He found that it narrowed in width, and that its banks became steep, with a fine avenue of flooded-gum trees overhanging them.

At four miles, he came upon another junction, and at four miles more, found himself opposite to the ground on which we had slept on the previous Saturday.

From this point he retraced the channel, but not finding any water for three miles below the lower junction, he returned to the camp, with a view of prosecuting a longer journey on the morrow.

Mr.Hume had become impressed with an opinion, that the junction up which we had slept was no other than the Castlereagh itself; and that our position was on a creek, probably Morrisset's chain of ponds, flowing into it.

As the cattle wanted a few days' rest, Mr.Hume and I determined to ride, unattended, along our track to our camp of the 21st, and then to follow the channel upwards, until we should arrive at the station of the natives, or until we should have ridden to such a distance as would set our conjectures at rest.