26 
A VOYAGE TO 
'[East Coast. 
J 802 * I left the ship again in the morning, and went up the southern 
August. r & & 1 
Saturday 14. arm to a little hill on its western shore ; hoping to gain from 
thence a better knowledge of the various streams which intersect 
the low land on the south side of the bay. This arm is one mile 
in width, and the depth in it from 3 to 6 fathoms ; the shores 
are flat, as in other parts, and covered with mangroves ; but at high 
water a landing was effected under the South Hill, without much 
trouble. The sides of this little eminence are steep, and were 
so thickly covered with trees and shrubs, bound together and inter- 
twisted with strong vines, that our attempts to reach the top were 
fruitless. It would perhaps have been easier to climb up the trees, 
and scramble from one to another upon the vines, than to have pene- 
trated through the intricate net work in the darkness underneath. 
Disappointed in my principal object, and unable to do any thing 
in the boat, which could not then approach the shore within two Hun- 
dred yards, I sought to walk upwards, and ascertain the communi- 
cation between the south and south-west arms ; but after much 
fatigue amongst the mangroves and muddy swamps, very little more 
information could be gained. The small fish which leaps on land 
upon two strong breast fins, and was first seen by captain Cook on 
the shores of Thirsty Sound, was very common in the swamps round 
the South Hill, There were also numbers of a small kind of red 
crab, having one of its claws uncommonly large, being, indeed, nearly 
as big as the body ; and this it keeps erected and open, so long as 
there is any expectation of disturbance. It was curious to see a file 
of these pugnacious little animals raise their claws at our approach, 
and open their pincers ready for an attack ; and afterwards, finding 
there was no molestation, shoulder their arms and march on. 
At nine in the evening, the tide brought the boat under the hill, 
and allowed us to return to the ship. All the examination of Keppel 
Bay which our time could allow, was now done ; but a day being 
required for laying down the plan of the different arms, I offered 
Sunday is. a boat on Sunday morning to the botanists, to visit the South Hill, 
which afforded a variety of plants ; but they found little that had 
