220 FRIENDLY DISPOSITION OF A NATIVE. [cH. V. 



remained to be ascertained on our return, at what point, 

 these waters of the Macquarie separated during its floods 

 from the main stream. 



3rdly. The non-existence of any swamp under Oxley's 

 Table-land, furnished another proof of the extreme vicissi- 

 tudes of climate, to which that part of Australia is subject. 

 This spot had been specially recommended to government by 

 Captain Sturt, as the best place for my depot, on account of 

 the water to be found there, whereas we had found that vici- 

 nity so dry, that had 1 relied too implicitly on the suggestion, 

 I must, as already observed, in all probability, have lost the 

 cattle. 



4thly. The water of the Darling, which when discovered 

 had been salt, was now fresh, thus proving, that there was 

 on this last occasion, a greater abundance of water in the 

 river; while the swamp dried up, proved that less remained 

 upon the surface than when this country had been previously 

 visited. 



The geological character of the country was obvious enough, 

 the hills consisting of quartz rock, and that fine grained red 

 sandstone which characterises the most barren regions of 

 New South Wales. Below this rock granite appeared in the 

 bed of the Bogan, precisely at the place where this river, 

 after along course nearly parallel to the Macquarie, at length 

 takes a remarkable turn westward towards the Darlin<>:. 



May 29. — We this day completed the stockade, and had 

 felled most of the timber near it ; and I was glad to find, 

 that the blacks had already resumed their usual occupations. 

 One of those, whom I saw yesterday, while passing down the 

 river to-day on a piece of bark, perceived Mr. Larmer fish- 

 ing, upon which ho approached the river bank, and after 

 throwing to liim a fish whicli he had caught, continued in 

 his frail hark to float down the stream. Tliis was a most jjre- 

 posscssing act of kindness, and 1 begged Mr. Larmer to en- 

 deavtiui- to recognise the man ;igain, and sliew our sense of 

 it, by suitable f)re.scnts. 



