y off
them; and no doubt, when they became saturated, many quagmires are
formed, that would very much impede the movements of an expedition.

REACH THE CASTLEREAGH RIVER.

We reached the Castlereagh about 4 p.m., and although its channel could
not have been less than 130 yards in breadth, there was apparently not
a drop of water in it. Its bed consisted of pure sand and reeds; amid
the latter, we found a small pond of 15 yards circumference, after a
long search. There is a considerable dip in the country towards the
river, at about two miles from it; and the intervening brush was full
of kangaroo, which, I fancy, had congregated to a spot where there was
abundance of food for them. The soil covering the space was of the
richest quality, and the timber upon it consisted of box, mountain gum,
and the angophora lanceolata, a tree that is never found except on rich
ground.

WANT OF WATER; CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY.

It appeared that our troubles were to recommence, and that in order to
continue on the Castlereagh, it would be necessary for Mr. Hume and
myself to undertake those fatiguing journeys in search of water that
had so exhausted us already: and after all, it was doubtful how soon we
might be forced back. I had certainly expected that, on our gaining the
banks of the river, we should have had a constant supply of water, but
the circumstance of the Castlereagh having not only ceased to flow, but
being absolutely dry, while it afforded the best and clearest proof of
the severity and continuance of the drought in the interior, at the
same time damped the spirits and ardour of the men. We kept the left
bank of the river as we proceeded down it, and passed two or three
larger ponds about a mile below where we had slept, but there they
ceased. The bed of the river became one of pure sand, nor did there
appear to be any chance of our finding any water in it. I stopped the
party at about eight miles, and desired the men to get their dinners,
to give Mr. Hume and myself time to search for a supply upon the
plains. Disappointed to the left, we crossed the channel of the
Castlereagh, and struck over a small plain upon the right bank, and at
the extremity of it, came upon a swamp, from which we immediately
returned for the cattle, and got them unloaded by seven o'clock. As
there was sufficient pasture around us, I proposed to Mr. Hume on the
following day, to leave the party stationary, and to ride down the
river to see how