100 CALLED IT THE “ DARLING.” 
We calculated that we were forty miles from the camp, in 
a S. W. direction, a fearful distance under our circum- 
stances, since we could not hope to obtain relief for two 
days. Independently however, of the state of the animals, 
our spirits were damped by the nature of the country, and 
the change which had taken place on the soil, upon which 
it was impossible that water could rest ; while the general 
appearance of the interior shewed how much it had suf- 
fered from drought. On the other hand, although the 
waters of the river had become worse to the taste, the 
river itself had increased in size, and stretched away to 
the westward, with all the uniformity of a magnificent 
canal, and gave every promise of increasing importance ; 
while the pelicans were in such numbers upon it as to be 
quite dazzling to the eye. Considering, however, that 
perseverance would only involve us in inextricable diffi- 
culties, and that it would also be useless to risk the horses, 
since we had gained a distance to which the bullocks could 
not have been brought, 1 intimated my intention of giving 
up the further pursuit of the river, though it was with 
extreme reluctance that I did so. 
As soon as we had bathed and finished our scanty meal, 
I took the bearings of D’Urban’s Group, and found them 
to be S. 68 E. about thirty-three miles distant ; and as we 
mounted our horses, I named the river the “ Darlino-.” as 
a lasting memorial of the respect I bear the governor. 
I should be doing injustice to Mr. Hume and my men. 
