Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/435

 Rh roots of which would have furnished an excellent substitute for vegetables for us, had the plants been found in abundance, and convenient for gathering.

During our stay at tiffs harbour, our gentlemen visited every part of the country within five or six miles from the tents. The soil, although covered with grass, was generally remarked to be shallow and of inferior quality; as was sufficiently indicated by the small size of the trees. The distance to which we had penetrated was by no means sufficient to give a fair idea of the nature of the country in the interior; which, from its hilly appearance, might be expected to possess both a rich soil and a better pasturage than the parts we had seen; but for the latter, the neighbourhood of the entrance of Endeavour River was by no means insignificant.

The small number of our crew prevented my sending away a party to examine the interior with any certainty of protection, either to the travellers, or to those left in charge of the vessel; and this circumstance, on several occasions, precluded us from forming any correct idea of the productions of the places we visited, which we probably might have been partially enabled to do by a walk of two or three miles from the sea.

Some kangaroos were seen by us, during our visit; and Mr. Hunter shot a few birds: among