116 
CmCUlT OF THK GREAT MARSHES. 
report he made on his return was such as to deter me from 
that attempt, but he stated that the country for 30 miles 
from the Macquarie was well watered, and superior to any 
he had passed over during the journey ; beyond that dis- 
tance, it took up the character of the remote interior, and 
alternated with plains and brush, the soil being too sandy 
to retain water on its surface. He saw some hills from the 
extremity of his journey, bearing by compass W. S. W. 
We consequently determined to make for the Castlereagh, 
agreeably to our instructions. Preparations were made for 
breaking up the camp, all the various arrangements in the 
change of animals were completed, the boat carriage was 
exchanged for a dray, and I took Boyle in the place of 
Norman, whose timidity in the bush rendered him unfit for 
service. 
There is a small hill on the opposite side of the river, and 
immediately facing Mount Harris, and to the S. E. of it 
there is a small lagoon, the head of a creek, by means of which 
its superfluous waters are carried off. This creek runs parallel 
to the river for about ten miles, and enters the marshes 
at the S. E. angle. This I ascertained one day in riding to 
carry on my survey of the southern extremity of the marshes, 
and to join my line of route by making the circuit of that 
part of them. I found that the river was turned to its 
northerly course by a rising ground of forest land, which 
checks its further progress westerly. I proceeded round 
the S. W. angle, and then, taking a nortlierly course, got 
down to the bottom of the first great marsh, thus com- 
