hills; and in the valleys between these lay many freshwater
lagoons which rested upon a red clay soil that tinged the water of its
own colour and gave it an earthy taste.

The country here was but very lightly timbered and well adapted for
either agricultural or pastoral purposes, but especially for the growth
of cotton and sugar, should the climate be sufficiently warm; and of this
I think there can be no doubt whatever. I was so won by the discovery of
this rich district that I wandered on unconscious of the fatigue of the
party, roaming from rising ground to rising ground, and hoping from each
eminence to gain a view of high land to the eastward, but on all sides I
could see nothing but the same low fertile country. I however felt
conscious that within a few years of the moment at which I stood there a
British population, rich in civilization and the means of transforming an
unoccupied country to one teeming with inhabitants and produce, would
have followed my steps and be eagerly and anxiously examining my charts;
and this reflection imparted a high degree of interest and importance to
our present position and operations.

RETURN TO THE RIVER.

The darkness of night was now closing round us and Kaiber the native,
with his long thin legs, put himself at the head of the party and, taking
a star for his guide, led us with rapid and lengthy paces across the
plains to the encampment, where we found the party anxiously waiting to
hear what success we had met with. Poor Mr. Smith was very unwell tonight
with a feverish attack. Mr. Walker had prescribed for him and ordered him
to be kept quiet. I got a meridian altitude of Procyon which put us in 24
degrees 56 minutes 57 seconds south latitude.

March 6.

Mr. Smith was if anything worse this morning, and I learned from some of
the men that he had been wandering about all night, and had bathed
several times in the river. I remonstrated with him about having done so,
but he excused himself, and I determined to remain stationary at this
point for a day or two to give him plenty of rest before we again started
on our cruise along the coast.

PLAN OF FUTURE PROCEEDINGS.

After the discovery of the Gascoyne the plan I made up my mind to follow
was to examine rapidly the coast as far as Cape Cuvier, to return from
that point to Bernier Island and refit; then once more to visit the
Gascoyne properly equipped, and thoroughly explore the adjacent district
to the distance of f