. 



At its mouth, the breadth is about a quarter of a mile, 

 but within the entrance it increases for a short distance : at 

 three miles up, it is three hundred yards, and thence gra- 

 dually diminishes. The shores are a mixture of clay and sand; 

 and the country, on both sides, is low and marshy, abound- 

 ing with brant-geese, ducks, teal, and snipe. 



The land, near the mouth of the river, is studded with dead 

 trees (a species of pine, about twenty feet high), which appear 

 to have been killed by the sea overflowing the banks; (6) as it 

 does at high- water for several miles. 



Three miles from the entrance this river divides into two 

 branches, one leading N.W., and the other eastward. Con- 

 sidering the latter, from Byron's description, to be the proper 

 course, Lieutenant Sky ring followed it. At nine miles from 

 the mouth, a stream was found falling into the river from the 

 north, in every respect differing from the principal stream ; the 

 water being fresh, dark, and clear, and the current constantly 

 running down, uninfluenced by the tide ; while the water of 

 the river was brackish and turbid, and affected by the ebbing 

 and flov/ing of the tide, although, at that distance, its effect 

 was much diminished. 



The shores of the Black River, as this new stream was called, 

 are thickly wooded, which is not the case with the principal 

 stream. They had entered it about a hundred yards before they 

 discovered that they had left the main river ; but being desirous 

 of proceeding, they followed its windings, the next day, for 

 three leagues ; during the greater part of which distance, they 

 found a strong current against them, and were also much im- 

 peded by fallen trees lying in the bed of the river. In many 

 parts they dragged their boat along by the help of overhanging 

 branches, or projecting roots ; and the width, generally, was 

 not more than fifty yards. As no piragua could pass there, 

 Lieutenant Sky ring felt assured that he was not in the right 

 stream ; therefore, returning to the main river, he proceeded 

 (b) Or by an earthquake wave. — R. F 



