of west.  Every thing tended to strengthen my conviction that we were still far from the termination of the river.  The character it had borne throughout, and its appearance now so far to the westward, gave me the most lively hopes that it would make good its way through the vast level into which it fell, and that its termination would accord with its promise.  Besides, I daily anticipated its junction with some stream of equal, if not of greater magnitude from the S.E.  I was aware that my resolves must be instant, decisive, and immediately acted upon, as on firmness and promptitude at this crisis the success of the expedition depended.  About noon I checked my horse, and rather to the surprise of my companion, intimated to him my intention of returning to the camp, He naturally asked what I purposed doing.  I told him it appeared to me more than probable that the Morumbidgee would hold good its course to some fixed point, now that it had reached a meridian beyond the known rivers of the interior.  It was certain, from the denseness of the reeds, and the breadth of the belts, that the teams could not be brought any farther, and that, taking every thing into consideration, I had resolved on a bold and desperate measure, that of building the whale-boat, and sending home the drays.  Our appearance in camp so suddenly, surprised the men not more than the orders I gave.  They all thought I had struck on some remarkable change of country, and were anxious to know my ultimate views.  It was not my intention however, immediately to satisfy their curiosity.  I had to study their characters as long as I could, in order to select those best qualified to accompany me on the desperate adventure for which I was preparing.

Boat building.

The attention both of M’Leay, and myself, was turned to the hasty building of the whale-boat.  A shed was erected, and every necessary preparation made, and although Clayton had the keel of the small boat already laid down, and some planks prepared, she was abandoned for the present, and, after four days more of arduous labour, the whale-boat was painted and in the water.  From her dimensions, it appeared to me impossible that she would hold all our provisions and stores, for her after-part had been fitted up as an armoury, which took away considerably from her capacity of stowage.  The small boat would still, therefore, be necessary, and she was accordingly re-laid, for half the dimensions of the large boat, and in three days was alongside her consort in the river.  Thus, in seven days we had put together a boat, twenty-seven feet in length, had felled a tree from the forest, with which we had built a second of half the size, had painted both, and had them at a temporary wharf ready for loading.  Such would not have been the case had not our hearts been in the work, as the weather was close and sultry, and we found it a task of extreme labour.  In the intervals between the hours of work, I prepared my despatches for the Governor, and when they were closed, it only remained for me to select six hands, the number I intended should accompany me down the river, and to load the boats, ere we should once more proceed in the further obedience of our instructions.