But although Mr. Pullen succeeded in getting into the Goolwa, it was only under the most favourable circumstances, nor will the sea mouth of the Murray ever, I fear, be available for navigable purposes.  How far it may be practicable to steamers, I would not hazard an opinion, nor is the subject at the present moment one of much importance, for the country to the eastward of the ranges is not yet sufficiently located to call for such a speculation.

The sea mouth of the Murray is about the third of a mile in breadth, and when the river is flooded a strong current runs out of it with such rapidity, that the tide setting in at the same time causes a short and bubbling sea.  It took Captain Barker nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds to swim across it on the fatal occasion on which he lost his life—­but he was obliged to go somewhat above the outlet, as the stream would otherwise have carried him amidst the breakers.  The western shore is very low, but the eastern one is marked by a large sandhill, now called Barker’s Knoll, after that talented and amiable officer.  From seaward, nothing but a wild line of sand-hills meets the view, such as few mariners would venture to approach, and through which fewer still could hope to find a passage into the calmer waters of Lake Victoria, so completely hidden is the entrance.  It was only by patient watching indeed, that Mr. Pullen seized the opportunity by which he entered the Goolwa.  He was not the first, however, who did so, as Captain Gill, the master of a small cutter that was unfortunately wrecked on the strand at some distance to the eastward of the outlet, was the first to come down the Coorong in his boat, in which he ultimately reached Victor Harbour, but he also had to remain three weeks under the sand-hills before he could venture forth.  Some years prior to this, however, Sir John Jeffcott, the first judge of South Australia, and Captain Blenkensorf, the head of the fishery, both found a watery grave in attempting to pass from the Goolwa into Encounter Bay.

I speak more particularly on the point, however, because, in 1838, during my first visit to the province, I went with a party of hardy seamen, with the intention, if possible, of passing into the Goolwa from seaward.  At Encounter Bay, Captain Hart, who had the superintendence of the fishery there, gave me his most experienced steersman, and a strong whale-boat.  In this I left Victor harbour for Freeman’s Nob, a small rocky point in the very bight of Encounter Bay, where I remained until three a.m. of the next morning, when I started for the outlet under the most favourable auspices.  A northerly wind had been blowing off the land for several days, and the sea was so tranquil that I had every hope of success.  I had five leagues to pull, and keeping about a mile from the shore, swept rapidly along it.  We were still about four miles from the inlet when the sun rose over it, as if encouraging us onwards.  On approaching