While, however, the country to the westward had so much to recommend it, the hills to our left became extremely bare.  It was evident that the right was the sheltered side of the valley.  The few trees on the opposite side bent over to the N.E., as if under the influence of some prevailing wind.

Adverse gales.

We experienced at this time a succession of gales from the S.W., against which we, on several occasions, found it useless to contend:  the waves on the river being heavy and short; and the boat, driving her prow into them, sent the spray over us and soon wet us through.  Indeed, it is difficult for the reader to imagine the heavy swell that rolled up the river, which had increased in breadth to the third of a mile, and in the length of its reaches to eight or ten.  I was satisfied that we were not only navigating this river at a particularly stormy, perhaps the stormy, season; but also, that the influence of the S.W. wind is felt even as far in the interior as to the supposed Darling; in consequence of the uniform build of the huts, and the circumstance of their not only facing the N.E., but also being almost invariably erected under the lee of some bush.

The weather, under the influence of the wind we experienced, was cool and pleasant, although the thermometer stood at a medium height of 86 degrees; but we found it very distressing to pull against the heavy breezes that swept up the valley, and bent the reeds so as almost to make them kiss the stream.

We communicated on the 6th and 7th with several large tribes of natives, whose manners were on the whole quiet and inoffensive.  They distinctly informed us, that we were fast approaching the sea, and, from what I could understand, we were nearer to it than the coast line of Encounter Bay made us.  We had placed sticks to ascertain if there was any rise or fall of tide, but the troubled state of the river prevented our experiments from being satisfactory.  By selecting a place, however, that was sheltered from the effects of the wind, we ascertained that there was an apparent rise of about eight inches.

Obliged to take repose.

It blew a heavy gale during the whole of the 7th; and we laboured in vain at the oar.  The gusts that swept the bosom of the water, and the swell they caused, turned the boat from her course, and prevented us from making an inch of way.  The men were quite exhausted, and, as they had conducted themselves so well, and had been so patient, I felt myself obliged to grant them every indulgence consistent with our safety.  However precarious our situation, it would have been vain, with our exhausted strength, to have contended against the elements.  We, therefore, pulled in to the left bank of the river, and pitched our tents on a little rising ground beyond the reeds that lined it.

Chronometer broken.