BOAT BUILDING. 
69 
and rather to the surprise of my companion, intimated to 
him my intention of returning to the camp. He naturally 
asked what I purposed doing. I told him it appeared 
to me more than probable that the Morumbidgee would 
hold good its course to some fixed point, now that it had 
reached a meridian beyond the known rivers of the interior. 
It was certain, from the denseness of the reeds, and the 
breadth of the belts, that the teams could not be brought 
any faither, and that, taking every thing into consideration, 
I had resolved on a bold and desperate measure, that of 
building the whale-boat, and sending home the drays. Our 
appeal ance in camp so suddenly, surprised the men not 
more than the orders I gave. They all thought I had struck 
on some remarkable change of country, and were anxious to 
know my ultimate views. It was not my inention 
however, immediately to satisfy their curiosity. I had to 
study their characters as long as I could, in order to select 
those best qualified to accompany me on the desperate ad- 
venture for which I was preparing. 
The attention both of M'Leay, and myself, was turned 
to the hasty building of the whale-boat. A shed was erect- 
ed, and every necessary preparation made, and although 
Clayton had the keel of the small boat already laid down, 
and some planks prepared, she was abandoned for the 
present, and, after four days more of arduous labour, the 
whale-boat was painted and in the water. From her 
dimensions, it appeared to me impossible that she would 
hold all our provisions and stores, for her after-part 
