324 
EFFECTS OF REFRACTION. 
There was no perceptible inclination of the country- 
in any direction, the level land ran to the very 
borders of the sea, where it abruptly terminated, 
forming the steep and precipitous cliffs, observed by 
Captain Flinders, and which it was quite impossible 
to descend anywhere. The general elevation of this 
table land, was from three to four hundred feet. 
The day turned out fine and clear, and the effect 
produced by refraction in these vast plains was sin- 
gular and deceptive : more than once we turned 
considerably out of our way to examine some large 
timber, as we thought it to be, to the north of us, 
but which, upon our approach, proved to be low 
scrubby bushes. At another time we imagined we 
saw two natives in the distance, and went towards 
them as carefully and cautiously as we could ; in- 
stead, however, of our having seen the heads of na- 
tives, as we supposed, above the bushes, it turned out 
to be only crows. Yet the native boy, whose quick- 
ness and accuracy of vision had oftep before surprised 
me, was equally deceived with myself. Upon 
halting in the evening our sheep again were very 
tired, and refused to eat. The horses too were now 
beginning to feel the want of water, and fed but 
little. I therefore sat up and watched them until 
half past eight, after which I tied them up to some 
bushes. At one o’clock I again got up and let them 
loose, hoping they might feed a little better in the 
cool of the night. The scud was rapidly passing 
the moon, and I watched for hours the clouds 
