geological formation. 
161 
existed a great expanse of water to the S.W. ; and, as that 
had been the direction taken by the river, I thought it pro- 
bable that by steering at once to the S.W. down the lake, 
I should hit the outlet. T, consequently, resolved to gain 
the southern extremity of the lake, as that at which it was 
natural to expect a communication with the ocean would 
be found. 
At 4 we had a moderate breeze, and it promised to 
strengthen; we lost no time therefore in embarking, and 
with a flowing sheet stretched over to the W. S.W., and ran 
along the promontory formed by the right bank of the Mur- 
ray. We passed close under its extreme point at nine. 
The hills had gradually declined, and we found the point 
to be a flat, elevated about thirty feet above the lake. It 
was separated from the promontory by a small channel that 
was choaked up with reeds, so that it is more than probable 
that the point is insulated at certain periods; whilst in its 
stratification it resembled the first cliffs I have described 
that were passed below the Darling. It is a remarkable fact 
in the geology of the Murray, that such should be the case ; 
and that the formation at each extremity of the great bank 
or bed of fossils should be the same. Thus far, the waters 
of the lake had continued sweet ; but on filling a can when 
we were abreast of this point, it was found that they were 
quite unpalateable, to say the least of them. The trans- 
ition from fresh to salt water was almost immediate, and it 
was fortunate we made the discovery in sufficient time to 
prevent our losing ground. But, as it was, we filled our 
VOL. II. 
M 
