small drains would effectually prevent inundation.  The soil upon the hills continued to be much mixed with sand, and the prevailing trees were cypress and box.  Among the minor shrubs and grass, many common to the east coasts were noticed; and although the bold cliffs had ceased, the basis of the country still continued of the fossil formation.  At a turn of the stream hereabouts, however, a solitary rock of coarse red granite rose above the waters, and formed an island in its centre; but only in this one place was it visible.  The rock was composed principally of quartz and feldspar.

A little below it, we found a large tribe anxiously awaiting our arrival.  They crowded to the margin of the river with great eagerness, and evinced more surprise at our appearance than any tribe we had seen during the journey; but we left them very soon, notwithstanding that they importuned us much to stay.

After pulling a mile or two, we found a clear horizon before us to the south.  The hills still continued upon our left, but we could not see any elevation over the expanse of reeds to our right.  The river inclined to the left, and swept the base of the hills that still continued on that side.  I consequently landed once more to survey the country.

Termination of the Murray in A large lake.

I still retained a strong impression on my mind that some change was at hand, and on this occasion, I was not disappointed; but the view was one for which I was not altogether prepared.  We had, at length, arrived at the termination of the Murray.  Immediately below me was a beautiful lake, which appeared to be a fitting reservoir for the noble stream that had led us to it; and which was now ruffled by the breeze that swept over it.  The ranges were more distinctly visible, stretching from south to north, and were certainly distant forty miles.  They had a regular unbroken outline; declining gradually to the south, but terminating abruptly at a lofty mountain northerly.  I had no doubt on my mind of this being the Mount Lofty of Captain Flinders; or that the range was that immediately to the eastward of St. Vincent’s Gulf—­Since the accident to the chronometer, we had not made any westing, so that we knew our position as nearly as possible.  Between us and the ranges a beautiful promontory shot into the lake, being a continuation of the right bank of the Murray.  Over this promontory the waters stretched to the base of the ranges, and formed an extensive bay.  To the N.W. the country was exceedingly low, but distant peaks were just visible over it.  To the S.W. a bold headland showed itself; beyond which, to the westward, there was a clear and open sea visible, through a strait formed by this headland and a point projecting from the opposite shore.  To the E. and S.E. the country was low, excepting the left shore of the lake, which was backed by some minor elevations, crowned with cypresses.  Even while gazing on this