a good way off, which seemed to surprise them; and having made them understand that such a ball would easily pierce through six blackfellows, I snapped my fingers at one of their spears, and hastened to the camp.  I considered these hints the more necessary as the natives seemed to think us very simple fools who were ready to part with everything.  Thus enlightened as to the effect of our firearms these thankless beggars disappeared; although several gins and some men still sat on the opposite bank, observing our boats.

WE LEAVE THE DEPOT AND EMBARK IN THE BOATS.

June 1.

Everything being ready I embarked with Mr. Larmer and 14 men, leaving the depot in charge of Joseph Jones (assistant overseer) and six other men, armed with four muskets and as many pistols.  We proceeded well enough some way down the river, but at length a shallow reach first occasioned much delay, and afterwards rocks so dammed up the channel that it was necessary to unload and draw the boats over them.

SLOW PROGRESS DOWN THE RIVER.

Our progress was thus extremely slow, notwithstanding the activity and exertions of the men, who were almost constantly in the water, although a bitter cold wind blew all day.  By sunset we had got over a bad place where there was a considerable fall, when, on looking round the point, we found that the bed of the river was full of rocks, to the extent of nearly a mile.  I therefore encamped only a few miles from the depot, the latitude being 30 degrees 9 minutes 59 seconds South.

RETURN TO THE DEPOT.

These unexpected impediments to our progress down the river determined me to return to the depot with the boats, and afterwards to explore its course on horseback until I could discover more of its character and ultimate course.

No time had yet been lost, for the horses and cattle had required some rest; and the depot was still desirable as a place of defence while I proceeded down with the horses.  We had however acquired such a knowledge of the bed, banks, and turnings of the river at this part as could not have been otherwise obtained.  The water being beautifully transparent the bottom was visible at great depths, showing large fishes in shoals, floating like birds in mid-air.  What I have termed rocks are only patches of ferruginous clay which fill the lowest part of the basin of this river.  The bed is composed either of that clay or of a ferruginous sandstone exactly similar to that on the coast near Sydney, and which resembles what was formerly called the iron-sand of England, where it occurs, as before stated, both as a fresh and saltwater formation.  At the narrows the quantity of running water was very inconsiderable, but perhaps as much as might have turned a mill.  It made some noise among the stones however although at the very low level of this river compared to its distance from the known coasts it could not fall much.  I was nevertheless unwilling to risk the boats among the rocks or clay banks, and accordingly decided on returning to the camp.