ADVERSE GALES. 
153 
interior upon that side which had a most promising ap- 
pearance, and seemed to abound with kangaroos, as the 
traces of them were numerous, and the dogs succeeded in 
killing one, which, to our great mortification, we could not 
find. 
While, however, the country to the westward had so much 
to recommend it, the hills to our left became extremely bare. 
It was evident that the right was the sheltered side of the 
valley. The few trees on the opposite side bent over to the 
N. E., as if under the influence of some prevailing wind. 
We experienced at this time a succession of gales from 
the S. W., against which we, on several occasions, found it 
useless to contend : the waves on the river being heavy and 
short; and the boat, driving her prow into them, sent the 
spray over us and soon wet us through. Indeed, it is diffi- 
cult for the reader to imagine the heavy swell that rolled up 
the river, which had increased in breadth to the third of a 
mile, and in the length of its reaches to eight or ten. I was 
satisfied that we were not only navigating this river at a 
particularly stormy, perhaps the stormy, season ; but also, 
that the influence of the S.W. wind is felt even as far in 
the interior as to the supposed Darling ; in consequence of 
the uniform build of the huts, and the circumstance of their 
not only facing the N. E., but also being almost invariably 
erected under the lee of some bush. 
The weather, under the influence of the wind we expe- 
rienced, was cool and pleasant, although the thermometer 
stood at a medium height of 86° ; but we found it very dis- 
