October 1.—­Our travelling to-day was nearly the same as yesterday.  The windings of the river were very sudden, and its banks were most generally covered with a thick brush, which in some places extended back a considerable distance.  Between those brushes the ground was open forest with good grass, casuarina or beefwood, and large timber:  the hills as usual stony.  Near our halting-place a remarkable rocky range of hills was seen to the east-south-east of great height, and presenting nearly a perpendicular front to the north-west.  Between east-north-east and east by south, with the imperfect view which we could obtain from the low hills we were traversing, it appeared but slightly broken, the higher ranges breaking off to the north-east and south-east, leaving a spacious valley through which we conjectured the river flowed.  Near us were a few cedar trees, and marks of flood exceeding twenty feet, but confined to the bed of the river.  On the whole we accomplished near eight miles, but scarcely five were in the direction of the sea, which we still estimate to be from twenty to twenty-five miles distant in a direct line.

October 2.—­In order to avoid the brushes, which lined the banks of the river, we kept at some distance from it to the south, which led us under the high rocky peaked hill mentioned yesterday.  Our road was however by no means bettered, and I afterwards regretted that I did not keep close to the river.  It is proper to mention that the brush land is of the richest description, being composed entirely of vegetable mould, the produce of decayed trees for ages:  it is singularly well watered; every little valley has its run to the river.  A great deal of cedar was seen to-day, and the more common timber was very large and good; the forest ridges between the brushes were well clothed with grass.  We have hitherto seen no natives, though they are certainly numerous, as their frequent recently deserted camps witness:  we are not very anxious for better proof.  The leeches in the bushes were very troublesome, and made many plentiful meals at our expense:  this would probably have done us no great harm, but the wounds which they made usually festered and became painful sores.  Our botanical collector ascended the peaked hill on our left, and had a most extensive prospect.  The river, winding a few miles below our station of this evening, was distinctly seen to the coast, which he did not estimate to be above fifteen or eighteen miles off.  The account which he gave of the interesting prospect, and the circumstance of its being the only eminence between us and the coast from whence any object could be distinguished, determined me to ascend it the ensuing morning, and ascertain the principal points in this beautiful country.  We travelled this day in the whole near six miles in an east-south-east course, the horses being very weak, and a road needing to be cut for them nearly the whole way, the last mile excepted, which was open forest land.