wever capable we were of bearing
additional fatigue, it was evident our animals would soon fail, since
they trembled exceedingly, and had the look of total exhaustion. We
calculated that we were forty miles from the camp, in a S.W. direction,
a fearful distance under our circumstances, since we could not hope to
obtain relief for two days. Independently however, of the state of the
animals, our spirits were damped by the nature of the country, and the
change which had taken place on the soil, upon which it was impossible
that water could rest; while the general appearance of the interior
showed how much it had suffered from drought. On the other hand,
although the waters of the river had become worse to the taste, the
river itself had increased in size, and stretched away to the westward,
with all the uniformity of a magnificent canal, and gave every promise
of increasing importance; while the pelicans were in such numbers upon
it as to be quite dazzling to the eye. Considering, however, that
perseverance would only involve us in inextricable difficulties, and
that it would also be useless to risk the horses, since we had gained a
distance to which the bullocks could not have been brought, I intimated
my intention of giving up the further pursuit of the river, though it
was with extreme reluctance that I did so.

CALLED IT THE "DARLING".

As soon as we had bathed and finished our scanty meal, I took the
bearings of D'Urban's Group, and found them to be S. 58 E. about
thirty-three miles distant; and as we mounted our horses, I named the
river the "Darling," as a lasting memorial of the respect I bear the
governor.

ABANDON THE ATTEMPT.

I should be doing injustice to Mr. Hume and my men, if I did not
express my conviction that they were extremely unwilling to yield to
circumstances, and that, had I determined on continuing the journey,
they would have followed me with cheerfulness, whatever the
consequences might have been.

CHAPTER III.

Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks
on the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our
return--Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount
Harris--Miserable condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the
slaughter of two Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the
Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds--Find the famished natives feeding on
gum--Channel of the Castlereagh--Character of the country in its
vicinity--An