1799'] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



5P9 



water which was vifible at S.. 1.2 0 E. where there were feveral diftintl: 

 columns of fmoke. This lad bearing, which Mr. Flinders appre- 

 hended to be near the head of the river, he was not permitted to enter 

 with the Hoop, from the intricacy of the channel, and the fhortnefs of 

 the time which remained for his excurfion. 



At. feven tire next morning they found themfelves under the fteep 

 cliffs of the flat-topped peak. The (lone of which this was compofed 

 was of a . whitifh caft, clofe-grained and hard,, but not heavy. It was, 

 not ftratified, but there were many fifTures in it. At a little diftance.- 

 from the peak there were fome pieces of a reddifh -coloured ftone and 

 fome fmall pieces of granite fcattered about. 



Mr. Flinders was fomewhat furprifed at not meeting, with any vol- 

 canic appearances, as the pumice ftone in the river, and the fituation 

 of thofe ftupendous peaks, {landing upon low flat ground, had led him 

 to form fome anxious expectations on that head. But it muff be ob~ 

 ferved,.. that, although he could not diftinguifh any traces of fcoria v 

 lava, bafaltes, or other igneous remains, yet they might ftill exift,. 

 more efpecially about the high glafs-houfe, which he did not vifit. 



As the fteepnefs of its fides forbade all idea of reaching.the fuminifc 

 of the ftatrtopped peak, he directed his courfe to the river. The traces 

 of men or animals were but very few, and had been., but rarely met* 

 with in* the upper parts: of this excurfion; and no where did he meet 

 with any land that was calculated for the production of wheats 



Having reached the iloop in, the evening, the following morning 

 they got under weigh. There were many natives on ..the more abreafb 

 of them, who feemed particularly anxious to be vilited,. dancing and 

 finging to attract attention, and exprefs their own good- will ; and, 

 when they could not prevail upon our people to land, they. followed 

 the floop along the banks, their hopes feeming to revive by the. trips, 

 which in tacking they occafionally made towards the more. 



Not being able to get out of the river in one tide, they anchored 

 about a mile fhort of the entrance, to cut fome fire-wood. There was 

 a houfe and feveral natives near the place, with whom Bong-ree was 



in. 



