150 ASCENT OF THE FITZ-ROY. 



the more distinctive features of an Australian river : 

 deep reaches, connected by shallows, and probably 

 formino-, during the droughts which characterize 

 Australia, an unlinked chain of ponds or lagoons ; 

 and in places, leaving no other indication of its 

 former existence than the water- worn banks and 

 deep holes, thirsty and desolate as a desert plain. 

 At this point, the river divided into two branches, 

 one having an E.S.E., and the other a S.S.E. direc- 

 tion. Anxious to determine, which, as the larger, 

 best deserved our exploration, we landed at a high 

 grassy point on the west bank. From the top of the 

 highest tree in the neighbourhood, I commanded 

 an extensive view of the wide and far-spread land- 

 scape then first submitted to the scrutiny of an Euro- 

 pean. Varied and undefined are the thoughts called 

 forth at such a moment ; the past, the present, and 

 the future, at once occupy, and almost confound the 

 imagination. New feelings accompany new percep- 

 tions ; and gazing for the first time upon a vast and 

 unknown land, the mind, restless and active, as the 

 roving life by which it is informed, expands for the 

 reception of the crowding fancies, called into life 

 as by the wand of the magician. 



After yielding for a while to the influence of the 

 scene, 1 was glad to perceive the greater magnitude 

 of the southerly branch of the river, which offered 

 the most direct line into the interior. I could trace 

 each stream for nearly three miles, but that which 

 trended to the east was a mere rivulet. Both flowed 



