CHANGE IN THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY. 139 
on every side. Some came to assist us, others, under a pretence 
of assisting, pulled against us, and I was at length obliged 
to repel them by threats. A good many of them were very 
much disposed to annoy us, and, after the boat was in 
deep water, some of them became quite infuriated, because 
we would not return. Had we been within distance, they 
would assuredly have hurled their spears at us. Thirteen 
of them followed us to our resting place. They kept rather 
apart from us, and kindled their fire in a little hollow 
about fifty paces to our right; nor did they venture to 
approach the tents unless we called to them, so that by 
their quiet and unobstrusive conduct they made up in some 
measure for the unruly proceedings of others of their tribe. 
We had now arrived at a point at which I hoped to gain 
some information from the natives, respecting the sea. It 
was to no purpose, however, that I questioned these stupid 
people. They understood perfectly, by my pointing to the 
sky, and by other signs, that I was inquiring about large 
waters, but they could not, or would not, give any infor- 
mation on the subject. 
As we proceeded down the river, its current became 
weaker, and its channel somewhat deeper. Our attention 
was called to a remarkable change in the geology of the 
country, as well as to an apparent alteration in the na- 
tural productions. The cliffs of sand and clay ceased, and 
were succeeded by a fossil formation of the most singular 
description. At first, it did not exceed a foot in height 
above the water; but it gradually rose, like an inclined 
