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154 channel was from seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans and other wildfowl. Their difficulties seemed now to be at an end. Here was a river which promised to reward all their exertions, and which to their imagination appeared every moment to increase in importance. It had a capacity of channel which seemed to prove that they were as far from its source as from its termination. The paths of the natives on either side of it were like well-trodden roads, and the beautiful trees which overhung it were of gigantic growth.

All hastened now to avail themselves of this apparently abundant supply of that element which they had so long been seeking in vain. The banks were too precipitous to allow of their watering the cattle; but they eagerly descended to quench their thirst. In a moment more a cry of amazement told that they were grievously disappointed. With looks almost of horror, they called out to their commander the terrible news that the water was so salt as to be unfit to drink. Still undaunted, they followed the course of the river many miles in advance to the southwest, where they found the water deeper, and not so salt as on their first acquaintance. After having advanced into the country on this expedition nearly thirteen hundred miles, the expedition returned without loss of life.

Sturt's second journey, undertaken in the following year, extended over nearly two thousand miles, and was successfully performed. It was during this expedition that he discovered the River Murray—so named by him