474 
CAPTAIN STURT’S REPORT. 
miles an hour. The river still continues to rise, and is fast fill- 
ing the creeks and lagoons on either side of it. The cattle 
enjoy the most luxuriant feed on the banks of the river — there 
being abundance of grass also in the flats, which far surpass those 
of the Murray both in richness of soil, and in extent. I cannot 
but consider the river as a most valuable feature of the interior : 
many a rich and valuable farm might be established upon it. Its 
seasons appear to be particularly favourable, for we have had 
gentle rains ever since we came upon it. Its periodical flooding is 
also at a most favourable period of the year, and its waters are so 
muddy that the deposit must be rich, and would facilitate the 
growth of many of the inter-tropical productions, as cotton, in- 
digo— the native indigo growing to the height of three feet — 
maize, or flax ; whilst, if an available country is found in the 
interior, the Darling must be the great channel of commu- 
nication to it. The country behind the flats is sandy and barren, 
but it would in many places support a certain number of stock, 
and might be found to be of more value than appearances would 
justify me in stating, and I would beg to be understood, in 
speaking of the Darling, that I only speak of it as I have seen it. 
The summer sun probably parches up the vegetation and un- 
clothes the soil ; but such is the effect of summer heat in all 
similar latitudes, and that spot should be considered the most 
valuable where the effect of solar heat can be best counteracted 
by natural or artificial means. I had hoped, as I have stated, that 
the Darling was receiving its accession of waters from the Wil- 
liorara (Laidley’s Ponds) ; but on arriving on its banks we were 
sadly disappointed to find, instead of a mountain stream, a creek 
only connects the river with Cowandillah Lake ; instead of supply- 
ing the Darling with water it was robbing it, and there was 
scarcely a blade of vegetation on its banks. I was, therefore, 
obliged to return to the Darling, and to encamp until such time 
as I should determine on our next movement. From some hills 
above the camp, we had a view of some ranges to the north-west 
and north, and I detached Mr. Poole on the 4th to ascertain the 
nature of the country between us and them, before I ventured to 
remove the party ; more especially as the natives told us the 
