The circumstance of there having been natives in the neighbourhood, of whom we had seen so few traces of late, assured me that water was at hand, but in what direction it was impossible to guess.  As the path we had observed was leading northerly, we took up that course, and had not proceeded more than a mile upon it, when we suddenly found ourselves on the banks of a noble river.  Such it might in truth be called, where water was scarcely to be found.  The party drew up upon a bank that was from forty to forty-five feet above the level of the stream.  The channel of the river was front seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans and other wild fowl.  Our surprise and delight may better be imagined than described.  Our difficulties seemed to be at an end, for here was a river that promised to reward all our exertions, and which appeared every moment to increase in importance to our imagination.  Coming from the N.E., and flowing to the S.W., it had a capacity of channel that proved that we were as far from its source as from its termination.  The paths of the natives on either side of it were like well trodden roads; and the trees that overhung it were of beautiful and gigantic growth.

Disappointment on finding the river salt.

Its banks were too precipitous to allow of our watering the cattle, but the men eagerly descended to quench their thirst, which a powerful sun had contributed to increase; nor shall I ever forget the cry of amazement that followed their doing so, or the looks of terror and disappointment with which they called out to inform me that the water was so salt as to be unfit to drink!  This was, indeed, too true:  on tasting it, I found it extremely nauseous, and strongly impregnated with salt, being apparently a mixture of sea and fresh water.  Whence this arose, whether from local causes, or from a communication with some inland sea, I knew not, but the discovery was certainly a blow for which I was not prepared.  Our hopes were annihilated at the moment of their apparent realization.  The cup of joy was dashed out of our hands before we had time to raise it to our lips.  Notwithstanding this disappointment, we proceeded down the river, and halted at about five miles, being influenced by the goodness of the feed to provide for the cattle as well as circumstances would permit.  They would not drink of the river water, but stood covered in it for many hours, having their noses alone exposed above the stream.  Their condition gave me great uneasiness.  It was evident they could not long hold out under their excessive thirst, and unless we should procure some fresh water, it would impossible for us to continue our journey.  On a closer examination, the river appeared to me much below its ordinary level, and its current was scarcely perceptible.  We placed sticks to ascertain if there was a rise or