LIEUTENANT WBBB’s PROCEEDINGS. 339 
few hours, but unfortunatelj the night tide was lost, 
and they were unavoidably detained until the morning 
of the following day, when they began the ascent. 
Althousih the tide was then at flood, Lieutenant 
Webb found no variation in tlie soundings or the 
strength of the current, as observed on the first visit ; 
until arriving near Sunday Island, wliere the influence 
of the tide ceases, and the sombre-looking mangrove 
begins to disappear. There the obstacles commenced, 
and, as Captain Allen had predicted, the appearance of 
the river was totally different, to what it had been 
during the rainy season. Sandbanks presented them- 
selves in all parts of the bed of the stream, in some 
places extending nearly across the whole width, and 
never affording more than from seven to ten feet of 
water, or if it happened to be somewhat deeper near 
the banks, the snags, (sunken trees) protruded in such 
numbers, that it was with the utmost difficulty they 
were avoided. 
As the AVilberforce’ proceeded upwards, few of the 
natives made their appearance in the several villages 
and towns; nor was there the same curiosity, fear, or 
wonder, depicted on their countenances as on the 
previous visit ; indeed the ‘‘Devil ship” passed along 
almost unheeded, except by a few, who, for a moment, 
left off their occupations to gaze at her. Lieutenant 
Webb was of opinion, this indifference might have 
arisen from the little intercourse we had had with the 
tribes in the Delta, or possibly as he suspected in 
z 2 
