d mark was not more than two feet
high on the reeds by which they were lined. We had hitherto passed
under the shade of the flooded gum, which still continued on the
immediate banks of the river; but, the farther we advanced, the more
did we find these trees in a state of decay, until at length they
ceased, or were only rarely met with.

TERMINATION OF THE RIVER.

About 2 p.m. I brought up under a solitary tree, in consequence of
heavy rain: this was upon the left bank. In the afternoon, however, we
again pushed forward, and soon lost sight of every other object amidst
reeds of great height. The channel of the river continued as broad and
as deep as ever, but the flood mark did not show more than a foot above
the banks, which were now almost on a level with the water; and the
current was so sluggish as to be scarcely perceptible. These general
appearances continued for about three miles, when our course was
suddenly, and most unexpectedly, checked. The channel, which had
promised so well, without any change in its breadth or depth, ceased
altogether; and whilst we were yet lost in astonishment at so abrupt a
termination of it, the boat grounded. It only remained for us to
examine the banks, which we did with particular attention. Two creeks
were then discovered, so small as scarcely to deserve the name, and
which would, under ordinary circumstances, have been overlooked. The
one branched off to the north--the other to the west. We were obliged
to get out of the boat to push up the former, the leeches sticking in
numbers to our legs. The creek continued for about thirty yards, when
it was terminated; and, in order fully to satisfy myself of the fact, I
walked round the head of it by pushing through the reeds. Night coming
on, we returned to the tree at which we had stopped during the rain,
and slept under it. The men cut away the reeds, or we should not have
had room to move. At 2 a.m. it commenced raining, with a heavy storm of
thunder and lightning; the boat was consequently hauled ashore, and
turned over to afford us a temporary shelter. The lightning was
extremely vivid, and frequently played upon the ground, near the
firelocks, for more than a quarter of a minute at a time.

It is singular, that Mr. Oxley should, under similar circumstances,
have experienced an equally stormy night, and most probably within a
few yards of the place on which I had posted myself. Notwithstanding
that the elements were raging around