460 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [January, 



fwamps and marfhes. Large boats might enter this place at a third 

 flood, and proceed to the further part of it. From five to feven hun- 

 dred acres of a light fandy foil might be picked out in patches of from 

 fifty to a hundred acres each ; but on the fide next the mountain 

 it foon became ftoney, and on that next the lagoon it was wet and 

 fait. 



The country along the back of the bay lies in rounded ftoney hills 

 fcarcely fit for pafturage, but covered with timber, and patches of 

 fhort brufli. 



On the fouth fide was another (hallow inlet, larger than that on the 

 S. W. ; but the returning tide did not allow time to proceed to the 

 head of it. 



Speaking generally of the land round the bay, it might be faid.to be 

 much more barren than productive. 



The moft common timber is a fort of gum-tree, the bark of which, 

 along the trunk, is that of the iron bark of Port Jackfon ; and its 

 leaf, that of the blue gum-tree ; but its branches toward the head are 

 of a yellow colour, and fmooth. The wood is longer grained, and 

 more tough, fplitting eafier and more true, than any other fpecies of 

 the gum-tree. 



The natives are, in perfon, fimilar to thofe living about Port Jack- 

 fon ; but their language was perfectly unintelligible. They ufed ca- 

 noes, of which they feemed very careful ; for on the boat approaching 

 a party of them, they haftily paddled on fhore, and, taking their ca- 

 noes upon their heads, ran off into the woods. This was on Mr. 

 Bafs's firft vifit. They, however, appeared lefs fhy of their vifitors 

 on his fecond ; and there was reafon to believe that a friendly inter- 

 courfe might have been eafily eftabiifhed with them. 



But very few marks of the kangooroo were feen. Both quadrupeds 

 and birds appeared to be lefs numerous here than in other places. A 

 few ducks, teal, herons, cranes, and a bird named from its bill the red- 

 bill, were found, with fome fmall flights of curlew and plover of a 

 beautiful feather, upon the lagoons. 



The 



