THE “ BORE ” OR ROLLING SURF. 
163 
ebb-tide sets out with a velocity of three miles and three- 
quarters or four miles in the middle of the river. At low- 
water the current was, near the hanks, O' 3 of a mile. 
At a quarter breadth . . 0 36 „ 
In the middle . . . 0’6 „ 
This was at the period of our visit. When the freshes 
come down, it is of course much stronger, but in the 
dry season less rapid. 
We have reason to believe that the resistance offered 
by the strong current of the river to the advance of the 
sea-water at flood, is sometimes overcome by the latter 
in a tremendous rolling surf, or “ hore,” as during our 
stay we had two opportunities of witnessing this in a 
partial degree, about half a mile above where the vessels lav. 
At half-flow of the tide, a tumultuous line was dis- 
cernible near the right bank, extending across one-third 
of the river, and slanting somewhat upwards. When 
within one hundred yards of the bank, it came on in 
the form of an immense breaker, diffusing itself in the 
sluggish water of the neighbouring lagoon, to which 
direction it was probably diverted by the more powerful 
central ciu’rent. It had a very singular appearance, all 
the other parts of the river being as smooth as glass. 
One of our whale-boats was almost swamped by it, 
although having merely encountered the least violent 
division of it. 
The water of the river is of a loamy colour and is 
sweet to the taste. Mr. Roscher tested it chemically with 
the nitrate of silver, and other reagents, in order to 
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