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[Page 11]
and from the looseness of the sand and strength of the stream when swoln by rains, I should suppose it often shifts and probably during the heats of summer when the current becomes languid is entirely dried up; the stream runs out at the rate of three Miles an hour, and is perfectly fresh immediately within its point of Junction with the Salt Water;* I went up it a quarter of a mile in the Cutter, where a gravelly bar crosses it, beyond which the bar again deepens, its course for about 12 miles is nearly parallel to the beach, at which distance the extensive swamp commences, and the river diverges more inland. Its source I suppose to be in the Northern Mountains. The banks are very sandy, and thickly covered with flowering trees, rushes and flags, here are also several honey suckle trees, of a growth sufficient for Compass timber for line of battle Ships. A sandy bar runs parallel to the beach at about [indecipherable] cables lenght distance, which I suppose defends the latter from the violence of the surf in blowing weather, but which must also render landing very dangerous at such times. The shrubs and grasses growing down to high water mark evinces that no material surf ever breaks on the beach.
From
*The Calcutta watered at this stream in November 1803 while she lay here it blew hard from the Southward for several days, during which time the water was found to be very brackish, and a heavy surf breaking on the bar, no boats could approach it; upon the return of moderate weather, the water again became fresh and the surf subsiding.
[Flag: type of marsh grass or reed.]
[Compass timber: timber used for ship building. It has been steamed and shaped, ready for the building of the hull.]