Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia, from Moreton Bay to Port Essington; ... During the Years 1844-1845 Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 edition. Excerpt: ... 488 SOUTH ALLIGATOR RIVER. the pericarp more developed--were abundant on the flats of the river; and Acmena ?, with smaller fruit and thin acidulous rind, grew straggling on the ridges. A thunder-storm from the north-east, compelled us to hasten into camp; and we had scarcely housed our luggage, when heavy rain set in and continued to fall during the first part of the night. Nov. 24.--We travelled about nine miles to the north-west, to lat. 13 5' 49," which a clear night enabled me to observe by a meridian altitude of Castor. We were, according to my latitude, and to my course, at the South Alligator River, about sixty miles from its mouth, and about one hundred and forty miles from Port Essington. The river gradually increased in size, and its bed became densely fringed with Pandanus; the hollows and flats were covered with groves of drooping tea-trees. Ridges of sandstone and conglomerate approached the river in several places, and at their base were seen some fine reedy and rushy lagoons, teeming with water-fowl. A flock of black Ibises rose from a moist hollow; white and black cockatoos, were seen and heard frequently. At day-break, 1 was struck with the sweet song of Rhipidura flaviventris, Gould. The natives cooeed from the other side of the river, probably to ascertain whether we were friendly or hostile; but did not shew themselves any farther. They were Unio eaters to a great extent, SMALLER SPECIES OF UNIO. 489 judging from the heaps of shells we saw along the river; the species of Unio on which they lived, was much smaller than that we had observed on the Roper. John and Charley saw a native in the bed of the river, busily employed in beating a species of bark, very probably to use its fibres to strain honey. He did not...