[They continued their course down the Murray till Feb. 9.]

After pulling a mile or two we found a clear horizon before us to the south.  The hills still continued upon our left, but we could not see any elevation over the expanse of reeds to our right.  The river inclined to the left, and swept the base of the hills that still continued on that side.  I consequently landed once more to survey the country.

I still retained a strong impression on my mind that some change was at hand, and on this occasion I was not disappointed, but the view was one for which I was not altogether prepared.  We had at length arrived at the termination of the Murray.  Immediately below me was a beautiful lake, which appeared to be a fitting reservoir for the noble stream that led us to it; and which was now ruffled by the breeze that swept over it.  The ranges were more distinctly visible, stretching from south to north, and were certainly distant forty miles.  They had a regular unbroken outline; declining gradually to the south, but terminating abruptly at a lofty mountain northerly.  I had no doubt on my mind of this being the Mount Lofty of Captain Flinders; or that the range was that immediately to the eastward of St. Vincent’s Gulf.  Between us and the ranges a beautiful promontory shot into the lake, being a continuation of the right bank of the Murray.  Over this promontory the waters stretched to the base of the ranges, and formed an extensive bay.  To the S.W. a bold headland showed itself; beyond which, to the westward, there was a clear and open sea visible, through a strait formed by this headland and a point projecting from the opposite shore.  Even while gazing on this fine scene, I could not but regret that the Murray had thus terminated; for I immediately foresaw that, in all probability, we should be disappointed in finding any practicable communication between the lake and the ocean, as it was evident that the former was not much influenced by tides.  We pitched our tents on a low track of land that stretched away seemingly for many miles directly behind us to the eastward.  It was of the richest soil, being of a black vegetable deposit, and although high above the influence the lake had, it was evident, once formed a part of its bed.  Thirty-three days had now passed over our heads since we left the depot upon the Morumbidgee, twenty-six of which had been passed upon the Murray.  We had, at length, arrived at the grand reservoir of those waters whose course and fate had previously been involved in such obscurity.

I took Fraser with me, and, accompanied by M’Leay, crossed the sand-hummocks behind us, and descended to the sea-shore.  I found that we had struck the south coast deep in the bight of Encounter Bay.  We had no time for examination, but returned immediately to the camp, as I intended to give the men an opportunity to go to the beach.  They accordingly went and bathed, and returned not only highly delighted at this little act of good nature on my part, but loaded with cockles, a bed of which they had managed to find among the sand.  Clayton had tied one end of his shirt up, and brought a bag full, and amused himself with boiling cockles all night long.