Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/309

Rh deposit, and its surface slopes up the valley of the Cleddau River, forming benches 4 to 6 feet above the highest floods. This flat (and a few hundred acres on islands in the lower part of the Arthur River) is the only land at the head of Milford Sound that could possibly be made available for any purpose.

Below the narrow part of the Sound around Anita Bay there is another small portion of level land, but it is a mere strip by the water's edge along the base of steep ranges of hills. Fresh-Water Basin, in which we were moored, is an expansion of the main channel of the Cleddau River lying between the before-mentioned flat and a vertical precipice of rock, but closed in from the up Sound winds by Cemetery Point. We lay within a few hundred yards of the foot of a cascade 540 feet in vertical height. The grand scale of the surrounding scenery detracts, however, from the imposing effect which this fall would have in any other situation. The volume of water is very considerable, especially after heavy rains, forming a stream for 100 yards between the foot of the fall and the edge of the sea 40 feet in width, and, judging from the flood-mark, sometimes 18 to 20 feet in depth. The occasional flooding and the continued dashing of wind and spray from the falling water have prevented the growth of scrub on a small plot of about an acre in extent, which from a distance presents the pleasant, because unusual, sight on this coast, of a grassy knoll. The surface of this plot is covered with hummocks, not unlike graves, which doubtless has suggested the name Cemetery.

On the 10th August the weather promising well in the forenoon, I started on an exploratory journey up the valley of the Cleddau River; but in the afternoon it began to snow heavily, so that I had to return after getting about 5 miles from the mouth. The valley has a very rapid fall, but it is crossed by no ledges of rock or other obstacles than the large boulders derived from ancient moraines with which the valley is partially blocked up. The floor of the valley is composed of the detrital matter, the rock only showing at the sides, where it forms steeply-inclined slopes grooved and scratched like those of the Sound. Three valleys join to form the main valley of the Cleddau River, but they all seem to originate among precipitous mountains, and give no hope of an easy passage to the eastern side.

On the 17th August, there having been several days of fine weather, with south-east wind, I made another attempt to examine the Cleddau River, taking with me three men, a tent, and provisions for some days. The woods were very dry and pleasant, and the stream so much lower than during the previous week, that we were able to skirt it in many places where I had previously to wade across it.

Following up the middle of the three branches, by evening we