In following one of them up, I observed that they re-united at the distance of about two miles, and that the lagoon was filled from the eastward, and not by the river as I had at first supposed.

The waters at the head of the lagoon were putrid, nor was there a fish in, or a wild fowl upon it.

The only bird we saw was a beautiful eagle, of the osprey kind, with plumage like a sea gull, which had a nest in the tree over the tents.
In turning to overtake the party I rode through a great deal of acacia scrub, and on arriving at the place at which I expected to have overtaken them, I found they had pushed on.
The Castlereagh, as I rode down it, diminished in size considerably, and became quite choked up with rushes and brambles.

Rough-gum again made its appearance, with swamp-oak and a miserable acacia scrub outside.

The country on both sides of the river seemed to be an interminable flat, and the soil of an inferior description.
WRETCHED APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
I came up with with Mr.Hume about 1 o'clock and we again pushed forward at 3, and halted for the night without water, the want of which the cattle did not feel.