A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Thence down the river refers to following the meanders of a river. This phrase is commonly used in the field notes of patent surveyors to indicate that the survey follows the course of a meandering river unless there is evidence to show that the meander line was not followed.

Example: A patent surveyor is tasked with measuring the land along a river. The field notes may read, "Thence down the river, following the meanders thereof, for a distance of 2 miles."

Explanation: This example illustrates how the phrase "thence down the river" is used to indicate that the surveyor followed the meanders of the river. The surveyor did not measure the land in a straight line, but rather followed the twists and turns of the river. This is important for accurately estimating the acreage of the land.

Additional Example: A property owner wants to build a fence along the boundary of their land, which is adjacent to a river. The surveyor's report may state, "The meander line of the river is not the boundary line of the property. The actual boundary line is located 10 feet from the riverbank."

Explanation: This example shows how a meander line is not necessarily a boundary line. The surveyor may have followed the course of the river to estimate the acreage of the property, but the actual boundary line may be located a certain distance away from the riverbank. This is important for property owners to know when building structures or making improvements on their land.