1>ERI>LEX1TIES. 
41 
branches; to which I perceived it owed its formation, com- 
ing, as they evidently did, direct from the heart of the 
marsh. The wood through which 1 had entered it on the 
first occasion bore south of me, to which one of the branches 
inclined ; as the other did to the S. W . An almost impei- 
ceptible rise of ground was before me, which, by giving an 
impetus to the waters of the marsh, accounted to me for the 
formation of the main channel. It was too late, on my re- 
turn to the camp, to prosecute any further examination of 
it downwards ; but in the morning, Mr. Hume accompanied 
me in the boat, to ascertain to what point it led ; and we 
found that at about a mile it began to diminish in breadth, 
until at length it was completely lost in a second expanse 
of reeds. We passed a singular scaffolding erected by the 
natives, on the side of the channel, to take fish ; and also 
found a weir at the termination of it for the like purpose, 
so that it was evident the natives occasionally ventured into 
the marshes. 
There was a small wood to our left which Mr. Hume en- 
deavoured to gain, but he failed in the attempt. He did, 
however, reach a tree that was sufficiently high to give him 
a full view of the marsh, which appeared to extend in every 
direction, but more particularly to the north, for many 
miles. We were, however, at fault, and I really felt at a 
loss what step to take. I should have been led to believe, 
from the extreme flatness of the country, that the Macquarie 
would never assume its natural shape, but from the direc- 
tion of the marshes 1 could not but indulge a hope tliat it 
