MOUNT FOSTER AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD, 29 
having been with me on Mount Foster, he took the oppor- 
tunity to ascend it on the following morning ; and on his 
return concurred with me in opinion, that there was no 
apparent obstacle to our moving onwards. As the men 
were considerably better, I had the less hesitation in closing 
with the marshes. We left our position, intending to travel 
slowly, and to halt early. 
The first part of our journey was over rich flats, timbered 
sufficiently to afford a shade, on which the grass was luxu- 
riant ; but we were obliged to seek more open ground, in 
consequence of the frequent stumbling of the cattle. 
We issued, at length, upon a plain, the view across which 
was as dreary as can be imagined ; in many places without 
a tree, save a few old stumps left by the natives when they 
fired the timber, some of which were still smoking in differ- 
ent parts of it. Observing some lofty trees at the extremity 
of the plain, we moved towards them, under an impression 
that they indicated the river line. But on this exposed 
spot the sun’s rays fell with intense power upon us, and the 
dust was so minute and penetrating, that I soon regretted 
having left the shady banks of the river. 
About 2 p. m. we neared the trees for which we had 
been making, over ground evidently formed by alluvial de- 
position, and were astonished to find that reeds alone were 
growing under the trees as far as the eye could penetrate. It 
appealed that we were still some distance from the river, and 
It was very doubtful how far we might be from water, for 
which the men were anxiously calling. I therefore halted. 
