s evidently lower than the ground on which we stood; we had
therefore, a complete view over the whole expanse; and there was a
dreariness and desolation pervading the scene that strengthened as we
gazed upon it. Under existing circumstances, it only remained for us
either to skirt the reeds to the northward, or to turn in again upon
the river; and as I considered it important to ascertain the direction
of the Macquarie at so critical and interesting a point, I thought it
better to adopt the latter measure. We, accordingly, made for the
river, and pitched our tents, as at the last station, in the midst of
reeds.

There were two points at this time, upon which I was extremely anxious.
The first was as to the course of the river; the second, as to the
extent of the marshes by which we had been checked, and the
practicability of the country to the northward.

In advising with Mr. Hume, I proposed launching the boat, as the surest
means of ascertaining the former, and he, on his part, most readily
volunteered to examine the marshes, in any direction I should point
out. It was therefore, arranged, that I should take two men, and a
week's provision with me in the boat down the river; and that he should
proceed with a like number of men on an excursion to the northward.

After having given directions as to the regulations of camp during our
absence, we separated, on the morning of the 26th for the first time,
in furtherance of the objects each had in view.

BOAT EXCURSION.

In pulling down the river, I found that its channel was at first
extremely tortuous and irregular, but that it held a general N.W.
course, and bore much the same appearance as it had done since our
descent from Mount Foster.

We had a laborious task in lifting the boat over the trunks of trees
that had fallen into the channel of the river or that had been left by
the floods, and at length we stove her in upon a sunken log. The injury
she received was too serious not to require immediate repair; and we,
therefore, patched her up with a tin plate. This accident occasioned
some delay, and the morning was consumed without our having made any
considerable progress. At length, however, we got into a more open
channel.

The river suddenly increased in breadth to thirty-five or forty-five
yards, with a depth of from twelve to twenty feet of water. Its banks
shelved perpendicularly down, and were almost on a level with the
surface of the stream; and the floo