bullocks were missing and we were compelled to wait an hour
or two while parties went in search of them; one party being guided by
Piper, the other by the two Tommies. I availed myself of the leisure
afforded by this delay to measure the breadth, depth, and velocity of the
river which were respectively as follows:

Average breadth: 35 yards.
Mean depth: 17 feet.
Velocity of the current: 1,863 yards per hour; the general course, as far
as we had traced this portion being nearly South-East.

When most of the cattle had been brought in we proceeded and, in
endeavouring to keep along the highest ground between the swamps, I
unavoidably left the river at some distance on our right, a circumstance
I considered of less consequence as the ground appeared to be falling on
my left towards some tributary; and at four miles we came upon a small
river flowing rapidly in a valley nearly as deep and wide as the main
stream. The country on its immediate bank looked better than that last
found on the main stream. Limestone rock appeared in the bank opposite
and at the foot of some cliffs we found fossil oyster-shells. Mr.
Stapylton traced this stream to its junction with the river about two
miles lower down.

August 15.

Two bullocks were still missing and I had recourse to compulsory measures
with Piper and the man who lost them in order to find them again: I
declared that unless they were found Piper should have no provisions for
a week; and I condemned the man who lost them to be kept every second
night on watch during the remainder of the journey.

DIFFICULT PASSAGE OF THE STOKES.

The passage of the little river (which named the Stokes in memory of a
brother officer who fell at Badajoz) was not to be easily accomplished,
owing to the depth and softness of the alluvial soil through which it
flowed. One place passable on horseback was found after long search by
Mr. Stapylton and myself. Out of the bed of the stream at that part we
drew some dead trees and after two hours of great exertion the passage of
the boat-carriage and carts was effected, the latter sinking deeper in
the water than they ever had done in any river which we had previously
forded.

THE EXPEDITION BROUGHT TO A STAND IN SOFT GROUND.

We found the country beyond very intricate, being so intersected with
swamps draining off in all directions, and so divided by stringybark
forests, that it was next to impossible to avoid the soft swampy ground
or reach the