course had there however changed. To the
camp of last night it had been remarkably straight towards
south-south-east although full of turnings being what may be termed
straight serpentine,* and I had accordingly expected to find the estuary
at Portland Bay in which case it was likely to be sheltered sufficiently
by Cape Nelson to form a harbour. Now however the general course was
nearly west and it preserved the same general direction without much
winding during the progress we made throughout the day. I had therefore
every reason to suppose that it would thus terminate in the wide bay
between Cape Northumberland and Cape Bridgewater. The scenery on the long
reaches was in many places very fine from the picturesque character of
the limestone-rock and the tints and outline of the trees, shrubs, and
creepers upon the banks. In some places stalactitic grottoes covered with
red and yellow creepers overhung or enclosed cascades; at other points
casuarinae and banksia were festooned with creeping vines whose hues of
warm green or brown were relieved by the grey cliffs of more remote
reaches as they successively opened before us.

(*Footnote. See Colonel Jackson's paper also referred to above.)

BLACK SWANS.

Black swans being numerous, we shot several; and found some eggs which we
thought a luxury among the bulrushes at the water's edge. But we had
left, as it seemed, all the good grassy land behind us; for the
stringybark and a species of Xanthorrhoea (grass-tree) grew to the
water's edge both where the soil looked black and rich and where it
possessed that red colour which distinguishes the best soil in the
vicinity of limestone rock. One or two small tributaries joined the river
the principal one coming from the left bank at that point or angle where
the great change takes place in its course. When the sun was near setting
we put ashore on this bank and from a tree on the highest part of the
country behind it we now once again saw Mount Gambier bearing 57 degrees
West of North.

WATER BRACKISH.

Here the water was slightly brackish but still very good for use; the
saltness being most perceptible when the water was used for tea. The
river had increased considerably both in width and depth; for here the
measured breadth was 101 yards and the mean depth five fathoms. (See
section on general Map.) It was upon the whole considering the permanent
fulness of its stream the character of its banks and uniformity of width
and