CHAPTER V.

Character of the country—­Damage of provisions—­Adroitness of the natives in catching fish—­The skiff broken up—­Stream from the North-East supposed to be the Darling—­Change of country in descending the river—­Intercourse with the natives—­Prevalence of loathsome diseases among them—­Apparent populousness of the country—­Junction of several small streams—­The Rufus, the Lindesay, &c.—­Rainy and tempestuous weather—­Curious appearance of the banks—­Troublesomeness of the natives—­Inhospitable and desolate aspect of the country—­Condition of the men—­Change in the geological character of the country—­The river passes through a valley among hills.

Arrived once more at the junction of the two rivers, and unmolested in our occupations, we had leisure to examine it more closely.  Not having as yet given a name to our first discovery, when we re-entered its capacious channel on this occasion, I laid it down as the Murray River, in compliment to the distinguished officer, Sir George Murray, who then presided over the colonial department, not only in compliance with the known wishes of his Excellency General Darling, but also in accordance with my own feelings as a soldier.

The new river, whether the Darling or an additional discovery, meets its more southern rival on a N. by E. course; the latter, running W.S.W. at the confluence, the angle formed by the two rivers, is, therefore, so small that both may be considered to preserve their proper course, and neither can be said to be tributary to the other.  At their junction, the Murray spreads its waters over the broad and sandy shore, upon which our boat grounded, while its more impetuous neighbour flows through the deep but narrow channel it has worked out for itself, under the right bank.  The strength of their currents must have been nearly equal, since there was as distinct a line between their respective waters, to a considerable distance below the junction, as if a thin board alone separated them.  The one half the channel contained the turbid waters of the northern stream, the other still preserved their original transparency.

Inundated and alluvial country.

The banks of the Murray did not undergo any immediate change as we proceeded.  We noticed that the country had, at some time, been subject to extensive inundation, and was, beyond doubt, of alluvial formation.  We passed the mouths of several large creeks that came from the north and N.W., and the country in those directions seemed to be much intersected by water-courses; while to the south it was extremely low.  Having descended several minor rapids, I greatly regretted that we had no barometer to ascertain the actual dip of the interior.  I computed, however, that we were not more than from eighty to ninety feet above the level of the sea.  We found the channel of the Murray much encumbered with timber, and noticed some banks of sand that were of unusual size, and equalled the largest accumulations of it on the sea shore, both in extent and solidity.