COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
149 
bay of Van Diemen we discovered several rivers, isis* 
one of which we ascended for forty miles. The July 24-. 
thickly-wooded shores of the north coast bore a 
striking contrast to the sandy desert-looking tract 
of coast we had previously seen, and inspired us 
with the hope of finding, at a future time, a still 
greater improvement in the country between the 
two extremes. 
Mr. Cunningham made a very valuable and 
extensive collection of dried plants and seeds ; 
but, from the small size of our vessel, and the 
constant occupation of myself and the two mid- 
shipmen who accompanied me, we had neither 
space nor time to form any other collection of 
Natural History than a few insects, and some 
specimens of the geology of those parts where 
we had landed. 
