Our provisions were now running very short; we had, however, “broken the neck of our journey,” as the men said, and we looked anxiously to gaining the depot; for we were not without hopes that Robert Harris would have pushed forward to it with his supplies.  We were quite puzzled on entering the Morumbidgee, how to navigate its diminutive bends and its encumbered channel.  I thought poles would have been more convenient than oars; we therefore stopped at an earlier hour than usual to cut some.  Calling to mind the robbery practised on us shortly after we left the depot, my mind became uneasy as to Robert Harris’s safety, since I thought it probable, from the sulky disposition of the natives who had visited us there, that he might have been attacked.  Thus, when my apprehensions on our own account had partly ceased, my fears became excited with regard to him and his party.

Re-enter the Morumbidgee.

The country, to a considerable distance from the junction on either side the Morumbidgee, is not subject to inundation.  Wherever we landed upon its banks, we found the calistemma in full flower, and in the richest profusion.  There was, also, an abundance of grass, where before there had been no signs of vegetation, and those spots which we had condemned as barren were now clothed with a green and luxuriant carpet.  So difficult is it to judge of a country on a partial and hurried survey, and so differently does it appear at different periods.  I was rejoiced to find that the rains had not swollen the river, for I was apprehensive that heavy falls had taken place in the mountains, and was unprepared for so much good fortune.

Feast on A swan.

The poles we cut were of no great use to us, and we soon laid them aside, and took to our oars.  Fortune seemed to favour us exceedingly.  The men rallied, and we succeeded in killing a good fat swan, that served as a feast for all.  I imagine the absence of mud and weeds of every kind in the Murray, prevents this bird from frequenting its waters.

On the 18th, we found ourselves entering the reedy country, through which we had passed with such doubt and anxiety.  Every object elicited some remark from the men, and I was sorry to find they reckoned with certainty on seeing Harris at the depot, as I knew they would be proportionally depressed in spirits if disappointed.  However, I promised Clayton a good repast as soon as we should see him.

Lose one of our dogs.

I had walked out with M’Leay a short distance from the river, and had taken the dogs.  They followed us to the camp on our return to it, but the moment they saw us enter the tent, they went off to hunt by themselves.  About 10 p.m., one of them, Bob, came to the fire, and appeared very uneasy; he remained, for a short time, and then went away.  In about an hour, he returned, and after exhibiting