of water shortly after we started in the morning, but we could do no more than refresh ourselves and the animals at it.  In the afternoon, we again turned towards the river, and found it unaltered.  Its water was still salt, and from the increased number of wild fowl and pelicans upon it, as well as from the general flatness of the country, I certainly thought we were rapidly approaching some inland sea.  It was, however, uncertain how long we should be enabled to continue on the river.  The animals were all of them extremely weak, and every day increased the probable difficulty of our return.  There was not the least appearance of a break-up of the drought, the heavens were without a cloud, and the atmosphere was so clear that the outline of the moon could be distinctly seen, although she was far in her wane.

Brine springs in the river.

On the 6th, we journeyed again through a barren scrub, although on firmer ground, and passed numerous groups of huts.  At about eight miles from our last encampment, we came upon the river, where its banks were of considerable height.  In riding along them, Mr. Hume thought he observed a current running, and be called to inform me of the circumstance.  On a closer examination, we discovered some springs in the very bed of the river, from which a considerable stream was gushing, and from the incrustation around them, we had no difficulty in guessing at their nature:  in fact, they were brine springs, and I collected a quantity of salt from the brink of them.

Distress for want of fresh water.

After such a discovery, we could not hope to keep our position.  No doubt the current we had observed on first reaching the river, was caused by springs that had either escaped our notice or were under water.  Here was at length a local cause for its saltness that destroyed at once the anticipation and hope of our being near its termination, and, consequently, the ardour with which we should have pressed on to decide so interesting a point.

Our retreat would have been a measure of absolute necessity ere this, had we not found occasional supplies of fresh water, the last pond of which was now about eighteen miles behind us.

Our course arrested.

Whether we should again find any, was a doubtful question, and I hesitated to run the risk.  The animals were already, from bad food, and from the effects of the river water, so weak, that they could scarcely carry their loads, and I was aware, if any of the bullocks once fell, he would never rise again.  Under such circumstances, I thought it better to halt the party at the edge of the scrub, though the feed was poor, and the water not drinkable.  Our situation required most serious consideration.  It was necessary that we should move either backward or forward in the morning.  Yet we could not adopt either measure