A halt for a couple of days was made, whilst Sturt prepared his despatches to the Governor.

On the 26th, the two messengers were sent off to Bathurst, and the progress of the party was resumed.

Before the day closed, they found themselves on a dreary expanse of flats and of desolate reed beds.

The progress of the main body was thus suddenly and completely checked, and Sturt decided to launch the boat and with two men endeavour to trace the course of the river, while Hume and two others endeavoured to find an opening to the northward.
The boat voyage soon terminated, for Sturt was as completely baffled as Oxley had been.

The channel ceased altogether, and the boat quietly grounded.