t all times much
contracted, was particularly so on the present occasion. So little
force was there in the current, that I began to entertain doubts how
long it would continue, more especially when I reflected on the level
character of the country we had entered, and the fact of the Macquarie
not receiving any tributary between this point and the marshes. I was
in consequence led to infer that result, which, though not immediately,
eventually took place.

As they were treated with kindness, the natives who accompanied us soon
threw off all reserve, and in the afternoon assembled at the pool below
the fall to take fish. They went very systematically to work, with
short spears in their hands that tapered gradually to a point, and sank
at once under water without splash or noise at a given signal from an
elderly man. In a short time, one or two rose with the fish they had
transfixed; the others remained about a minute under water, and then
made their appearance near the same rock into the crevices of which
they had driven their prey. Seven fine bream were taken, the whole of
which they insisted on giving to our men, although I am not aware that
any of themselves had broken their fast that day. They soon, however,
procured a quantity of muscles, with which they sat down very
contentedly at a fire. My barometrical admeasurement gave the cataract
an elevation of 680 feet above the level of the sea; and my
observations placed it in east longitude 148 degrees 3 minutes and in
latitude 31 degrees 50 minutes south.

It became an object with us to gain the right bank of the Macquarie as
soon as possible; for it was evident that the country to the southward
of it was much more swampy than it was to the north: but for some
distance below the cataract, we found it impossible to effect our
purpose. The rocks composing the bed of the river at the cataract,
which are of trapp formation, disappeared at about eight miles below
it, when the river immediately assumed another character. Its banks
became of equal height, which had not before been the case, and
averaged from fifteen to eighteen feet. They were composed entirely of
alluvial soil, and were higher than the highest flood-marks. Its waters
appeared to be turbid and deep, and its bed was a mixture of sand and
clay. The casuarina, which had so often been admired by us, entirely
disappeared and the channel in many places became so narrow as to be
completely arched over by gum-trees.