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 far its present appearances continued.

Like the generality of rivers of the interior, it had, where we struck upon it, outer banks to confine its waters during floods, and to prevent them from spreading generally over the country; the space between the two banks being of the richest soil, and the timber chiefly of the angophora kind.
Flooded-gum overhung the inner banks of the river, or grew upon the many islands, with casuarina.

It became evident, however, that the outer banks declined in height as we proceeded down the river, nor was it long before they ceased altogether.

As we rode along, we found that the inner ones were fast decreasing in height also.