I was sitting in the tent, when Macnamee came to inform me that one of the frying-pans was missing, which had been in use the evening previous, for that he himself had placed it on the stump of a tree, and he therefore supposed a native dog had run away with it.  Soon after this, another loss was reported to me, and it was at last discovered that an extensive robbery had been committed upon us during the night, and that, in addition to the frying-pan, three cutlasses, and five tomahawks, with the pea of the steelyards, had been carried away.  I was extremely surprised at this instance of daring in the natives, and determined, if possible, to punish it.  About ten, Fraser and Mulholland returned with two blacks.  Fraser told me he saw several natives on our side of the river, as he was returning, to whom those who were with him spoke, and I felt convinced from their manner and hesitation, that they were aware of the trick that had been played upon us.  However, as Fraser had promised them a tomahawk to induce them to accompany him, I fulfilled the promise.

Continue our voyage.

Leaving this unlucky spot, we made good about sixteen miles during the afternoon.  The river maintained its breadth and depth nor were the reeds continuous upon its banks.  We passed several plains that were considerably elevated above the alluvial deposits, and the general appearance of the country induced me strongly to hope that we should shortly get out of the region of reeds, or the great flooded concavity on which we had fixed our depot; but the sameness of vegetation, and the seemingly diminutive size of the timber in the distance, argued against any change for the better in the soil of the interior.  Having taken the precaution of shortening the painter of the skiff, we found less difficulty in steering her clear of obstacles, and made rapid progress down the Morumbidgee during the first cool and refreshing hours of the morning.  The channel of the river became somewhat less contracted, but still retained sufficient depth for larger boats than ours, and preserved a general westerly course.  Although no decline of country was visible to the eye, the current in places ran very strong.  It is impossible for me to convey to the reader’s mind an idea of the nature of the country through which we passed.  On this day the favourable appearances, noticed yesterday, ceased almost as soon as we embarked.  On the 10th, reeds lined the banks of the river on both sides, without any break, and waved like gloomy streamers over its turbid waters; while the trees stood leafless and sapless in the midst of them.  Wherever we landed, the same view presented itself—­a waving expanse of reeds, and a country as flat as it is possible to imagine one.  The eye could seldom penetrate beyond three quarters of a mile, and the labour of walking through the reeds was immense; but within our observation all was green and cheerless.  The morning had been extremely cold, with a thick haze at E.S.E.  About 2 p.m. it came on to rain heavily, so that we did not stir after that hour.