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.

On the opposite side the hills receded, forming an amphitheatre round a level plain, through which ran a creek.  On its banks, for the first time, we saw fires of the natives.  Here, also for the first time, we noticed the gouty-stem trees; whilst the slope of the hill we ascended was covered with a tolerable sprinkling of grass.  Kangaroos, likewise, were observed on every side springing along the turf; and a few great alligators passed up the stream, after reconnoitering our boat at the risk of a shot or two.

We were now nearly thirty miles from the ship; and a few stations were still necessary to be made to complete the survey so far.  Our proceeding farther was therefore useless, especially as an exploring expedition must pass up the river; and retracing our steps we reached the ship near midnight on the 20th.  The intelligence of the success of our cruise was received on board with an enthusiasm which explorers only can appreciate.  Mr. Fitzmaurice had not returned, which favoured my surmises that he would find a river.

October 21.

Mr. Forsyth having collected all the necessary material for the survey near the ship, we shifted our berth this afternoon into deeper water, between the south end of Quoin Island and another small islet to the south-west, which from our operations on its south-eastern corner we called Observation Island.  The weather was very remarkable in the evening—­dark patches of clouds appearing in the western horizon, from which vivid lightnings flashed, and loud peals of thunder roared.  The frightened stream of the sea-birds evinced how seldom nature puts on such an aspect in this place.

Captain Wickham ascends the Victoria.

Before proceeding further with the ship, it was necessary to feel our way with the boats.  Whilst this was going on, Captain Wickham determined on pushing up the river in the gig to ascertain if it was fresh sufficiently near to water the ship from, when she had been taken as far up the Victoria as it was possible.  He left next morning on this more than interesting trip.

Fitzmaurice river.

The same afternoon Mr. Fitzmaurice returned, having, as we had suspected, discovered a river that carried his boat thirty miles in an east direction from the south end of McAdam Range.  Towards the upper part it was scarcely half a mile wide; but for an Australian stream was remarkably free from bends, pursuing a straight course between rocky heights, with a depth varying from two to seven fathoms.  Many shoals occurred towards the entrance, where in some places it was more than two miles wide.  This river was named Fitzmaurice River after its discoverer; and the mouth or inlet of it, after his companion, Keys Inlet.