222 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. boat could penetrate. From Mr. Roes report, 
July 8.' the country was low and of unpromising appear- 
ance. The river took its course by a very tor- 
tuous channel, through a low country : for two or 
three miles from the entrance its banks are over- 
run with dense forests of mangroves ; but beyond 
this they are superseded by red earthy cliffs, 
on which was growing abundance of the hibiscus 
tiliaceus , Further back the country is open and 
grassy, upon which a stunted eucalyptus is com- 
mon ; here Mr. Cunningham found two species of 
grevillea , and the sago palm ( cycas media,) which 
also grows near the mouth of the river, above 
which, the seaforthia elegans occasionally raised 
its towering head, and with its picturesque foliage 
served to vary and enrich the scene. 
Mr. Cunningham, in return for the plants he 
collected, sowed peach and apricot stones in 
many parts near the banks. 
The river is generally very shallow, but, at 
nine miles from the mouth, the water is fresh. 
At the place where the party turned back, the 
width was not more than six yards. On their 
return, they examined another arm on the north 
side, which proving inconsiderable, and the 
evening being far advanced, they did not delay 
to examine it. 
On the 10th, our boat was launched, and pre- 
10. 
