CH. v.] EXCURSION ON HORSEBACK. 223 



low level of this river, compared to its distance from the 

 known coasts, it could not fall much. I was, nevertheless, 

 unwilling to risk the boats among the rocks, or clay banks, 

 and accordingly decided on returning to the camp. 



June2. — We proceeded up the river with the boats, rein- 

 fecta, and reached the depot about two o'clock, where we 

 found all things going on, as I had directed. As we pulled 

 up the river, two natives appeared at a distance in one of the 

 long reaches, fishing in two small canoes. On observing 

 our boats they dashed the water up, paddling with their 

 spears, and thus scudding with great rapidity to the right 

 bank, where they left their canoes, and instantly disappeared. 

 These vessels were of the simplest construction ; so slight in- 

 deed, that it seemed to us singular how a man could float in 

 one, for it was merely a sheet of bark, with a little clay at 

 each end ; yet there was a fire besides in each, the weather 

 being very cold. A native, when he wishes to proceed, stands 

 erect, and propels the canoe with the short spear he uses in 

 fishing ; striking the water with each end alternately, on each 

 side of the canoe, and he thus glides very rapidly along. 



June 3. — I set off with four men on horseback to examine 

 the river downwards, proceeding first two miles on a bearing 

 of 151°, and then south-west. At about 20 miles, we made 

 an angle of the river, where the left bank was 50 feet high. 

 None of the usual indications of the neighbourhood of the 

 Darling, appeared here. No flats of polygonum junceum, nor 

 falls in the ground. The river was evidently encroaching on 

 this high bank, which consisted of red sandy earth to the 

 depth of ten feet. Below this stratum was clay mixed with 

 calcareous concretions. The opposite bank was lower and 

 very grassy ; and the water in the river was brackish ; but a 

 small spring oozing from the rocks abovementioned, at about 

 two feet above the water of the river, was perfectly sweet. 

 From this bend, the highest point of D'Urban's group, bore 

 151° (from north.) About one half of the way, which we had 

 come to-day, lay across plains, the last portion we crossed 



