ng Providence I doubt, but they
evidently dread evil agency. On the whole I should say they are a
people, at present, at the very bottom of the scale of humanity.

REMARKS ON THE DARLING RIVER.

We struck the Darling River in lat. 29 degrees 37 minutes S. and in E.
long. 145 degrees 33 minutes, and traced it down for about sixty-six
miles in a direct line to the S.W. If I might hazard an opinion from
appearance, to whatever part of the interior it leads, its source must
be far to the N.E. or N. The capacity of its channel, and the terrific
floods that must sometimes rage in it, would argue that it is
influenced by tropical rains, which alone would cause such floods. It
is likely that it seldom arrives at so reduced a state as that in which
we found it, and that, generally speaking, it has a sufficient depth of
water for the purposes of inland navigation: in such case its future
importance cannot be questioned, since it most probably receives the
chief streams falling westerly from the coast ranges. But, with every
anticipation of the benefit that may at some time or other be derived
from this remarkable and central stream, it is incumbent on me to state
that the country, through which it flows, holds out but little prospect
of advantage. Certainly the portion we know of it, is far from
encouraging. The extent of alluvial soil, between the inner and outer
banks of the river, is extremely limited, and, instead of being covered
with sward, is in most places over-run by the polygonum. Beyond this
the plains of the interior stretch away, whose character and soil must
change, ere they can be available to any good purpose. But there is a
singular want of vegetable decay in the interior of New Holland, and
that powerfully argues its recent origin.

REMARKS ON THE COUNTRY.

There is no life upon its surface, if I may so express myself; but the
stillness of death reigns in its brushes, and over its plains. It
cannot, however, be doubted that we visited the interior during a most
unfavorable season. Probably in ordinary ones it wears a different
appearance, but its deserts are of great extent, and its productions
are of little value.

Agreeably to our arrangements, we broke up our camp at an early hour on
the morning of the 12th, and proceeded up the river to the junction of
New Year's Creek. We then struck away in an easterly direction from it,
detaching a man to trace the creek up, lest we should pass any water;
and we sho