180 
CHAPTEU VII. 
Valley of the Murray — Its character and capabilities — Laborious 
progress up the river — Accident to the boat — Perilous collision 
with the natives — Turbid current of the Rufus — Passage of the 
Rapids — Assisted by the natives — Dangerous intercourse with 
them — Re-enter the Morumbidgee — Verdant condition of its 
banks — Nocturnal rencounter with the natives — Interesting mani- 
festation of feeling in one family — Reach the spot where the party 
had embarked on the river — Men begin to fail entirely — Deter- 
mine to send two men forward for relief — Their return — Excur- 
sion on horseback — Reach Pondebadgery Plain, and meet the 
supplies from the colony — Cannibalism of the natives — Return to 
Sidney — Concluding remarks. 
The valley of the Murray, at its entrance, cannot be less than 
four miles in breadth. The river does not occupy the centre, 
but inclines to either side, according to its windings, and 
thus the flats are of greater or less extent, according to the 
distance of the river from the base of the hills. It is to be 
remarked, that the bottom of the valley is extremely level, 
and extensively covered with reeds. From the latter cir- 
cumstance, one would be led to infer that these flats are 
subject to overflow, and no doubt can exist as to the fact 
of their being, at least partially, if not wholly, under water 
