At an angle of the river, below the gully in which we had slept, a rocky dyke crossed the stream in a north-north-west direction.  It consisted of a very hard ferruginous sandstone resembling that on the eastern coast.  This must have been another of the many impediments to our boat navigation had we proceeded by water, and from the general appearance of the river I was satisfied that a passage with boats could not have been attempted in its present state with any prospect of getting soon down.  We travelled on, without seeing the river, from seven until twelve, following a south-west course, then due west, and in this direction we crossed the broad dry bed of a watercourse coming from the south-east, having previously observed high ground on the left.

A PERFUMED VEGETABLE.

The bed of this watercourse was covered with a plant resembling clover or trefoil, but it had a yellow flower, and a perfume like that of woodrooffe.* A fragrant breeze played over this richest of clover fields and reminded me of new-mown hay.  The verdure and the perfume were new to my delighted senses, and my passion for discovering something rich and strange was fully gratified, while my horse, defying the rein, seemed no less pleased in the midst of so delicious a feast as this verdure must have appeared to him.  The ground seemed to rise before me, and I was proceeding with the intention of ascending the nearest elevation to look for the Darling when I suddenly came upon its banks, which were higher, and its bed was broader and deeper than ever!

(Footnote.  See below for Dr. Lindley’s description of this plant.)

INTERVIEW WITH NATIVES.

We had also arrived on it at a point occupied by a numerous tribe of blacks, judging by the number of fires which we saw through the trees.  Their roads appeared in all directions, and their gins were fishing in the river at a distance.  In short, the buzz of population gave to the banks at this place the cheerful character of a village in a populous country.  Conscious of the alarm our first appearance was likely to produce, although I could not suppose that all the inhabitants would run off, I hastened to the water edge with our horses (for they had not drunk that morning) in order that we might, after refreshing them, recover a position favourable for a parley with whoever might approach us.  I was much pleased, though surprised, to find the water again quite fresh, and its current still sustained.* Our appearance caused less alarm than I had even expected.  A sturdy man hailed me from a distance and came boldly up, followed by another very athletic, though old, individual, and six younger men with an old woman.  I alighted and met them after sending, at their request, the horses out of sight.  With difficulty I persuaded them at length to go near the horses; but I endeavoured in vain to gain any information as to the further course of the river.  The Callewatta was still their name for it, as it was higher up.  I observed here that the old woman was a loquacious and most influential personage, scarcely allowing the older of the men to say a word.