e figured rocks to the no
slight risk of our sportsmen, who were perched upon them. Seabirds,
frightened from their resting places, screamed fearfully, and the dismal
howl of the wild dog, equally alarmed, sometimes fell on the ear amidst
the roaring of the dangerous element, which in the intense darkness of
the night we could not but admire. Whilst gazing on this wild scene, I
could not help speculating on the probable cause the natives would assign
for this great conflagration; the bright glare of which must have
extended over several miles of country, perhaps alarming and doubtless
causing deep consultation amongst the wise men of their tribes. It may
also have taxed their power of invention, as they never use large fires
in the night, except in wild stormy weather, when the creaking trees, and
moaning wind, give them a dread of a visit from the Evil Spirit.

April 13.

Being anxious to examine the range over the cove, I desired Mr. Helpman
to explore the North-East corner of this large bay, and the main lying
behind the islands, fronting the coast to the northward of it. We
accordingly moved off on our several occupations at an early hour. After
much difficulty Mr. Fitzmaurice and myself found ourselves on a tableland
of sandstone formation, elevated by measurement 900 feet above the sea
level, and by far the highest land yet noticed on this part of the
continent; the prospect here was very cheerless; similar but lower ranges
met the eye in every direction towards the interior, those overlooking
the eastern shore of the bay, were from 6 to 700 feet high. There
appeared to be a large island in its North-East corner, which fell back
about 10 miles, and like many other parts of it was lined with a growth
of mangroves. A string of smaller islands extended three miles from the
north point, leaving an entrance only two miles wide. A sandstone ridge
similar to that on which we stood, rose abruptly from the north point,
but of less elevation. I was not a little surprised to find that
Lieutenant Grey had seen land from 2 to 3000 feet high, only about 30
miles from the height on which we stood, but as he had not the means of
measuring these great elevations, and as Captain King, who was within 20
miles of the high land alluded to, does not notice it, yet mentions some
hills from 3 to 400 feet high, 15 miles further to the North-East, I am
induced to believe that Lieutenant Grey may have over-estimated the
height of the land