Volume 14 Australasia - dana ward's homepage

128 AUSTRALASIA.gradually diminisliing in extent, their muddy banks steadily advancing towardsthe central parts, which Karl Bock found to be still over 80 feet deep. Belowthe region of lakes, which are connected by narrow channels in an endless labyrinthicsj'stem, the Mahakkam, after re-uniting with its chief affluent, continues itswinding southerly course between low ranges of carboniferous hills. But beyond anFig. 47. Bakito Delta.Scale 1 : 1,400.000.abrupt bend to the east its two banks, diverging to a distance of one or two miles,acquire a completely alluvial character ;and here the nipa palm is the only arborescentgrowth. Here also it becomes a tidal stream, flowing, so to say, beyond themainland, and, like the Mississippi, ramifying into numerous " goose feet " amidthe surrounding marine waters. An exceptional spring tide, some 5 or 6 feet