midday
They had not proceeded far before they felt the strength of the current , for although the river was wide it was shallow , and so great was the mass of water coming down that it ran with the rapidity of a mill-stream . The men had to bend to their oars with might and main , and even then , the heavier boats in several places scarcely seemed , at times , to go ahead . Though the sun struck down with intense heat , the gallant bluejackets took no notice of it , nor relaxed their efforts , but hour after hour pulled on , encouraged by their officers . In some places , the water was so shallow that the boats could with difficulty move along , and frequently they had to shove off till another channel was found ; undaunted , however , they laboured on till midday , when they landed at the most convenient spot to be found on the banks of the river to dine and recruit their exhausted strength . An hour only was allowed for rest , and once more they embarked and toiled on as before . The forest on both sides of the river came close down to the water 's edge , the lofty trees towering high above their heads , shutting out everything behind . Here and there a few clearings were seen , with huts and other buildings , tenanted by settlers , and now and then a native in his light canoe paddled by , but few inhabitants were seen ; the views as they proceeded consisted chiefly of the tumbling waters and the forests as the hand of nature had left them .