was scraped up from small puddles, heated by the sun’s rays; and so uncertain were we of finding water at the end of the day’s journey, that we were obliged to carry a supply on one of the bullocks.  There was scarcely a living creature, even of the feathered race, to be seen to break the stillness of the forest.  The native dogs alone wandered about, though they had scarcely strength to avoid us; and their melancholy howl, breaking in upon the ear at the dead of night, only served to impress more fully on the mind the absolute loneliness of the desert.

Jan. 31. We came upon a creek, but could not decide whether it was the one for which we had been searching, or another.  It had flooded-gum growing upon its banks, and, on places apparently subject to flood, a number of tall straight saplings were observed by us.  We returned to the camp, after a vain search for water, and were really at a loss what direction next to pursue.  The men kept the cattle pretty well together, and, as we were not delayed by any preparations for breakfast, they were saddled and loaded at an early hour.  The circumstance of there having been natives in the neighbourhood, of whom we had seen so few traces of late, assured me that water was at hand, but in what direction it was impossible to guess.  As the path we had observed was leading northerly, we took up that course, and had not proceeded more than a mile upon it, when we suddenly found ourselves on the bank of a noble river.  Such it might in truth be called, where water was scarcely to be found.  The party drew up upon a bank that was from forty to forty-five feet above the level of the stream.  The channel of the river was from seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans and other wild fowl.  Our surprise and delight maybe better imagined than described.  Our difficulties seemed to be at an end, for here was a river that promised to reward all our exertions, and which appeared every moment to increase in importance, to our imagination.  Coming from the N.E., and flowing to the S.W., it had a capacity of channel that proved that we were as far from its source as from its termination.  The paths of the natives on either side of it were like well-trodden roads; and the trees that overhung it were of beautiful and gigantic growth.

Its banks were too precipitous to allow of our watering the cattle, but the men eagerly descended to quench their thirst, which a powerful sun had contributed to increase, nor shall I ever forget the looks of terror and disappointment with which they called out to inform me that the water was so salt as to be unfit to drink!  This was, indeed, too true; on tasting it, I found it extremely nauseous, and strongly impregnated with salt, being apparently a mixture of sea and fresh water.  Whence this arose, whether from local causes, or from a communication with some inland sea, I know not,