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[Page 12]
Convenient Retreat for their Cattle in case of inundations in the lower Grounds which is seldom to be apprehended, and the Agricultural labour may be performed by the Plough, without any interuption by either Trees or Rocks.
From my Tent there is an extent which is seen in one View of nearly Three Miles in length, and at places one in breadth, along the Bank of the River where Thousands of Acres may be Ploughed without falling a Tree.
These Plains extend upwards of Ten Miles along the winding Banks and every where equally fertile. From what I could judge by the Strata of Earth, by digging down about Three feet good Clay may be had for Bricks, how far the Wood is fit for Shingles, must hereafter be discovered, as I had neither time nor the means of making a trial, but Reeds and Grass are in great abundance for the purposes of Thatching and when Bricks are to be had Tiles may be produced also, which would certainly be preferable to Thatch.
Since I left Outer Cove I have not seen anything like Limestone and the Common Stone in this part of the Country is so hard that it is not fit for the purpose of building. The Timber for erecting buildings must be brought from the Hills but the distance is not great and the descent is such that it may be brought down with very little labour.
It is my Opinion when the Rainy Seasons are ascertained the Country will turn out to be superior to any yet discovered, but in the event of it becoming a Considerable Settlement, it will be requisite to have flat bottomed Craft to have any Communication with the River below, at least as far as the Cataract until the Country is better known.
3rd Decr. Examined the Country along the River Side, and the adjacent Hills, the falls Continue to be more rapid running over small Pebbles with great force, the breadth about 10 Yards, the Land much the same, passed two very small Gullies but not of that Size to indicate any quantity of Water ever emptying itself into the River, which Convincies me the more that no large Quantity of Water overflows the Banks. Wind S. E. Clear Weather Ther. from 60º to 85º - 75º - 64º heavy dew in the early part of the Morning.
4th Decr. We formed with two Parties for the purpose of exploring the Country along the Banks of the River to the Southward, Ensign Hugh Piper with Mr. Mountgarrate and two Soldiers and Lieut Symmonds with two Soldiers and myself. After a very fatiging march from 7 O'Clock in the Morning till 3 in the Afternoon, when we returned and Compared Notes, our Account of the excellency of the Soil and the general appearence of the Country coincided, the former Party had been several Miles higher up where they discovered an Island as described in the Chart. On our Excursion about Three Miles from the Tent we observed the River divide into two Branches but found they only formed an Island of about 20 Acres of very fine Grass