FROM KING GEORGE'S SOUND. 257 west point of ditto, E. by N. & N.; highest western peak, E. by N., northerly; south head of a large inlet (close to the sea, and trending from N.E. by E. to S.W. by W.), S. 4 E.; high hill to the west of the inlet, under which, apparently, it communicates with the sea, S. by W. From the N.E. angle.-The western point of Morrilup, N.E. by E.; from this bearing to N.W. (except some very distant high land, bearing N. by E.), the country appeared level as far as the eye could survey. From the N.W. the land rises, and becomes gradually higher; and from this point round to the southward, it appears like the ocean convulsed by a storm: this resemblance being augmented by the setting sun's refracted rays gleaming faintly through the "horizontal misty air." In the midst of this alpine region, three mountains are conspicuous, from their superior altitude; and as they will be leading points in a trigonometrical survey of the country, we named them after the SurveyorsGeneral of Australia. From the S. W. angle, a group of islands (four) middle of the west and largest isle, S.W. S.; high distant land, W. southerly; extreme part of the sea visible on the right, W. by S. 1 S.; land, supposed Cape Nuyts, S.W. W.; and a little after the sun went down, we 124 perceived a large expanse of water close to the sea coast, bearing S.W. S., and imagined it to be near, perhaps, to the westward of, Cape Chatham. S 258 EXCURSION INTO THE INTERIOR These observations being made, we continued admiring the magnificent scene until daylight departed. We then deemed it prudent to remain till the moon had attained some altitude in the eastern sky, lest we might lose our way, or meet with some accident, while descending the mountain in the dark. This delay was rather agreeable than otherwise, the night being serene and mild-exactly according with the beautiful description of Milton: "Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Now glowed the firmament With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw." We observed the smoke from our encampment, hovering over the trees, far beneath us to the westward; and Mokǎrē, who would much rather have been below, eating kangaroo, than admiring the sublime and beautiful from the top of the mountain, was very urgent in his entreaties for us to descend; and, at length, his wishes were complied with. We reached our party, without any accident, and were welcomed by "the watch dog's honest bark," and found a blazing fire, a pretty bower, and a comfortable supper, prepared for us. Having, unfortunately, sprained my ankle, in jumping FROM KING GEORGE'S SOUND. 259 over a stream, on the second day's journey, I suffered very severely from the pain in descending the mountain. To allay this, I placed my foot in the running stream, wherein I found an excellent, though unexpected, remedy;-a number of leeches soon fixed on it, and were gladly permitted to drink their fill. From what Mokǎrē told me, I thought that the natives were in the habit of applying them in certain cases; but, on more minute enquiry, I found he had picked up his knowledge of their utility from having been present when they were applied by the surgeon of the settlement. He said, "they were very good for white fellow, but very bad for the blacks;" by whom great caution was always used while drinking, to guard against their entering into the mouth with the water, which, nevertheless, sometimes happened, and occasioned fatal consequences. During the night, the bell bird supplied, to us, the place of the wakeful nightingale; and at daybreak, we were awakened by the tuneful voices of several singing birds. This was a pleasing surprise, as we had hitherto supposed that the birds in New Holland were not famed for song1. 1 Vancouver has also noticed, that some of the small birds on this part of the coast sing very melodiously. CHAPTER XVIII. Proceed on our Journey-Discover a large Inlet into which several Rivers empty themselves-Arrive at the Settlement-Captain Barker's Narrative-General Remarks on our Journey-A Native DanceCurious Prescription of a Native Doctor. ON Thursday morning, we left, with some regret, this delightful glen; and, walking round the southern base of Mount Lindesay, we were not long in meeting with another rivulet, winding round its eastern side, and, joining that at which we had halted last night;—the united streams being about thirty feet wide, and five deep, running directly south. This reach, however, only extends a few hundred yards, when it expands, and runs rapidly over a bed of granite. Those who wished it, enjoyed here the refreshing luxury of a cold bath; and Mokărē was advised to endeavour to learn to swim, but, having no ambition to attain this accomplishment, he kept at a prudent distance, lest he might, through frolic, be tumbled in. RETURN FROM THE INTERIOR. 261 The banks, as far as we examined, are rich, but, (as may be readily imagined, from the precipitous nature of the country,) very narrow; the surrounding hills, however, are of good soil, and might easily be turned to some account. The trees, principally blue gum, are the finest I have ever seen. Leaving this river, which was named the Denmark (in compliment to a physician of the British fleet,) we proceeded south-east, crossing, in our way, several streams of pure water, which might, according to Australian phraseology, be called rivers. This day's journey was, from the abrupt nature of the country, very fatiguing. The land on the hills was sometimes good, sometimes indifferent, but more frequently very barren. That of the valleys was, in general, of a fair quality. In the evening, we encamped near a stream, running through a valley-as all the others did -to the southward. We On Friday, at daybreak, we started; and Mokǎrē, having got on known ground, now led the way. After having travelled four hours, at a pretty brisk pace, we arrived at a river, upwards of fifty yards wide, and apparently deep, flowing slowly to the southward. walked along its right bank, and, in a short time, reaching its mouth, we observed that it poured its waters into the inlet seen from Mount Lindesay. Unfortunately, a bar of sand runs across it, there were not more than eighteen inches or two feet water, where we passed over: immediately inside, there is from three |