The ground was covered with freshwater shells of the sort found in the rivers of England and Scotland and called the horse mussel, having sometimes small pearls in them.
"We ascended two heights which commanded views of the country for several miles on every side.

To one, Colonel Paterson gave the name of Ann's Mountain after Mrs.King, the other he called Elizabeth's Mountain, that being the Christian name of Mrs.Paterson.We now found that we had got behind the range of mountains extending along the coast to the south and west.

We likewise saw the coast of Port Stephens and the chain of hills inland stretching in a direction towards the north-east.

Between us and the hills was a space perfectly level for many miles, and to appearance swampy.

The land on the south side of the river was interspersed with lagoons on which we killed some ducks but found them very shy.