120 
WANT OF WATER. 
we found a small pond of 15 yards circumference, after a 
long search. There is a considerable dip in the country to- 
wards the river, at about two miles from it ; and the inter- 
vening brush was full of kangaroos, which, I fancy, had con- 
gregated to a spot where there was abundance of food 
for them. The soil covering the space was of the richest 
quality, and the timber upon it consisted of box, mountain- 
gum, and the angophora lanceolata, a tree that is never 
found except on rich ground. 
It appeared that our troubles were to recommence, and 
that in order to continue on the Castlereagh, it would be 
necessary for Mr. Hume and myself to undertake those 
fatiguing journeys in search of water that had so exhausted 
us already : and after all, it was doubtful how soon we might 
be forced back. I had certainly expected that, on our 
gaining the banks of the river, we should have had a con- 
stant supply of water, but the circumstance of the Castle- 
reagh having not only ceased to flow, but being absolutely 
dry, while it afforded the best and clearest proof of the se- 
verity and continuance of the drought in the interior, at 
the same time damped the spirits and ardour of the men. 
We kept the left bank of the river as we proceeded down 
it, and passed two or three larger ponds about a mile 
below where we had slept, but there they ceased. The 
bed of the river became one of pure sand, nor did there 
appear to be any chance of our finding any water in it. 
I stopped the party at about eight miles, and desired the 
men to get their dinners, to give Mr. Hume and myself time 
