we had a few shoal casts of the lead, but afterwards the depth was eight
and ten fathoms, it being near low-water. In order to catch a glance at
what was beyond, and to spell the oars, we landed at a point on the east
side, from which Endeavour Hill bore West 1/2 South three miles. Here the
river, by taking a slight turn more to the southward, was again lost
sight of. We were sorry to perceive that it was much occupied by shoals,
that showed themselves at this time of tide. The first began five miles
beyond our station, commencing from abreast of a rugged ridge, on the
west bank. The singular manner in which the blocks of sandstone were
strewed over this height, caused it to bear a strong resemblance to old
ruins. The appearance of the country had not as yet improved, though the
sandstone had lost that reddish hue we had noticed in the morning, while
preserving the very marked dip to the south-east.

Continuing we found the change in the direction of the river very slight,
and at the end of sixteen miles it suddenly turned off to the eastward,
which I was sorry to find, as its diverging from its original
south-easterly direction, appeared likely to disappoint our expectation
that the Victoria would prove a highroad to the interior of the
continent. The width had hitherto been almost two miles, but there was
not sufficient depth to give us any hope of bringing the ship up thus
far.

APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

The country now began to assume a more cheerful aspect. The hills
exhibited no longer the same rugged outline, and were better clothed with
vegetation. From the top of one of a conical group, forming the north
point of the river where it changes to the eastward, I could trace its
direction but little further.