CATARACT OF THE MACQUARIE. 17 
particularly so on the present occasion. So little force was 
there in the current, that I began to entertain doubts how 
long it would continue, more especially when I reflected on 
the level character of the country we had entered, and the 
fact of the Macquarie not receiving any tributary between 
this point and the marshes. I was in consequence led to 
infer that result, which, though not immediately, even- 
tually took place. 
As they were treated with kindness, the natives who ac- 
companied us soon threw off all reserve, and in the after- 
noon assembled at the pool below the fall to take fish. 
They went very systematically to work, with short spears 
in their hands that tapered gradually to a point, and sank 
at once under water without splash or noise at a given sig- 
nal from an elderly man. In a short time, one or two rose 
with the fish they had transfixed ; the others remained 
about a minute under water, and then made their appear- 
ance near the same rock into the crevices of which they 
had driven their prey. Seven fine bream were taken, the 
whole of which they insisted on giving to our men, although 
1 am not aware that any of themselves had broken their 
fast that day. They soon, however, procured a quantity of 
muscle^ with which they sat dowu very contentedly at a 
re- y aromelncal admeasurement gave the cataract 
an elevatron of 680 feet above the level of the sea; and my 
oWat, one placed it in east longitude HS" 3' and in la. 
31° 50 south. 
It became an object with us to gain the right bank of 
