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.  The wind had again increased; it still blew fresh from the S.W. and a heavy sea was rolling direct into the mouth of the river.  I hoped, notwithstanding, that we should have been enabled to make sail, for which reason we entered the lake about 2 p.m.  The natives had kindled a large fire on a distant point between us and the further headland, and to gain this point our efforts were now directed.  The waves were, however, too strong, and we were obliged to make for the eastern shore, until such time as the weather should moderate.  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 a black vegetable deposit, and although now high above the influence, the lake had, it was evident, once formed a part of its bed.  The appearance of the country altogether encouraged M’Leay and myself to walk out, in order to examine it from some hills a little to the S.E. of the camp.  From them we observed that the flat extended over about fifty miles, and was bounded by the elevations that continued easterly from the left bank of the Murray to the north, and by a line of rising-ground to the south.  The whole was lightly wooded, and covered with grass.  The season must have been unusually dry, judging from the general appearance of the vegetation, and from the circumstance of the lagoons in the interior being wholly exhausted.

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.  It remained for us to ascertain whether the extensive sheet of water upon whose bosom we had embarked, had any practicable communication with the ocean, and whether the country in the neighbourhood of the coast corresponded with that immediately behind our camp, or kept up its sandy and sterile character to the very verge of the sea.  As I have already said, my hopes on the first of these points were considerably damped, but I could not help anticipating a favourable change in the latter, since its features had so entirely changed.

Detained by the wind.

The greatest difficulty against which we had at present to contend was the wind; and I dreaded the exertion it would call for, to make head against it; for the men were so much reduced that I felt convinced they were inadequate to any violent or prolonged effort.  It still blew fresh at 8 p.m., but at that time it began to moderate.  It may be imagined that I listened to its subdued gusts with extreme anxiety.  It did not wholly abate until after 2 a.m., when it gradually declined, and about 3 a light breeze sprung up from the N. E.