168 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPIC AL 
1819 . tic growth, both of which are very abundant. We 
May~l2. landed at Point Elizabeth, and walked a mile back 
through a fine open country, well timbered and 
richly clothed with luxuriant grass, and apparently 
much frequented by kangaroos. 
From the edge of the bank Mount Cairncross, 
a remarkable round-topped hill, which is conspi- 
cuously seen from the coast over the entrance of 
the port,* appeared over the next reach, and formed 
a rich picturesque back-ground for the view. 
After refreshing ourselves, we re-imbarked,and 
passed on our right a shoal inlet, in which we 
saw a native’s weir* for the purpose of taking fish; 
it was formed by sticks stuck in the mud, and so 
close as to prevent the retreat of such as were 
inside : three miles above this we landed on an 
open grassy spot on the south bank, and pitched 
our tent for the night. 
About half an hour before we landed, we heard 
the voices of natives in the woods ; who, after we 
passed by, embarked in two canoes and followed 
us for some distance, but the near approach of 
night obliged us to look out for a convenient spot 
to encamp upon ; so that the natives, finding they 
were unattended to, soon gave up their pursuit. 
In the morning, before we embarked, our barica 
was filled at a water-hole close at hand ; on 
walking about a quarter of a mile back, we came 
* See the drawing of the entrance of Port Macquarie, 
