CAPTAIN STURT ON THE MURRAY 71 



hard labour, but the immersion had been long enough to allow 

 the water access to the salt meat, and under the influence of 

 an Australian summer's sun its edible qualities soon underwent 

 serious deterioration. However, there was no turning back, even 

 if the bulk of the meat had to be thrown away ; for they hoped 

 for wild-fowl and fish as a supplement to the larder. So they 

 pushed on during the day, bumping over occasional reefs, scram- 

 bling through accumulations of logs, camping amongst the reeds 

 on the banks at night, and, according as the stream was strong or 

 sluggish, hoping for a clearer course or fearing the ever-present 

 possibility of the finale in a wide-spreading morass. On the 14th 

 they got into a reach where the river narrowed and the current 

 proportionately increased, while the density of the fallen timber 

 was such that the most continual vigilance was necessary to pre- 

 vent the boat being dashed to pieces. Suddenly, while all hands 

 were on the defensive, the river took a sweep round the south, and 

 they were shot out on to the bosom of a broad and noble stream 

 with an impetus that carried them to its opposite bank. With 

 exhilarated spirits, and the sense of relief which sailors feel when 

 they have weathered a reef that has been threatening destruction, 

 they gave themselves up to the admiration of the unwonted stream, 

 and for some time drifted placidly down the channel of the finest 

 river yet seen in Australia, to which the name of the Murray was 

 given. 



Their progress was now a pleasure- jaunt compared to what it 

 had been, and the only disturbing element was the one of the 

 distance to be traversed, and the prospect of rations holding out 

 for the return journey. The natives began to appear in consider- 

 able numbers, following them on the banks of the stream ; and 

 although it is certain that they could never have seen white men 

 before, they manifested generally a friendly and inquisitive spirit, 

 in most cases urging the explorers to remain with them. Sturt 

 estimates that he could not have encountered less than 4,000 

 natives in all on the Murray; on several occasions from two to 

 three hundred were met with at one camp, and although on more 

 than one occasion the most hostile demonstrations were made to 

 oppose their passage, and hundreds of spears were poised ready 



