56 



CAPE CLEVELAND. 



swamps and mud flats. It looks very like the delta 

 of a large river, and it is probable that considerable 

 streams come both from the northward and the 

 southward, out of the valleys of the mountain-range 

 that runs along the back of this eastern coast, and 

 pour their united waters over this flat. The Bur- 

 dekin, and others mentioned by Dr. Leichardt, arc, 

 in all probability, these streams. We landed on the 

 south-east side of Cape Cleveland, the geological 

 constitution and the aspect of which is just like that 

 of Cape Upstart. Cape Cleveland, however, is still 

 more broken and abrupt, and also more woody than 

 Cape Upstart, having fine pines in many of its 

 gullies. We followed a native path for some dis- 

 tance along the beach, towards the point of the 

 Cape, and in one cove behind the sandy beach we 

 found a pool of fresh water. In this we enjoyed 

 what in Australia is a rare luxury, a fresh-water 

 bath, and while dressing, we saw suddenly a column 

 of smoke rise up over the trees near the foot of the 

 hill, and quickly disappear again. This we took 

 for a signal, and had no doubt that every motion 

 of ours was followed and watched by the natives, 

 although we could not perceive them. This is one 

 of the inconveniences of landing for a walk on this 

 coast. However desert and uninhabited the place 

 may appear, even for days together, you must 

 always walk in the expectation that a native has his 

 eye upon you, and may perhaps be lurking within 

 spear throw. This necessity for constant vigilance 

 is very irksome at first, as you never can give your 



