Range a continuation of pastoral country might be
found all the way to Moresby's Flat-topped Range. In coming to our
anchorage this morning we passed the opening of another river, that which
is laid down in Captain King's charts as the largest. From what we saw of
it I do not think that much water can issue from it either, although its
bed looked larger and better defined than any we had seen hitherto. The
man from the mast-head said he saw the sandy beach all across it. But the
Captain, being anxious to examine the anchorage in the bay, did not wish
to come to anchor sooner, so we passed on, perhaps 10 or 12 miles to the
south of it. Just as they were about to let go the small anchor, which
had been used since the first was broken, it was discovered that it also
was broken nearly through, so we had to drop a large and heavy one, being
the only one now remaining in the ship. We then landed in the boat, and
saw two pieces of ship's timbers set up in the sand of the beach, about
half a mile from each other. Dug and examined under and about the largest
of them in hopes of finding some directions, probably about fresh water,
but found none. Examined a place where the tea-tree and wattles were very
green and luxuriant looking; it appeared like a swamp in winter, but
quite dry now. Was struck by the singularity of some tea-trees growing,
of a large size, both up the sides and on the tops of high sandhills, but
which appeared to rest upon limestone. Got a view to the east and south
of the range. The country presented the same appearance as before. It
must be remarked that the grass was all parched and withered and of a
yellow straw colour; and it was from this colour principally that we
judged of its existence on the distant grounds. Those who have once seen
tracts of withered grass will not readily mistake its appearance; but the
green of the shrubs was extremely vivid. One observation which we had
repeated occasion to make was the constant heavy dews which fell at night
on this coast, rendering everything about the ship quite wet. The wind
was off the land. The country all around seemed to be on fire in the
morning. The thermometer, as I stood on the deck, was 94 degrees. In the
evening the wind came round to the north-west, and, desirous of availing
ourselves of such a favourable breeze, we got on board and set sail, but
were obliged to stand well out to sea to clear the reefs. Towards night
it fell calm again, and there was s