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CHAPTER VI. 
Improvement in the aspect of the country — Increase of the river — • 
Strong westerly gales — Chronometer broken — A healthier tribe 
of natives — Termination of the Murray in a large lake — Its extent 
and environs — Passage across it — Hostile appearance of the 
natives — Beautiful scenery — Channel from the lake to the sea at 
Encounter Bay — Reach the beach — Large flocks of water fowl — 
Curious refraction — State of provisions — Embarrassing situation 
— Inspection of the channel to the ocean — Weak condition of the 
men — Difficulties of the return. 
It now appeared that the Murray had taken a permanent 
southerly course ; indeed, it might strictly be said that it 
ran away to the south. As we proceeded down it, the valley 
expanded to the width of two miles ; the alluvial flats be- 
came proportion ably larger; and a small lake generally oc- 
cupied their centre. They were extensively covered with 
reeds and grass, for which reason, notwithstanding that they 
were little elevated above the level of the stream, I do not 
think they are subject to overflow. Parts of them may be 
laid under water, but certainly not the whole. The rains 
at the head of the Murray, and its tributaries, must be 
unusually severe to prolong their effects to this distant 
