THE RIVER KARAULA. 
169 
bidgee, belong to the basin of the Karaula; this stieam 
flowing southward, and hence the disappearance of the 
Macquarie and other lower rivers may be understood, for 
all along the banks of the Karaula, the Gwydir, and the 
Nammoy, the country, though not swampy, bears marks of 
frequent inundation ; thus the floods occasioned by these 
rivers united, cover the low country, and receive the Mac- 
quarie, so that no channel marks its further course. 
“ That a basin may be found to the northward receiving 
the waters of the northern part of the coast range m a 
similar manner is extremely probable, and that they form a 
better river, because the angle is more acute between the 
high ground, which must bound it on the N.E. and the 
watershed on the south. I therefore prepared to cross the 
Karaula, in hopes of seeing the head at least of such a 
river, and to explore the country two degrees further 
northward, but moving in a N.W. direction. My tent was 
struck, and I had just launched my portable boat for the 
purpose of crossing the river, when Mr. Surveyor Finch, 
whom I had instructed to bring up a supply of flour, 
arrived with the distressing intelligence, that two of his 
men had been killed by the natives, who had taken the 
flour, and were in possession of everything he had brought 
_ all the cattle, including his horse, being also dispersed 
or lost. I therefore determined not to extend my excursion 
further, as the party were already on reduced rations, and 
on the 8th instant I retired from the Karaula, returning by 
the marked line, which being cut through thick scrubs in 
