252 DRY CHANNEL OF A STREAM. [CH. VI. 



which for some days past, had appeared between us and the 

 hills on our left. On examining it, I found that it was the 

 dry bed of what had been a considerable stream, preserving 

 a uniform breadth of about 50 yards ; and having lines of 

 fiood-marks upon the bank, similar to those of the Darling, 

 and risino- to the heio-ht of eidit or nine feet. Trees, such 

 as characterized the banks of the Darling, but of smaller 

 size, grew on its banks, which had also their flats of poly- 

 gonum, and small gullies, similar to those on that river, 

 but on a lesser scale. Upon the whole, it was evident that 

 this channel, at some seasons, was filled with a body of 

 water, the sources of which were in the high ground, between 

 the Lachlan and the Bogan. We had observed so many 

 paths of the natives leading from the Darling towards the 

 country whence this river bed ranged, that for several days 

 we were of opinion, water was still to be found there. The 

 utter dryness of the bed, was not surprising at a season 

 when large dead fresh -water muscles, weighing 3| ounces, 

 projected, amid the roots of the grass of two summers — and 

 from ground, which was the firmest we could find for tra- 

 velling upon with carts. Crossing to the left bank of this 

 river bed, we continued our course towards an angle of the 

 Darling, until we came again on this tributary, as I sup- 

 posed it to be. I, therefore, again continued along its left 

 bank, because it aft'orded firmer ground than the cracked 

 plains— and in expectation that it would lead to some near 

 turn of the main river. When we were rapidly approach- 

 ing the larger trees by which the latter was known, the dry 

 channel of the minor stream suddenly turned to the south- 

 ward, and we finally encamped two miles east of the nearest 

 part of the Darling; in latitude 31° 44' 28''. This newly 

 discovered channel seemed to turn from that river, so as to 

 embrace the extremities of the low ranges coming from the east, 

 and wliich successively terminate on the plains of the Darling. 

 One of these was about a mile to the east of our camp, and 

 consisted of hardish sandstone, composed of grains of quartz, 

 withoutany apparent cement, but containing a small quantity 



