July 18.—­During the last week the weather was very variable and unsettled, with constant gales from the north-west round to the south-west, and occasional heavy rain.  We had reason to congratulate ourselves on the change of our situation:  a delay of a few days would have swept us from the face of the earth.  On the 10th, the river began to rise rapidly, and on the 15th, in the evening it was at its height, laying the whole of the low country under water, and insulating us on the spot on which we were; the water approaching within a few yards of the tent.  Nothing could be more melancholy and dreary than the scene around us; and although personally safe, we could not contemplate without anxiety the difficulties we might expect to meet with, in passing over a country which the waters would leave wet and marshy, if not impracticable.  By this morning the waters had retired as rapidly as they had risen, leaving us an outlet to the eastward, though I feared that to the north-east the waters would still remain.  In the evening Mr. Evans returned, after an interesting though disagreeable journey.  His horses were completely worn out by the difficulties of the country they had travelled over.  His report, which I shall give at length, decided me as to the steps that were now to be pursued; and I determined on making nearly an easterly course to the river which he had discovered, and which was now honoured with the name of Lord Castlereagh.  This route would take us over a drier country, and the river being within a short distance of Arbuthnot’s range, would enable me to examine from those elevated points the country to the north-east and east; and to decide how far it might be advisable to trace the river, which it is my present inclination to do as long as its course continues to the eastward of north.  From Mr. Evans’s Journal, it will be perceived that the waters of the Macquarie have flowed to the north-east, and still continued flowing among the reeds, which forced him to alter his course.  The circumstance of the river and other large bodies of water crossed by Mr. Evans all flowing to the north, seems to bear out the conclusion that these waters have but one common reservoir.

July 19.—­A tempestuous night, with thunder, lightning, and rain.  Impressed with the important use we should be able to make of our boats, it was determined to construct a carriage for the small one, which we did by the afternoon.  Our labour was wasted; for we were altogether unable to contrive any harness by which the horses could draw it:  we were therefore reluctantly obliged to relinquish our intention.