304 BANKS OF THE MURRUMBIDGEE. 



country on my return to Yas. Day had just 

 dawned when I commenced my journey ; the 

 sky was clear and serene ; the rising sun gilded 

 the summits of the picturesque mountains ; the 

 sparkling dew was not yet dispelled, and all nature 

 looked refreshed ; the atmosphere was cool and 

 agreeable, and the birds chanted, as if to salute 

 the rising orb with their early melody ; the dark 

 foliage of the swamp oaks, and a brighter ve- 

 getation, would indicate the proximity of the 

 river, whose murmuring stream was occasionally 

 heard, although its waters were not seen. But 

 as the day advanced, it became more sultry ; 

 vegetation drooped with excessive heat ; the fea- 

 thered songsters ceased their carolling, and only 

 a few herons, magpies, (" Karo" of the abo- 

 rigines,) and crows, were visible. I arrived at 

 Darbylara late in the afternoon. 



The banks of the Murrumbidgee were beauti- 

 fully picturesque. How delightful it is in this 

 country, so destitute of large streams, to sit under 

 the overshadowing branches of the Eucalypti, 

 near the river, watching the flights of wdld fowl, 

 engaged in catching the fish, with w^hich this river 

 abounds, or seeing the young amphibious blacks 

 amusing themselves by throwing stones into the 

 deep part of the stream, and diving in order to 

 catch them before they reach the bottom. In this 



