APPENDIX NO. II. 
269 
description of it in this place, further than to observe, that 
the limestone continued down to the very coast, and that 
although the country in the neighbourhood of the Lake 
Alexandria must, from local circumstances, be rich in 
point of soil, the timber upon it is of stunted size, and that 
it appears to have suffered from drought, though not to the 
same extent with the eastern coast. It is evident, how- 
ever, that its vicinity to high lands does not altogether 
exempt it from such periodical visitations ; still I have no 
doubt that my observations upon it will convince His Ex- 
cellency the Governor, that it is well worthy of a closer, 
and more attentive examination, than I had it in my power 
to make. 
In a geographical point of view, I am happy to believe 
that the result of this expedition has been conclusive ; and 
that, combined with the late one, it has thrown much light 
upon the nature of the interior of the vast Island ; that the 
decline of waters, as far as the parallel of 139° E., is to the 
south, and that the Darling is to the N.E. as the Murray 
is to the S.E. angle of the coast, the main channel by which 
the waters of the central ranges are thrown or discharged 
into one great reservoir. 
Our journey homewards was only remarkable for its 
labour: in conclusion, therefore, it remains for me to add 
that we reached the dep6t on the 23rd of March. 
Our sugar failed us on the 18th of February, and our 
salt provisions, in consequence of the accident which hap- 
pened to the skiff, on the 8th of March ; so that from the 
above period we were living on a reduced ration of flour ; and 
as we took few fish, and were generally unsuccessful with our 
guns, the men had seldom more than their bread to eat. 
