He had really served us well and faithfully, and if he had anything to do in propagating the several reports by which we had been deceived in our progress up the Darling, I believe it was with a view to prevent our going into a country from which he thought we should never return.

We rewarded him as he deserved, and sent both him and his companions away with provisions sufficient to last them during the greater part of their journey, but we afterwards learnt that with the improvident generosity of the savage, they had appointed to meet a number of their friends in the bush, and consumed their whole supply before sunset.
The weather had cleared, and as we were enabled to connect the Darling with the hilly country, I directed Mr.Poole to measure a base line from a point at the back of our camp to the westward.

This base line ran along the sandy ridge above the flats of Laidley's Ponds towards Cawndilla, so that we had no detention, but left the Darling on the 17th.
The drays started early in the forenoon, but I remained until two, to take some lunars with Mr.Browne.At that hour we rode along the dray tracks, and at six miles descended into the bed of the lake, and crossing a portion of it arrived at the camp at half-past five.

The floods were just crossing the dray tracks as we passed, and gradually advancing into the basin.

The ground was cracked and marked with narrow but deep fissures into which the waters fell as they rolled onwards, and it was really surprising to see the immense quantity these chasms required to fill them.
Having taken leave of the Darling, it may be as well that I should make a few general remarks upon it.