compilation of the chart. 
189 
as we passed an angle of the river, I took the bearings of 
the reach before us, and as we proceeded down it, marked 
off the description of country, and any remarkable feature. 
The consequence was, that I laid down every bend of the 
Murray River, from the Morumbidgee downwards. Its 
creeks, its tributaries, its flats, its valleys, and its cliffs, and, 
as far as I possibly could do, the nature of the distant interior. 
This chart, was, of course, erroneous in many particulars, 
since I had to judge the length of the reaches of the river, 
and the extent of its angles, but I corrected it on the scale 
of the miles of latitude we made during the day, which 
brought out an approximate truth at all events. The hur- 
ried nature of our journey would not allow me to do more ; 
and it will be remembered that my observations were all si- 
derial, by reason that the sextant would not embrace the 
sun in his almost vertical position at noon. Admitting, how- 
ever, the imperfection of this chart, it was of inconceivable 
value and comfort to us on our return, for, by a reference 
to it, we discovered our place upon the river, and our dis- 
tance from our several encampments. And we should often 
have stopped short of them had not the chart shewn us that 
a few reaches more would bring- us to the desired spots. It 
cheered the men to know where they were, and gave them 
conversation. To myself it was very satisfactory, as it en- 
abled me to prepare for our meetings with the larger tribes, 
and to steer clear of obstacles in the more difficult navi- 
gation of some parts of the stream. 
On the 21st, by dint of great labour we reached our 
