94 DISCOVERY OF A LARGE RIVER. [CH. IV. 



able breadth, which contained several other very large ponds 

 separated by quicksands, which afforded but a precarious 

 passage for the pack-animals. Both banks were steep, the 

 average width exceeding fifty yards. Beyond this river 

 channel, the wood consisted chiefly of casuarinse. We next 

 penetrated through two scrubs of dwarf eucalypti; and some 

 trees of the callitris were also seen. At six miles, the woods 

 assumed a grander character ; masses of casuarinae enclosed 

 open spaces covered with rich grass ; and, being in some 

 directions extensive, afforded park-like vistas, which had a 

 pleasing effect, from the rich combination of verdure and 

 shade, in a season of excessive heat. In one of these grassy 

 alleys a large kangaroo was seen, the first, since we left the 

 upper part of the Gwydir. The absence of this animal 

 from the plains and low grounds was remarkable, and we had 

 reason to conclude, that he seldom frequents those parts. At 

 eight miles, our course was intercepted by a deep and rapid 

 river, the largest that we had yet seen. I had approached 

 within a few yards of the brink ; and I was not aware of its 

 being near, until I saw the opposite water-worn shore, and 

 the living waters hurrying along to the westward. They 

 were white and turbid, and the banks, consisting of clay, 

 were nearly perpendicular at this point, and about twenty 

 feet higher than the surface of the stream. On further ex- 

 amination, I found that the course was very tortuous, and 

 the water deep. My horse was, however, got across by a 

 man wading up to the neck. The softness of the clay near 

 the stream at some parts, and the steep water-worn face of 

 the banks at others, rendered the passage difficult. We 

 were all delighted, however, to meet such an obstruction, 

 and 1 chose a favourable spot for our camp, within a bend 

 of the river; and I niade arrangements for bringing forward 

 the j)ai-ty left with Mr. White on the Gwydii-, also for the 

 construction of a boat, by prepaiing a saw-j)it, and looking 

 for wood favourable for that purpose. There was abundance 



