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diff --git a/old/xpss110.txt b/old/xpss110.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..190814c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss110.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7752 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt +#1 in our series by Charles Sturt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + + +TWO EXPEDITIONS INTO THE INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA DURING THE YEARS +1828,1829,1830,1831 WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE SOIL, CLIMATE AND GENERAL +RESOURCES OF THE COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. + +IN TWO VOLUMES + +VOLUME I. + + +"For though most men are contented only to see a river as it runs by +them, and talk of the changes in it as they happen; when it is troubled, +or when clear; when it drowns the country in a flood, or forsakes it in a +drought: yet he that would know the nature of the water, and the causes of +those accidents (so as to guess at their continuance or return), must find +out its source, and observe with what strength it rises, what length it +runs, and how many small streams fall in, and feed it to such a height, +as make it either delightful or terrible to the eye, and useful or +dangerous to the country about it."...SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S NETHERLANDS. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HON. +THE EARL OF RIPON, +VISCOUNT GODERICH, +Lord Privy Seal +&c. &c. &c. + + + +MY LORD, + +The completion of this Work affords me the opportunity I have long desired +of thanking your Lordship thus publicly, for the kindness with which you +acceded to my request to be permitted to dedicate it to you. + +The encouragement your Lordship was pleased to give me has served to +stimulate me in the prosecution of a task, which would, I fear, have been +too great for me to have accomplished in my present condition, under any +ordinary views of ambition. Indeed, labouring as I have been for many +months past, under an almost total deprivation of sight, (the effect of +exposure and anxiety of mind in the prosecution of geographical +researches,) I owe it to the casual assistance of some of my friends, that +I am at length enabled to lay these results before your Lordship and the +public. + +While I feel a painful conviction that many errors must necessarily +pervade a work produced under such unfavourable circumstances, it affords +me no small consolation to reflect that Your Lordship has been aware of my +situation, and will be disposed to grant me every reasonable indulgence. + +I have the honor to be, +With the highest respect, +My Lord, +Your Lordship's +Very obedient and humble servant, + +CHARLES STURT +London June, 1833. + + + + +CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE MACQUARIE RIVER, AND INTO THE WESTERN INTERIOR +IN 1828 AND 1829. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach the +Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck upon it. + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +CHAPTER V. + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Concluding Remarks--Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior +of Australia--Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady +intelligent subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men +requisite,--and of cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements-- +Treatment of the natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second +expedition. + + +APPENDIX. + +No. I. Letter of Instructions +No. II. List of Stores supplied for the Expedition +No. III. Sheep-farming Returns +No. IV. List of Geological Specimens +No. V. Official Report to the Colonial Government, (Jan. 1829.) +No. VI. Ditto (April 1829.) + + +ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE FIRST VOLUME +(Not included in this etext) + +Native Burial Place near Budda +Vice Admiral Arthur Phillip +Cataract of the Macquarie +A Selenite +Chrystallized Sulphate of Lime + + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER + + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +PURPOSE OF THIS PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +When I first determined on committing to the press a detailed account of +the two expeditions, which I conducted into the interior of the Australian +continent, pursuant to the orders of Lieutenant General Darling, the late +Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, it was simply with a view of +laying their results before the geographical world, and of correcting the +opinions that prevailed with regard to the unexplored country to the +westward of the Blue Mountains. I did not feel myself equal either to the +task or the responsibility of venturing any remarks on the Colony of New +South Wales itself. I had had little time for inquiry, amidst the various +duties that fell to my lot in the ordinary routine of the service to which +I belonged, when unemployed by the Colonial Government in the prosecution +of inland discoveries. My observations had been in a great measure +confined to those points which curiosity, or a desire of personal +information, had prompted me to investigate. I did not, therefore, venture +to flatter myself that I had collected materials of sufficient importance +on general topics to enable me to write for the information of others. +Since my return to England, however, I have been strenuously urged to give +a short description of the colony before entering upon my personal +narrative; and I have conversed with so many individuals whose ideas of +Australia are totally at variance with its actual state, that I am +encouraged to indulge the hope that my observations, desultory as they +are, may be of some interest to the public. I am strengthened in this hope +by the consideration that some kind friends have enabled me to add much +valuable matter to that which I had myself collected. It is not my +intention, however, to enter at any length on the commercial or +agricultural interests of New South Wales. It may be necessary for me to +touch lightly on those important subjects, but it is my wish to connect +this preliminary chapter, as much as possible with the subjects treated of +in the body of the work, and chiefly to notice the physical structure, the +soil, climate, and productions of the colony, in order to convey to the +reader general information on these points, before I lead him into the +remote interior. + +NAME OF AUSTRALIA. + +It may be worthy of remark that the name "Australia," has of late years +been affixed to that extensive tract of land which Great Britain possesses +in the Southern Seas, and which, having been a discovery of the early +Dutch navigators, was previously termed "New Holland." The change of name +was, I believe, introduced by the celebrated French geographer, Malte +Brun, who, in his division of the globe, gave the appellation of +Austral Asia and Polynesia to the new discovered lands in the southern +ocean; in which division he meant to include the numerous insular groups +scattered over the Pacific. + +IMPRESSIONS OF ITS EARLY VISITORS. + +Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than +every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a +continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude. +Stretching from the 115th to the 153rd degree of east longitude, and from +the 10th to the 37th of south latitude, it averages 2700 miles in length +by 1800 in breadth; and balanced, as it were, upon the tropic of that +hemisphere in which it is situated, it receives the fiery heat of the +equator at one extremity, while it enjoys the refreshing coolness of the +temperate zone at the other. On a first view we should be led to expect +that this extensive tract of land possessed more than ordinary advantages; +that its rivers would be in proportion to its size; and that it would +abound in the richest productions of the inter-tropical and temperate +regions. Such, indeed, was the impression of those who first touched upon +its southern shores, but who remained no longer than to be dazzled by the +splendour and variety of its botanical productions, and to enjoy for a +few days the delightful mildness of its climate. But the very spot which +had appeared to Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks an earthly paradise, was +abandoned by the early settlers as unfit for occupation; nor has the +country generally been fount to realize the sanguine expectations of those +distinguished individuals, so far as it has hitherto been explored. + +CHARACTER OF AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. + +Rivers which have the widest mouths or the most practicable entrances, +are, in Europe or America, usually of impetuous current, or else contain +such a body of water as to bear down all opposition to their free course; +whilst on the other hand, rivers whose force is expended ere they reach +the sea, have almost invariably a bar at their embouchure, or where they +mingle their waters with those of the ocean. This last feature +unfortunately appears to characterize all rivers of Australia, or such of +them at least as are sufficiently known to us. Falling rapidly from the +mountains in which they originate into a level and extremely depressed +country; having weak and inconsiderable sources, and being almost wholly +unaided by tributaries of any kind; they naturally fail before they reach +the coast, and exhaust themselves in marshes or lakes or reach it so +weakened as to be unable to preserve clear or navigable months, or to +remove the sand banks that the tides throw up before them. On the other +hand the productions of this singular region seem to be peculiar to it, +and unlike those of any other part of the world; nor have any indigenous +fruits of any value as yet been found either in its forests or on its +plains. + +He who has never looked on any other than the well-cultured fields of +England, can have little idea of a country that Nature has covered with an +interminable forest. Still less can he estimate the feelings with which +the adventurer approaches a shore that has never (or perhaps only lately) +been trodden by civilized man. + +FIRST VIEW OF PORT JACKSON. + +It was with feelings peculiar to the occasion, that I gazed for the first +time on the bold cliffs at the entrance of Port Jackson, as our vessel +neared them, and speculated on the probable character of the landscape +they hid; and I am free to confess, that I did not anticipate anything +equal to the scene which presented itself both to my sight and my +judgment, as we sailed up the noble and extensive basin we had entered, +towards the seat of government. A single glance was sufficient to tell me +that the hills upon the southern shore of the port, the outlines of which +were broken by houses and spires, must once have been covered with the +same dense and gloomy wood which abounded every where else. The contrast +was indeed very great--the improvement singularly striking. The labour and +patience required, and the difficulties which the first settlers +encountered effecting these improvements, must have been incalculable. But +their success has been complete: it is the very triumph of human skill and +industry over Nature herself. The cornfield and the orchard have +supplanted the wild grass and the brush; a flourishing town stands over +the ruins of the forest; the lowing of herds has succeeded the wild whoop +of the savage; and the stillness of that once desert shore is now broken +by the sound of the bugle and the busy hum of commerce. + +EXTENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND DIVISIONS OF THE COLONY. + +The Colony of New South Wales is situated upon the eastern coast of +Australia; and the districts within which land has been granted to +settlers, extends from the 36th parallel of latitude to the 32nd, that is +say, from the Moroyo River to the south of Sydney on the one hand, and to +the Manning River on the other, including Wellington Valley within its +limits to the westward. Thus it will appear that the boundaries of the +located parts of the colony have been considerably enlarged, and some fine +districts of country included within them. In consequence of its extent +and increasing population, it has been found convenient to divide it into +counties, parishes, and townships; and indeed, every measure of the +Colonial Government of late years, has had for its object to assimilate +its internal arrangements as nearly as possible, to those of the mother +country. Whether we are to attribute the present flourishing state of the +colony to the beneficial influence of that system of government which has +been exercised over it for the last seven years it is not for me to say. +That the prosperity of a country depends, however, in a great measure, +on the wisdom of its legislature, is as undoubted, as that within the +period I have mentioned the colony of N. S. Wales has risen +unprecedentedly in importance and in wealth, and has advanced to a state +of improvement at which it could not have arrived had its energies been +cramped or its interests neglected. + +ITS ADVANCES IN PROSPERITY. + +There is a period in the history of every country, during which it will +appear to have been more prosperous than at any other. I allude not to the +period of great martial achievements, should any such adorn its pages, but +to that in which the enterprise of its merchants was roused into action, +and when all classes of its community seem to have put forth their +strength towards the attainment of wealth and power. + +ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS. + +In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far +advanced. The conduct of its merchants is marked by the boldest +speculations and the most gigantic projects. Their storehouses are built +on the most magnificent scale, and with the best and most substantial +materials. Few persons in England have even a remote idea of its present +flourishing condition, or of the improvements that are daily taking place +both in its commerce and in its agriculture. I am aware that many object +to it as a place of residence, and I can easily enter into their feelings +from the recollection of what my own were before I visited it. I cannot +but remark, however, that I found my prejudices had arisen from a natural +objection to the character of a part of its population; from the +circumstance of its being a penal colony, and from my total ignorance of +its actual state, and not from any substantial or permanent cause. On the +contrary I speedily became convinced of the exaggerated nature of the +reports I had heard in England, on some of the points just adverted to; +nor did any thing fall under my observation during a residence in it of +more than six years to justify the opinion I had been previously led to +entertain of it. I embarked for New South Wales, with strong prejudices +against it: I left it with strong feelings in its favour, and with a deep +feeling of interest in its prosperity. It is a pleasing task to me, +therefore, to write of it thus, and to have it in my power to contribute +to the removal of any erroneous impressions with regard to its condition +at the present moment. + +COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SYDNEY. + +I have already remarked, that I was not prepared for the scene that met my +view when I first saw Sydney. The fact was, I had not pictured to myself; +nor conceived from any thing that I had ever read or heard in England, +that so extensive a town could have been reared in that remote region, in +so brief a period as that which had elapsed since its foundation. It is +not, however, a distant or cursory glance that will give the observer a +just idea of the mercanthe importance of this busy capital. In order to +form an accurate estimate of it, he should take a boat and proceed from +Sydney Cove to Darling Harbour. He would then be satisfied, that it is not +upon the first alone that Australian commerce has raised its storehouse +and wharfs, but that the whole extent of the eastern shore of the last +more capacious basin, is equally crowded with warehouses, stores, +dockyards, mills, and wharfs, the appearance and solidity of which would +do credit even to Liverpool. Where, thirty years ago, the people flocked +to the beach to hail an arrival, it is not now unusual to see from thirty +to forty vessels riding at anchor at one time, collected there from every +quarter of the globe. In 1832, one hundred and fifty vessels entered the +harbour of Port Jackson, from foreign parts, the amount of their tonnage +being 31,259 tons. + +The increasing importance of Sydney must in some measure be attributed to +the flourishing condition of the colony itself, to the industry of its +farmers, to the successful enterprise of its merchants, and to particular +local causes. It is foreign to my purpose, however, to enter largely into +an investigation of these important points. To do so would require more +space than I can afford for the purpose, and might justly be considered as +irrelevant in a work of this kind. Without attempting any lengthened +detail, it may be considered sufficient if I endeavour merely to point out +the principal causes of the present prosperity (and, as they may very +probably prove) of the eventual progress of our great southern colony to +power and independence. + +STAPLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. + +The staple of our Australian colonies, but more particularly of New South +Wales, the climate and the soil of which are peculiarly suited to its +production,--is fine wool. There can be no doubt that the growth of this +article has mainly contributed to the prosperity of the above mentioned +colony and of Van Diemen's Land. + +At the close of the last century, wool was imported into England from +Spain and Germany only, and but a few years previously from Spain alone. +Indeed, long after its introduction from the latter country, German wool, +obtained but little consideration in the London market; and in like +manner, it may be presumed that many years will not have elapsed +before the increased importation of wool from our own possessions in +the southern hemisphere, will render us, in respect to this commodity, +independent of every other part of the world. The great improvements +in modern navigation are such, that the expense of sending the fleece +to market from New South Wales is less than from any part of Europe. +The charges for instance on Spanish and German wool, are from +fourpence to fourpence three farthings per pound; whereas the entire +charge, after shipment from New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, does +not exceed threepence three farthings,--and in this the dock and landing +charges, freight, insurance, brokerage, and commission, are included. + +GROWTH OF FINE WOOL. MR. M'ARTHUR'S EXERTIONS. + +As some particulars respecting the introduction of this source of national +wealth into Australia may prove interesting to the public, I have put +together the following details of it, upon the authenticity of which they +may rely. The person who foresaw the advantage to be derived from the +growth of fine wool in New South Wales, and who commenced the culture of +it in that colony, was Mr. John M'Arthur. So far back, I believe, as the +year 1793, not long after the establishment of the first settlement at +Sydney, this gentleman commenced sheep-farming, and about two years +afterwards he obtained a ram and two ewes from Captain Kent, of the royal +navy, who had brought them, with some other stock for the supply of the +settlement, from the Cape of Good Hope, to which place a flock of these +sheep had been originally sent by the Dutch government. Sensible of the +importance of the acquisition, Mr. M'Arthur began to cross his +coarse-fleeced sheep with Merino blood; and, proceeding upon a system, he +effected a considerable improvement in the course of a few years. So +prolific was the mixed breed, that in ten years, a flock which originally +consisted of not more than seventy Bengal sheep, had increased in number +to 4,000 head, although the wethers had been killed as they became fit for +slaughter. It appears, however, that as the sheep approached to greater +purity of blood, their extreme fecundity diminished. + +TO REAR MERINO FLOCKS. + +In 1803, Mr. M'Arthur revisited England; and there happening at the time +to be a committee of manufacturers in London from the clothing districts, +he exhibited before them samples of his wool, which were so much approved, +that the committee represented to their constituents the advantages which +would result from the growth of fine wool, in one of the southern +dependencies of the empire. In consequence of this a memorial was +transmitted to His Majesty's government, and Mr. M'Arthur's plans having +been investigated by a Privy Council, at which he was present, they were +recommended to the government as worthy of its protection. With such +encouragement Mr. M'Arthur purchased two ewes and three rams, from the +Merino flock of His Majesty King George the Third. He embarked with them +on his return to New South Wales in 1806, on board a vessel named by him +"the Argo," in reference to the golden treasure with which she was +freighted. On reaching the colony he removed his sheep to a grant of land +which the Home Government had directed he should receive in the Cow +Pastures. To commemorate the transaction, and to transmit to a grateful +posterity the recollection of the nobleman who then presided over the +colonies, the estate, together with the district in which it is situated, +was honoured by the name of Camden. + +EXPORT OF WOOL TO ENGLAND. + +Since that time the value of New South Wales wool has been constantly on +the increase, and the colony are indebted to Mr. M'Arthur for the +possession of an exportable commodity which has contributed very +materially to its present wealth and importance. Such general attention is +now paid to this interesting branch of rural economy, that the importation +of wool into England from our Australian colonies, amounted, in 1832, to +10,633 bales, or 2,500,000 lbs. It has been sold at as high a price as +10s. per lb.; but the average price of wool of the best flocks vary from +1s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. at the present moment. The number of sheep in New South +Wales alone was calculated in the last census at 536,891 head. The +ordinary profits on this kind of stock may be extracted from the Table +given in the Appendix to the first volume of this work. + +WHALE FISHERY. + +Among the various speculations undertaken by the merchants of Sydney, +there is not one into which they have entered with so much spirit as in +the South Sea Fishery. The local situation of Port Jackson gives them an +advantage over the English and the American merchants, since the distance +of both these from the field of their gains, must necessarily impede them +greatly; whereas the ships that leave Sydney on a whaling excursion, +arrive without loss of time upon their ground, and return either for fresh +supplies or to repair damages with equal facility. The spirit with which +the colonial youth have engaged in this adventurous and hardy service, is +highly to their credit. The profits arising from it may not be (indeed I +have every reason to think are not) so great as might be supposed, or such +as might reasonably be expected; but the extensive scale on which it is +conducted, speaks equally for the energy and perseverance of the parties +concerned, in the prosecution of their commercial enterprises. It has +enabled them to equip a creditable colonial marine, and given great +importance to their mercanthe interests in the mother country. + +In the year 1831, the quantity of sperm and black oil, the produce of the +fisheries exported from New South Wales, amounted to 2,307 tons, and was +estimated, together with skins and whalebone, to be worth 107,971 pounds +sterling. The gross amount of all other exports during that year, did not +exceed 107,697 pounds sterling. Of these exports, the following were the +most considerable: + + +Timber 7,410 pounds sterling +Butter and Cheese 2,376 +Mimosa bark 40 +Hides 7,333 +Horses 7,302 +Salt provisions 5,184 +Wool 66,112 + + +The above is exclusive of 61,000 pounds value of British manufactures +re-exported to the various ports and islands in the Southern Seas. + +OTHER EXPORTS. + +In this scale, moreover, tobacco is not mentioned; but that plant is now +raised for the supply of every private establishment, and will assuredly +form an article of export, as soon as its manufacture shall be well +understood. Neither can it be doubted but that the vine and the olive +will, in a short time, be abundantly cultivated; and that a greater +knowledge of the climate and soil of the more northern parts of the +colony, will lead to the introduction of fresh sources of wealth. + +GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. + +Having taken this hasty review of the commercial interests of the colony, +we may now turn to a brief examination of its internal structure and +principal natural features. + +I have already given a cursory sketch of the geographical features of the +whole continent. Of the vast area which its coasts embrace, the east part +alone has been fully explored. + +A range of hills runs along the eastern coast, from north to south, which, +in different quarters, vary in their distance from the sea; at one place +approaching it pretty nearly, at another, receding from it to a distance +of forty miles. It is a singular fact, that there is no pass or break in +these mountains, by which any of the rivers of the interior can escape in +an easterly direction. Their spine is unbroken. The consequence is, that +there is a complete division of the eastern and western waters, and that +streams, the heads of which are close to each other, flow away in opposite +directions; the one to pursue a short course to the sea; the other to fall +into a level and depressed interior, the character of which will be +noticed in its proper place. + +GREAT PROPORTION OF BAD SOIL. + +The proportion of bad soil to that which is good in New South Wales, is +certainly very great: I mean the proportion of inferior soil to such as is +fit for the higher purposes of agriculture. Mr. Dawson, the late +superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company's possessions, has +observed, as a singular fact, that the best soil generally prevails on the +summits of the hills, more especially where they are at all level. He +accounts for so unusual a circumstance by the fact, that elevated +positions are less subject to the effects of fire or floods than their +valleys or flanks, and attributes the general want of vegetable mould over +the colony chiefly to the ravages of the former element, whereby the +growth of underwood, so favourable in other countries to the formation of +soil, is wholly prevented. Undoubtedly this is a principal cause for the +deficiency in question. There is no part of the world in which fires +create such havoc as in News South Wales and indeed in Australia +generally. The climate, on the one hand, which dries up vegetation, and +the wandering habits of the natives on the other, which induce them to +clear the country before them by conflagration, operate equally against +the growth of timber and underwood. + +CAUSE OF THIS. + +But there is another circumstance that appears to have escaped +Mr. Dawson's observation; which is the actual property of the trees +themselves, as to the quantity of vegetable matter they produce in decay. +Being a military man, I cannot be supposed to have devoted much of my time +to agricultural pursuits; but it has been obvious to me, as it must have +been to many others, that in New South Wales, the fall of leaves and the +decay of timber, so far from adding to the richness of its soil, actually +destroy minor vegetation. This fact was brought more home to me in +consequence of its having been my lot to spend some months upon Norfolk +Island, a distant penal settlement attached to the Government of Sydney. +There the abundance of vegetable decay was as remarkable as the want of it +on the Australian Continent. I have frequently sunk up to my knees in a +bed of leaves when walking through its woods; and, often when I placed my +foot on what appeared externally to be the solid trunk of a tree, I have +found it yield to the pressure, in consequence of its decomposition into +absolute rottenness. But such is not the case in New South Wales. There, +no such accumulations of vegetable matter are to be met with; but where +the loftiest tree of the forest falls to the ground, its figure and length +are marked out by the total want of vegetation within a certain distance +of it, and a small elevation of earth, resembling more the refuse or +scoria of burnt bricks than any thing else, is all that ultimately remains +of the immense body which time or accident had prostrated. Thus it would +appear, that it is not less to the character of its woods than to the +ravages of fire that New South Wales owes its general sterility. + +CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GEOLOGY AND VEGETATION. + +Whilst prosecuting my researches in the interior of the colony, I could +not but be struck with the apparent connection between its geology and +vegetation; so strong, indeed, was this connection, that I had little +difficulty, after a short experience, in judging of the rock that formed +the basis of the country over which I was travelling, from the kind of +tree or herbage that flourished in the soil above it. The eucalyptus +pulv., a species of eucalyptus having a glaucus-coloured leaf, of +dwarfish habits and growing mostly in scrub, betrayed the sandstone +formation, wherever it existed, This was the case in many parts of the +County of Cumberland, in some parts of Wombat Brush, at the two passes on +the great south road, over a great extent of country to the N.W. of Yass +Plains, and at Blackheath on the summit of the Blue Mountains. On the +other hand, those open grassy and park-like tracts, of which so much has +been said, characterise the secondary ranges of granite and porphyry. The +trees most usual on these tracts, were the box, an unnamed species of +eucalyptus, and the grass chiefly of that kind, called the oat or forest +grass, which grows in tufts at considerable distances from each other, +and which generally affords good pasturage. On the richer grounds the +angophora lanceolata, and the eucalyptus mammifera more frequently point +out the quality of the soil on which they grow. The first are abundant on +the alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury and the Hunter; the +latter on the limestone formation of Wellington Valley and in the better +portions of Argyle; whilst the cupressus calytris seems to occupy sandy +ridges with the casuarina. It was impossible that these broad features +should have escaped observation: it was naturally inferred from this, that +the trees of New South Wales are gregarious; and in fact they may, in a +great measure, be considered so. The strong line that occasionally +separates different species, and the sudden manner in which several +species are lost at one point, to re-appear at another more distant, +without any visible cause for the break that has taken place, will furnish +a number of interesting facts in the botany of New South Wales. + +It was observed both on the Macquarie river and the Morumbidgee, that the +casuarinae ceased at a particular point. On the Macquarie particularly, +these trees which had often excited our admiration from Wellington Valley +downwards, ceased to occupy its banks below the cataract, nor were they +again noticed until we arrived on the banks of the Castlereagh. The +blue-gum trees, again, were never observed to extend beyond the secondary +embankments of the rivers, occupying that ground alone which was subject +to flood and covered with reeds. These trees waved over the marshes of the +Macquarie, but were not observed to the westward of them for many miles; +yet they re-appeared upon the banks of New-Year's Creek as suddenly as +they had disappeared after we left the marshes, and grew along the line +of the Darling to unusual size. But it is remarkable, that, even in the +midst of the marshes, the blue-gum trees were strictly confined to the +immediate flooded spaces on which the reeds prevailed, or to the very beds +of the water-courses. Where the ground was elevated, or out of the reach +of flood, the box (unnamed) alone occupied it; and, though the branches of +these trees might be interwoven together, the one never left its wet and +reedy bed, the other never descended from its more elevated position. The +same singular distinction marked the acacia pendula, when it ceased to +cover the interior plains of light earth, and was succeeded by another +shrub of the same species. It continued to the banks of New-Year's Creek, +a part of which it thickly lined. To the westward of the creek, another +species of acacia was remarked for the first time. Both shrubs, like the +blue-gum and the box, mixed their branches together, but the creek formed +the line of separation between them. The acacia pendula was not afterwards +seen, but that which had taken its place, as it were, was found to cover +large tracts of country and to form extensive brushes. Many other +peculiarities in the vegetation of the interior are noticed in the body +of this work, but I have thought that these more striking ones deserved +to be particularly remarked upon. + +GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. + +If we strike a line to the N.W. from Sydney to Wellington Valley, we shall +find that little change takes place in the geological features of the +country. The sand-stone of which the first of the barrier ranges is +composed, terminates a little beyond Mount York, and at Cox's River is +succeeded by grey granite. The secondary ranges to the N.W. of Bathurst, +are wholly of that primitive rock; for although there are partial changes +of strata between Bathurst and Moulong Plains, granite is undoubtedly the +rock upon which the whole are based: but at Moulong Plains, a military +station intermediate between Bathurst and Wellington Valley, limestone +appears in the bed of a small clear stream, and with little interruption +continues to some distance below the last-mentioned place. The accidental +discovery of some caves at Moulong Plains, led to the more critical +examination of the whole formation, and cavities of considerable size were +subsequently found in various parts of it, but more particularly in the +neighbourhood of Wellington Valley. The local interest which has of late +years been taken in the prosecution of geological investigations, led many +gentlemen to examine the contents of these caverns; and among the most +forward, Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, must justly be considered, +to whose indefatigable perseverance the scientific world is already so +much indebted. + +The caves into which I penetrated, did not present anything particular to +my observation; they differed little from caves of a similar description +into which I had penetrated in Europe. Large masses of stalactites hung +from their roofs, and a corresponding formation encrusted their floors. +They comprised various chambers or compartments, the most remote of which +terminated at a deep chasm that was full of water. A close examination of +these caves has led to the discovery of some organic remains, bones of +various animals embedded in a light red soil; but I am not aware that the +remains of any extinct species have been found, or that any fossils have +been met with in the limestone itself. There can, however, be little doubt +but that the same causes operated in depositing these mouldering remains +in the caves of Kirkdale and those of Wellington Valley. + +About twenty miles below the junction of the Bell with the Macquarie, +free-stone supersedes the limestone, but as the country falls rapidly from +that point, it soon disappears, and the traveller enters upon a flat +country of successive terraces. A schorl rock, of a blue colour and fine +grain, composed of tourmaline and quartz, forms the bed of the Macquarie +at the Cataract; and, in immediate contact with it, a mass of mica slate +of alternate rose, pink, and white, was observed, which must have been +covered by the waters of the river when Mr. Oxley descended it. + +From the Cataract of the Macquarie, a flat extends to the marshes in which +that river exhausts itself. From the midst of this flat Mount Foster and +Mount Harris rise, both of which are porphyritic: but as I have been +particular in describing these heights in their proper place, any minute +notice of them here may be considered unnecessary. We will rather extend +our enquiries to those parts of the colony upon which we shall not be +called upon to remark in the succeeding pages. + +Returning to the coast, we may mark the geological changes in a line to +the S.W. of Sydney; and as my object is to extend the information of my +readers, I shall notice any particular district on either side of the line +I propose to touch upon, which may be worthy of notice. It would appear +that the first decided break in the sandstone formation which penetrates +into the county of Camden, is at Mittagong Range. It is there traversed by +a dike of whinstone, of which that range is wholly composed. The change of +soil and of vegetation are equally remarkable at this place; the one being +a rich, greasy, chocolate-coloured earth, the other partaking greatly of +the intertropical character. In wandering over them, I noticed the wild +fig and the cherry-tree, growing to a much larger size than I had seen +them in any other part of the colony. Upon their branches, the satin bird, +the gangan, and various kinds of pigeons were feeding. Birds unknown to +the eastward of the Blue Mountains, were numerous in the valleys; and +there was an unusual appearance of freshness and moisture in the +vegetation. + +These signs of improvement, however, vanish the moment Mittagong range is +crossed, and sand-stone again forms the basis of the country to a +considerable distance beyond Bong-bong. At a small farm called the +Ploughed Ground, it is again traversed by a dike of whinstone, and a rich +but isolated spot is thus passed over. With occasional and partial +interruption, however, the sand-stone formation continues to an abrupt +pass, from which the traveller descends to the county of Argyle. This pass +is extremely abrupt, and is covered with glaucus, the low scrub I have +noticed as common to the sand-stone formation. A small but lively stream, +called Paddy's River, runs at the bottom of this pass, and immediately to +the S.W. of it, an open forest country of granite base extends for many +miles, on which the eucalyptus manifera is prevalent, and which affords +the best grazing tracts in Argyle. At Goulburn Plains, however, a vein of +limestone occurs, which is evidently connected with that forming the +ShoalHaven Gully, which is perhaps the most remarkable geological feature +in the colony of New South Wales. It is a deep chasm of about a quarter of +a mile in breadth, and 1200 feet in depth. The country on either side is +perfectly level, so much so that the traveller approaches almost to its +very brink before he is aware of his being near so singular an abyss. A +small rivulet flows through the Gully, and discharges itself into the sea +at ShoalHaven; but this river is hardly perceptible, from the summit of +the cliffs forming the sides of the Gully, which are of the boldest and +most precipitous character. The ground on the summit is full of caves of +great depth, but there has been a difficulty in examining them, in +consequence of the violent wind that rushes up them, and extinguishes +every torch. + +The open and grassy forests of Argyle are terminated by another of those +abrupt sand-stone passes I have just described, and the traveller again +falls considerably from his former level, previously to his entering on +Yass Plains, to which this pass is the only inlet. + +From Yass Plains the view to the S. and S.W. is over a lofty and broken +country: mountains with rounded summits, others with towering peaks, and +others again of lengthened form but sharp spine, characterise the various +rocks of which they are composed. The ranges decline rapidly from east to +west, and while on the one hand the country has all the appearance of +increasing height, on the other it sinks to a dead level; nor on the +distant horizon to the N. W. is there a hill or an inequality to be seen. + +From Yass Plains to the very commencement of the level interior, every +range I crossed presented a new rock-formation; serpentine quartz in +huge white masses, granite, chlorite, micaceous schist, sandstone, +chalcedony, quartz, and red jasper, and conglomerate rocks. + +It was however, out of my power, in so hurried a journey as that which I +performed down the banks of the Morumbidgee River, to examine with the +accuracy I could have wished, either the immediate connection between +these rocks or their gradual change from the one to the other. I was +content to ascertain their actual succession, and to note the general +outlines of the ranges; but the defect of vision under which I labour, +prevents me from laying them before the public. + +CHARACTER OF THE SOIL CONNECTED WITH GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. + +From what has been advanced, however, it will appear that the physical +structure of the southern parts of the colony is as varied, as that of the +western interior is monotonous, and we may now pursue our original +observations on the soil of the colony with greater confidence. + +In endeavouring to account for the poverty of the soil in New South Wales, +and in attributing it in a great degree to the causes already mentioned, +it appears necessary to estimate more specifically the influence which the +geological formation of a country exercises on its soil, and how much the +quality of the latter partakes of the character of the rock on which it +reposes. And although I find it extremely difficult to explain myself as +I should wish to do, in the critical discussion on which I have thus +entered, yet as it is material to the elucidation of an important subject +in the body of the work, I feel it incumbent on me to proceed to the best +of my ability. + +I have said that the soil of a country depends much upon its geological +formation. This appears to be particularly the case in those parts of the +colony with which I nm acquainted, or those lying between the parallels of +30 degrees and 35 degrees south. Sandstone, porphyry, and granite, +succeed each other from the coast to a very considerable distance into the +interior, on a N. W. line. The light ferruginous dust that is distributed +over the county of Cumberland, and which annoys the traveller by its +extreme minuteness, to the eastward of the Blue Mountains, is as different +from the coarse gravelly soil on the secondary ranges to the westward of +them, as the barren scrubs and thickly-wooded tracts of the former +district are to the grassy and open forests of the latter. + +As soon as I began to descend to the westward it became necessary to pay +strict and earnest attention to the features of the country through which +I passed, in order to determine more accurately the different appearances +which, as I was led to expect, the rivers would assume. In the course of +my examination I found, first, that the broken country through which I +travelled, was generally covered with a loose, coarse, and sandy soil; +and, secondly, that the ranges were wholly deficient in that peat +formation which fills the valleys, or covers the flat summits of the hills +or mountains, in the northern hemisphere. The peculiar property of this +formation is to retain water like a sponge; and to this property the +regular and constant flow of the rivers descending from such hills, may, +in a great measure, be attributed. In New South Wales on the contrary, the +rains that fall upon the mountains drain rapidly through a coarse and +superficial soil, and pour down their sides without a moment's +interruption. The consequence is that on such occasions the rivers are +subject to great and sudden rises, whereas they have scarcely water enough +to support a current in ordinary seasons. At one time the traveller will +find it impracticable to cross them: at another he may do so with ease; +and only from the remains of debris in the branches of the trees high +above, can he judge of the furious torrent they must occasionally +contain. + +This seeming deviation on the part of Nature from her usual laws will no +longer appear such, if we consider its results for a moment. The very +floods which swell the rivers to overflowing, are followed by the most +beneficent effects; and, rude and violent as the means are by which she +accomplishes her purpose, they form, no doubt, a part of that process by +which she preserves the balance of good and evil. Vast quantities of the +best soil have been thus washed down from the mountains to accumulate in +more accessible places. From frequent depositions, a great extent of +country along the banks of every river and creek has risen high above the +influence of the floods, and constitutes the richest tracts in the colony. +The alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury, and the Hunter, are +striking instances of the truth of these observations; to which the plains +of O'Connell and Bathurst must be added. The only good soil upon the two +latter, is in the immediate neighbourhood of the Macquarie River: but, +even close to its banks, the depositions are of little depth, lying on a +coarse gravelly soil, the decomposition of the nearer ranges. The former +is found to diminish in thickness, according to the concavity of the +valley through which the Macquarie flows, and at length becomes mixed with +the coarser soil. This deposit is alone fit for agricultural purposes; +but it does not necessarily follow that the distant country is unavailable +since it is admitted, that the best grazing tracts are upon the secondary +ranges of granite and porphyry. These ranges generally have the appearance +of open forest, and are covered with several kinds of grasses, among which +the long oat-grass is the most abundant. + +COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND. + +If we except the valley of the Nepean, the banks of the South Creek, the +Pennant Hills near Parramatta, and a few other places, the general soil of +the county of Cumberland, is of the poorest description. It is superficial +in most places, resting either upon a cold clay, or upon sandstone; and +is, as I have already remarked, a ferruginous compound of the finest dust. +Yet there are many places upon its surface, (hollows for instance,) in +which vegetable decay has accumulated, or valleys, into which it has been +washed, that are well adapted for the usual purposes of agriculture, and +would, if the country was more generally cleared, be found to exist to a +much greater extent than is at present imagined. I have frequently +observed the isolated patches of better land, when wandering through the +woods, both on the Parramatta River, and at a greater distance from the +coast. And I cannot but think, that it would be highly advantageous to +those who possess large properties in the County of Cumberland to let +Portions of them. The concentration of people round their capital, +promotes more than anything else the prosperity of a colony, by creating +a reciprocal demand for the produce both of the country and the town, +since the one would necessarily stimulate the energy of the farmer, as the +other would rouse the enterprise of the merchant. The consideration, +however, of such a subject is foreign to my present purpose. + +It must not be supposed, that because I have given a somewhat particular +description of the County of Cumberland, I have done so with a view to +bring it forward as a specimen of the other counties, or to found upon it +a general description of the colony. It is, in fact, poorer in every +respect than any tract of land of similar extent in the interior, and is +still covered with dense forests of heavy timber, excepting when the trees +have been felled by dint of manual labour, and the ground cleared at an +expense that nothing but its proximity to the seat of government could +have justified. But experience has proved, that neither the labour nor the +the expense have been thrown away. Many valuable farms and extensive +gardens chequer the face of the country, from which the proprietors +derive a very efficient income. + +COUNTRY WEST OF BLUE MOUNTAINS. + +To the westward of the Blue Mountains, the country differs in many +respects from that lying between those ranges and the coast; and although, +its aspect varies in different places, three principal features appear +more immediately to characterise it. These are, first, plains of +considerable extent wholly destitute of timber; secondly, open undulating +woodlands; and, thirdly, barren unprofitable tracts. The first almost +invariably occur in the immediate neighbourhood of some river, as the +Plains of Bathurst, which are divided by the Macquarie; Goulburn Plains, +through which the Wallandilly flows; and Yass Plains, which are watered by +a river of the same name. The open forests, through which the horseman may +gallop in perfect safety, seem to prevail over the whole secondary ranges +of granite, and are generally considered as excellent grazing tracts. Such +is the country in Argyleshire on either side of the Lachlan, where that +river crosses the great southern road near Mr. Hume's station; such also +are many parts of Goulburn and the whole extent of country lying between +Underaliga and the Morumbidgee River. The barren tracts, on the other +hand, may be said to occupy the central spaces between all the principal +streams. With regard to the proportion that these different kinds of +country bear to each other, there can be no doubt of the undue +preponderance of the last over the first two; but there are nevertheless +many extensive available tracts in every part of the colony. + +MEANS OF INLAND TRANSPORT. + +The greatest disadvantage under which New South Wales labours, is the want +of means for conveying inland produce to the market, or to the coast. The +Blue Mountains are in this respect a serious bar to the internal +prosperity of the colony. By this time, however, a magnificent +road will have been completed across them to the westward, over parts of +which I travelled in 1831. Indeed the efforts of the colonial government +have been wisely directed, not only to the construction of this road, +which the late Governor, General Darling commenced, but also in +facilitating the communication to the southern districts, by an almost +equally fine road over the Razor Back Range, near the Cow Pastures; so +that as far as it is possible for human efforts to overcome natural +obstacles, the wisdom and foresight of the executive have ere this been +successful. + +DISADVANTAGES OF DISTANT SETTLERS. + +The majority of the settlers in the Bathurst country, and in the more +remote interior, are woolgrowers; and as they send their produce to the +market only once a year, receiving supplies for home consumption, on the +return of their drays or carts from thence, the inconvenience of bad +roads is not so much felt by them. But to an agriculturist a residence to +the westward of the Blue Mountains is decidedly objectionable, unless he +possess the means with which to procure the more immediate necessaries of +life, otherwise than by the sale of his grain or other produce, and can be +satisfied to cultivate his property for home consumption, or for the +casual wants of his neighbours. Under such circumstances, a man with a +small private income would enjoy every rational comfort. But of course, +not only in consequence of the loss of labour, but the chance of accidents +during a long journey, the more the distance is increased from Sydney, as +the only place at which the absolute necessaries of life can be purchased, +the greater becomes the objection to a residence in such a part of the +country; and on this account it is, that although some beautiful locations +both as to extent and richness, are to be found to the westward of +Bathurst, equally on the Bell, the Macquarie and the Lachlan, it is not +probable they will be taken up for many years, or will only be occupied as +distant stock stations. + +CHARACTER OF EASTERN COAST. + +Since, therefore, it appears from what has been advanced, that it is not +to the westward the views of any settlers should he directed, excepting +under particular circumstances, it remains for us to consider what other +parts of the colony hold out, or appear to hold out, greater advantages. +The eye naturally turns to the south on the one hand, and to +Port Macquarie northerly on the other. It is to be remarked that the +eastern shores of Australia partake of the same barren character that +marks the other three. it is generally bounded to a certain extent by a +sandy and sterile tract. There are, however, breaks in so prolonged a +line, as might have been expected, where, from particular local causes, +both the soil and vegetation are of a superior kind. At Illawarra for +instance, the contiguity of the mountains to the coast leaves no room for +the sandy belt we have noticed, but the debris from them reaches to the +very shore. Whether from reflected heat, or from some other peculiarity of +situation, the vegetation of Illawarra is of an intertropical character, +and birds that are strangers to the county of Cumberland frequent its +thickets. There is no part of Australia where the feathered race are more +beautiful, or more diversified. The most splendid pigeon, perhaps, that +the world produces, and the satin bird, with its lovely eye, feed there +upon the berries of the ficus (wild fig,) and other trees: and a numerous +tribe of the accipitrine class soar over its dense and spacious forests. + +PORT MACQUARIE AND FIVE ISLANDS. + +We again see a break in the sandy line of the coast at Broken Bay, at +Newcastle, and still further north at Port Macquarie; at which places the +Hawkesbury, the Hunter, and the Hastings severally debouche. Of Port +Macquarie, as a place of settlement, I entertain a very high opinion, in +consequence of its being situated under a most favourable parallel +latitude. I am convinced it holds out many substantial advantages. One of +the most important of these is the circumstance of its having been much +improved when occupied as a penal settlement. And since the shores of the +colony are how navigated by steam-boats, the facility of water +communication would be proportionably great. + +I believe the Five Islands or Illawarr district is considered peculiarly +eligible for small settlers. The great drawback to this place is the +heavy character of its timber and the closeness of its thickets, which vie +almost with the American woods in those respects. Thee return, however, is +adequate to the labour required in clearing the ground. Between the Five +Islands and Sydney, a constant intercourse is kept up by numerous small +craft; and a communication with the interior, by branch roads from the +great southern line to the coast, would necessarily be thrown open, if the +more distant parts of it were sufficiently peopled. + +RICH TRACTS IN THE INTERIOR. + +Recent surveys have discovered to us rich and extensive tracts in the +remote interior between Jervis Bay and Bateman's Bay, and southwards upon +the western slope of the dividing range. The account given by Messrs. +Hovel and Hume is sufficient to prove that every valley they crossed was +worthy of notice, and that the several rivers they forded were flanked by +rich and extensive flats. + +The distance of Moneroo Plains, and of the Doomot and Morumbidgee Rivers +from Sydney, alarms the settler, who knows not the value of those +localities; but men whose experience has taught them to set this obstacle +at nought, have long depastured their herds on the banks of the last two. +The fattest cattle that supply the Sydney market are fed upon the rich +flats, and in the grassy valleys of the Morumbidgee; and there are several +beautiful farms upon those of the Doomot. Generally speaking, the persons +who reside in those distant parts, pay little attention to the comfort of +their dwellings, or to the raising of more grain than their establishments +may require; but there can be no doubt this part of the interior ought to +be the granary of New South Wales; its climate and greater humidity being +more favourable than that of Sydney for the production of wheat. + +PERIODICAL DROUGHTS; THE SEASONS AFFECTED BY THE MARSHES. + +The most serious disadvantages under which the colony of New South Wales +labours, is in the drought to which it is periodically subject. Its +climate may be said to be too dry; in other respects it is one of the most +delightful under heaven; and experience of the certainty of the recurrence +of the trying seasons to which I allude, should teach men to provide +against their effects. Those seasons, during which no rain falls, appear, +from the observations of former writers, to occur every ten or twelve +years; and it is somewhat singular that no cause has been assigned for +such periodical visitations. Whether the state of the interior has +anything to do with them, and whether the wet or dry condition of the +marshes at all regulate the seasons, is a question upon which I will not +venture to give my decisive opinion. But most assuredly, when the interior +is dry, the seasons are dry, and VICE VERSA. Indeed, not only is this the +case, but rains, from excessive duration in the first year after a +drought, decrease gradually year after year, until they wholly cease for a +time. It seems not improbable, therefore, that the state of the interior +does, in some measure, regulate the fall of rain upon the eastern ranges, +which appears to decrease in quantity yearly as the marshes become +exhausted, and cease altogether, when they no longer contain any water. A +drought will naturally follow until such time as the air becomes +surcharged with clouds or vapour from the ocean, which being no longer +able to sustain their own weight, descend upon the mountains, and being +conveyed by hundreds of streams into the western lowlands, again fill the +marshes, and cause the recurrence of regular seasons. + +TEMPERATURE OF THE CLIMATE. + +The thermometer ranges during the summer months, that is, from September +to March, from 36 degrees to 106 degrees of Fahrenheit, but the mean +of the temperature during the above period is 70 degrees. The instrument +in the winter months ranges from 27 degrees to 98 degrees, with a mean of +66 degrees. However great the summer heat may appear, it is certain that +the climate of New South Wales has not the relaxing and enfeebling effect +upon the constitution, which renders a residence in India or other parts +of the south so intolerable. Neither are any of the ordinary occupations +of business or of pleasure laid aside at noon, or during the hottest part +of the day. The traveller may cast himself at length under the first tree +that invites him, and repose there as safely as if he were in a palace. +Fearless of damps, and unmolested by noxious insects, his sleep is as +sound as it is refreshing, and he rises with renewed spirits to pursue his +journey. Equally so may the ploughman or the labourer seek repose beside +his team, and allow them to graze quietly around him. The delicious +coolness of the morning and the mild temperature of the evening air, in +that luxurious climate, are beyond the power of description. It appears to +have an influence on the very animals, the horses and the cattle being +particularly docile; and I cannot but think it is is some degree the same +happy effect upon some of the hardened human beings who are sent thither +from the old world. + +FRUITS. + +As I have before observed, it has not yet been discovered whether there +are any indigenous fruits of any value in Australia. In the colony of New +South Wales there certainly are none; yet the climate is peculiarly +adapted for the growth of every European and of many tropical productions. +The orange, the fig, the citron, the pomegranate, the peach, the apple, +the guava, the nectarine, the pear, and the loquette, grow side by side +together. The plantain throws its broad leaves over the water, the vine +encircles the cottages, and the market of Sydney is abundantly supplied +with every culinary vegetable. + +In a climate, therefore, so soft that man scarcely requires a dwelling, +and so enchanting that few have left it but with regret, the spirits must +necessarily be acted upon,--and the heart feel lighter. Such, indeed, I +have myself found to be the case; nor have I ever been happier than when +roving through the woods or wandering along one of the silent and +beautiful bays for which the harbour of Port Jackson is so celebrated. I +went to New South Wales as I have already remarked, highly prejudiced +against it, both from the nature of the service, and the character of the +great body of its inhabitants. My regiment has since quitted its shores, +but I am aware there are few of them who would not gladly return. The +feeling I have in its favour arises not, therefore, from the services in +which I was employed, but from circumstances in the colony itself; and I +yet hope to form one of its community and to join a number of valuable and +warm-hearted friends whom I left in that distant part of the world. + +REMARKS ON EMIGRATION. + +On the subject of emigration, it is not my intention to dwell at any +length. My object in these preliminary remarks has been to give the reader +a general idea of the country, in the interior recesses of which I am +about to lead him. Still, however, it may be useful to offer a few general +observations on a topic which has, of late years, become so interesting to +the British public. + +The main consideration with those who, possessing some capital, propose to +emigrate as the means of improving their condition, is, the society likely +to he found in the land fixed on for their future residence. One of the +first questions I have been asked, when conversing on the subject of +emigration, has consequently related to this important matter. I had only +then to observe in reply, that the civil and military establishments in +New South Wales, form the elements of as good society as it is the lot of +the majority to command in Great Britain. + +The houses of the settlers are not scattered over a greater surface than +the residences of country gentlemen here, and if they cannot vie with them +in size, they most assuredly do in many other more important respects; and +if a substantial cottage of brick or stone has any claim to the rank of a +tenantable mansion, there are few of them which do not posses all the +means of exercising that hospitality for which young communities are +remarkable. + +But to sever the links of kindred, and to abandon the homes of our fathers +after years of happy tranquillity, is a sacrifice the magnitude of which +is unquestionable. The feelings by which men are influenced under such +circumstances have a claim to our respect. Indeed, no class of persons can +have a stronger hold upon our sympathies than those whom unmerited adverse +fortune obliges to seek a home in a distant country. + +Far, therefore, be it from me to dispute a single expression of regret to +which they may give utterance. It must, however, he remembered that the +deepest feelings of anguish are providentially alleviated in time. Our +heaviest misfortunes are frequently repaired by industry and caution. The +sky clears up, as it were: new interests engage the attention, and the +cares of a family or the improvement of a newly acquired property engross +those moments which would otherwise be spent in vain and unprofitable +regrets. + +DESCRIPTION OF IMMIGRANTS; MOST LIKELY TO PROSPER. + +It cannot be doubted that persons such as I have described, whose conduct +has hitherto been regulated by prudence, and whose main object is to +provide for their children, are the most valuable members of every +community, whether young or old. To such men few countries hold out +greater prospects of success than New South Wales; for the more we extend +our enquiries, the more we shall find that the success of the emigrant in +that colony depends upon his prudence and foresight rather than on any +collateral circumstance of climate or soil; and to him who can be +satisfied with the gradual acquirement of competency, it is the land of +promise. Blessed with a climate of unparalleled serenity, and of unusual +freedom from disease, the settler has little external cause of anxiety, +little apprehension of sickness among his family or domestics, and little +else to do than to attend to his own immediate interests. I should wish to +illustrate the observations by two or three instances of their practical +bearing and tendency. + +CASES OF EMIGRANTS; CAUSES OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE. + +It was on my return from my second expedition, that I visited +Lieut. ****** who resides in the southern parts of the colony. The day +after my arrival, he took me round his property, and explained the various +improvements he had made, considering the small means with which he had +commenced. At this part of our conversation, we came within view of his +house, a substantial weather-board cottage. "I trust," said I, turning +to him, "you will excuse the question I am about to ask; for your +frankness emboldens me to propose it, and on your answer much of the +effect of what you have been saying will depend. In effecting these +various improvements, and in the building of that house, have you been +obliged to embarrass yourself, or are they free from incumbrance?"--"Your +question," he said, "is a reasonable one, and I will answer it with the +frankness you are kind enough to ascribe to me. I have ever made it a rule +not to exceed my income. Mrs. ****** bore our first trials with so much +cheerfulness, and contributed so much to my happiness and my prosperity, +that I felt myself bound to build her a good house with the first money +I had to spare." I confess this answer raised my host in my estimation, +and it was a gratifying proof to me of the success that attends industry +and perseverance. + +But let us look at another case. Mr. *** had a property to the N.W. of +Sydney, and having considerable funded means when he arrived in the +colony, he soon put his property into a state of progressive improvement, +and being in truth an excellent practical farmer, it assumed the +appearance of regularity and order. Had Mr. *** stopped at this moment, +he would have been in the enjoyment of affluence and of every rational +comfort. But instead of exercising prudent rules of hospitality, he gave +way to the natural generosity of his disposition, entered into expenses he +could not afford, and was ultimately obliged to part with his estate. Now +it is deeply to be regretted, that one whose energies and abilities +particularly fitted him for the life he had chosen, should have failed +through such conduct; and it is more than probable, that if he had +commenced with smaller means, and had gradually improved his property, his +fate would have been very different. + +I shall leave these cases without any further comment, convinced as I am, +that each of them furnishes matter for serious consideration, and that +they are practical illustrations of the causes of success or failure of +those who emigrate to the colony of New South Wales. And although I do not +mean to affirm, that the majority follow Mr. ***'s example, I must venture +to assert that thoughtlessness--useless expenditure in the first +instance--waste of time and other circumstances, lead to equally ruinous +consequences. + +MORAL OBJECTIONS TO THE COLONY. + +One of the greatest objections which families have to New South Wales, is +their apprehension of the moral effects that are likely to overwhelm them +by bad example, and for which no success in life could compensate. In a +colony constituted like that of New South Wales, the proportion of crime +must of course be great. Yet it falls less under the notice of private +families than one might at first sight have been led to suppose. +Drunkenness, as in the mother country, is the besetting sin; but it is +confined chiefly to the large towns in consequence of the difficulty of +procuring spirits in the country. There are, no doubt, many incorrigible +characters sent to settle in the interior, and it is an evil to have these +men, even for a single day, to break the harmony of a previously well +regulated establishment, or to injure its future prospects by the +influence of evil example. They are men who are sent upon trial, from on +board a newly arrived ship, and they generally terminate their misconduct +either on the roads or at a penal settlement, being thus happily removed +from the mass of the prisoners. Frequently, however, men remain for years +under the same master. They become attached to their occupations, their +hearts become softened by kindness, and they atone as much as they +possibly can for previous error. + +SYSTEM OF IMMIGRATION RECOMMENDED; ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EMIGRATION. + +Still there can be no doubt, but that the evil complained of is +considerable. It is from this reason, and from my personal knowledge of +the southern parts of the colony, that I should rejoice to see its flats +and its valleys filled with an industrious population of a better +description of farmers. A hope might then be reasonably indulged, that the +Home Government would not be backward in recognising, and in acting upon +a principle, the soundness of which has been felt and acknowledged in all +ages, but the chief difficulty of which rests in its judicious +application. I allude to a system of emigration. Sure I am that if it were +well organized, and care were taken to profit by the experience of the +past in similar attempts, it could not fail to be attended with ultimate +success. The evils resulting from a surplus population in an old +community, were never more seriously felt than in Great Britain at the +present moment. Assuming that the amount of surplus population is +2,000,000, the excess of labour and competition thus occasioned by +diminishing profits and wages, creates, it has been said, an indirect tax +to the enormous extent of 20,000,000 pounds per annum. It has appeared +to many experienced persons, that it is in emigration, we should best find +the means of relief from this heavy pressure; particularly if the +individuals encouraged to go out to the colonies were young persons of +both sexes, from the industrious classes of the community. Even if no +more than three couples were induced to emigrate from each parish in +England in ten years, the relief to the springs of industry would be very +great. Besides, the funds necessary for this purpose would revert to the +country by a thousand indirect channels. Persons unacquainted with our +Australian colonies, whether Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales, can +form little idea of the increasing demand for, and consumption in them of +every species of British manufacture. The liberal encouragement given by +government to every practicable scheme of emigration, and the sum advanced +by it towards the expenses of the voyage to the labouring classes, +sufficiently indicate the light in which the subject is viewed by the +legislature; and the fact that no private family taking out servants to +Sydney, has in any one instance been able to retain them, on account of +offers more advantageous from other quarters, shows clearly the great +demand for labour in the colony. If I might judge of the feelings of the +majority of respectable individuals there, from the assurances of the few, +they would willingly defray any parochial expenses attendant on the +voyage, provided the services of such individuals could be secured to them +for a time sufficiently long to remunerate them for such pavement. The +tide of emigration should be directed to Sydney, Van Dieman's Land, or +Western Australia, upon condition of the labourer's receiving a certain +sum in wages, and his daily subsistence from his employer, with an +understanding, however, that he must consider himself bound for two years +to such employer. Surely there are hundreds of our indigent countrymen, +who would gladly seek a land of such plenty, and cast away the natural, +but unavailing regret of leaving home to secure to themselves and their +families, the substantial comforts of life on such easy conditions. + +COMMITTEE FOUND AT SYDNEY. + +It is not, perhaps, generally known that a committee has been formed in +Sydney, to advise settlers as to the best mode of proceeding on arrival +there. Such a plan is one of obvious utility; and if those who may find +themselves at a loss for information would apply to this committee for +advice, rather than to individuals with whom they may become casually +acquainted, they would further their own interests, and in all probability +ensure success. Still there are some broad rules upon which every man +ought to act, which I shall endeavour to point out, and it will give me no +ordinary satisfaction, if I should be the means of directing any one to +the road of prosperity and comfort. + +HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. + +It is to be feared that those who emigrate to New South Wales, generally +anticipate too great facility in their future operations and certainty of +success in conducting them; but they should recollect that competency +cannot be obtained without labour. Every trade--every profession in this +respect, is subject to the same law--the lawyer, the physician, the +tradesman, and the mechanic. This labour is required at our hands, even in +an old community; how much more then is it called for in a new, where the +ingenuity of men is put to trial to secure those means of accomplishing +their ends which here are abundant. Now, it appears to me but consistent, +that he who is obliged to leave his native country from want of means to +hold his station there, can hardly expect to find, or rather to secure, +abundance elsewhere without some exertion. Every man who emigrates should +proceed with a conviction on his mind, that he is about to encounter years +of labour and privation. He will not then be disappointed at partial +reverses, and will be more thankful for unexpected prosperity. I feel +persuaded the tone of mind has a great deal to do with success, because it +influences the conduct of the individual. Supposing, however, that an +emigrant has taken this rational view of his situation, he should +determine on his pursuits, and allow nothing but absolute certainty of +better fortune to turn him aside. Men, however, landing at Sydney, in +their eagerness for information get bewildered, give up their original +plans, adopt new and uncertain speculations, trifle away both their time +and their money, and ultimately ruin themselves. An individual who goes to +New South Wales for the purpose of settling, should not remain in Sydney +a day longer than is necessary for the arrangement of his affairs. Every +shilling spent there is thrown away. The greatest facility is given by the +different departments of the Colonial Government to the settlers; and it +is entirely his own fault if he trifles away his time in search of +information elsewhere than at the fountainhead, or if he trusts to any +other opinion than his own, supposing him experienced as to the quality of +the land he may fix upon. Let him be speedy in his selection, and fix +himself upon his allotment as soon as possible. Instead of overstocking +his farm, or employing more labourers than he can afford to keep, let him +be satisfied with a gradual increase of his stock, and wait patiently till +he can better afford to employ labour; above all, let him avoid +embarrassing himself by the purchase of any superfluous or unnecessary +comfort. I consider that man has already failed, who runs into debt in the +first instance, or who exhausts his means in the purchase of large herds, +from the vain expectation that their increase will clear him. The time was +when those idle speculations were occasionally attended with success, but +such is not now the case. The energies of the agriculturist are directed +to their proper channel, and if the few are unable to make rapid fortunes, +the many have escaped inevitable ruin. No farm in a state of nature can be +expected to yield any return of consequence for the first year. It is +incumbent on a settler to provide for his establishment, or to retain the +means of providing for it as circumstances may require. + +Farming implements are as cheap in Sydney as in England. Horses and cattle +are cheaper. It requires little, therefore, to stock a farm in a +reasonable manner. On the other hand, the climate is so mild that the want +of a house is scarcely felt, and a temporary residence easily constructed. +On the whole I am convinced, that a man who regulates his conduct by +prudence, and who perseveringly follows up his occupations, who behaves +with kindness to those around him, and performs his social and moral +duties with punctuality, will ultimately secure to himself a home that +will make up for the one he has quitted in the land of his fathers, and +place him in as respectable and as happy a situation as that which he +there enjoyed. + + +***** + + +PROGRESS OF INLAND DISCOVERY. + +Having thrown out the foregoing remarks for the information of the general +reader, and of persons who look to Australia with the more earnest views +of selecting a colonial home, I now return to the immediate object of +these volumes; but before entering on the narrative of my own expeditions, +I think it necessary to advert cursorily to the discoveries previously +accomplished. + +The journeys of Mr. Oxley, far into the western interior of Australia, +gave rise to various and conflicting opinions as to the character of the +more central parts of that extensive continent, of which the colony of New +South Wales forms but a small portion. I feel, therefore, called upon +briefly to advert to the conclusions which that able and intelligent +officer drew from his personal observation of the country into which he +penetrated, as an acquaintance with his opinions will not only tend to +throw a clearer light on the following details, but will, also, convey +much necessary information to those of my readers who may not have +perused his journals. It is necessary, however, in order to divest the +subject of all obscureness, to trace, in the first instance, the progress +of inland discovery, in New South Wales, from the first foundation of the +colony to the period when Mr. Oxley's exertions attracted the public +attention. + +In the year 1788, the British Government took formal possession of the +eastern coast of Australia, by the establishment of a penal colony at Port +Jackson. The first settlers, under Governor Phillips, had too many +difficulties to contend with to submit themselves to be thwarted from +pursuits essential to their immediate safety and comfort, by the prospect +of remote and uncertain advantages. It was by perseverance and toil alone +that they first established and ultimately spread themselves over that +part of the territory, which, flanked by the ocean on the one hand, and +embraced as it were by the Nepean River on the other, is now entitled the +County Of Cumberland. For many years, this single district supplied the +wants of the settlers. Upon it they found ample pasture for their herds, +and sufficient employment for themselves. Nor was it until a succession of +untoward seasons, and the rapid increase of their stock pointed out to +them the necessity of seeking for more extensive pasturage, that they +contemplated surmounting that dark and rugged chain of mountains, which, +like the natural ramparts of Spain and Italy, rose high over the nether +forest, and broke the line of the western horizon. + +MR. CALEY'S ATTEMPT. + +A Mr. Caley is said to have been the first who attempted to scale the Blue +Mountains: but he did not long persevere in struggling with difficulties +too great for ordinary resolution to overcome. It appears that he retraced +his steps, after having penetrated about sixteen miles into their dark and +precipitous recesses; and a heap of stones, which the traveller passes +about that distance from Erne Ford, on the road to Bathurst, marks the +extreme point reached by the first expedition to the westward of the +Nepean river. + +LIEUT. LAWSON'S EXPEDITION. + +Shortly after the failure of this expedition, the sad effects of a long +protracted drought called forth a more general spirit of enterprise and +exertion among the settlers; and Mr. Oxley makes honorable mention of the +perseverance and resolution with which Lieut. Lawson, of the 104th +regiment, accompanied by Messrs. Blaxland and Wentworth, conducted an +expedition into the Blue Mountains. Their efforts were successful: and +the objects of their enterprise would have been completely attained, but +for the failure of their provisions at a moment when their view of the +distant interior was such as to convince them that they had overcome the +most formidable obstacles to their advance, and that in their further +progress few impediments would have presented themselves. + +MR. EVANS' DISCOVERIES. + +The success of this undertaking induced Governor Macquarie to further the +prosecution of inland discovery, and of attempts to ascertain the nature +of the country of which Mr. Lawson only obtained a glimpse. An expedition +was accordingly dispatched under Mr. Evans, the Deputy Surveyor-General, +to follow the route taken by the former one, and to penetrate as far as +practicable into the western interior. The result was the discovery of the +Macquarie river, and of Bathurst Plains. The report of Mr. Evans was so +favourable, that orders were immediately issued for the construction of a +line of road across the mountains. When that was completed, the Governor +went in person to fix the site of a future town on Bathurst Plains. From +thence Mr. Evans, who accompanied the Governor on the occasion, was +directed to proceed to the southward and westward, to ascertain the nature +of the country in that direction. He discovered another considerable +river, flowing, like the Macquarie, to the west, to which he gave the name +of the Lachlan. The promising appearance of these two streams, and the +expectation of all parties that they would be found to water rich and +extensive tracts of country, led to the fitting out of a more important +expedition than any which had before been contemplated. + +MR. OXLEY'S DISCOVERIES. + +Mr. Oxley, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, was appointed chief of this +expedition, and was directed to trace the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers, as +far as practicable, with a view to ascertain their capabilities and the +nature of the country they watered. In 1817, Mr. Oxley directed his +attention to the former river, and continued to follow its windings, until +it appeared that its waters were lost in successive marshes and it ceased +to be a river. In the following year he turned towards the Macquarie, and +traced it, in like manner, until he was checked by high reeds that covered +an extensive plain before him, amidst which the channel of the river was +lost. + +From what he observed of the country, on both these occasions, he was led +to infer that beyond the limits of his advance the interior had a uniform +level, and was, for the most part, uninhabitable and under water. Its +features must have been strongly marked to have confirmed such an opinion +in the mind of the late Surveyor-General. It stands recorded on the pages +of his journal, that he travelled over a country of many miles in extent, +after clearing the mountains, which so far from presenting any rise of +ground to the eye, bore unequivocal marks of frequent and extensive +inundation. He traced two rivers of considerable size, and found that, at +a great distance from each other, they apparently terminated in marshes, +and that the country beyond them was low and unbroken. In his progress +eastward, he crossed a third stream (the Castlereagh), about forty-five +miles from the Macquarie, seemingly not inferior to it in size, +originating in the mountains for which he was making, and flowing nearly +parallel to the other rivers into a level country like that which he had +just quitted. + +DISCOVERIES OF MESSRS. MECHAN, HUME, HOVEL AND CUNNINGHAM. + +Mr. Evans, moreover, who accompanied Mr. Oxley on these journeys, and who +had been detached by his principal from Mount Harris, to ascertain the +nature of the country in the line which the expedition was next to pursue, +having crossed the Castlereagh considerably below the place at which the +party afterwards effected a passage, reported that the river was then +running through high reeds. The inference naturally drawn by Mr. Oxley, +was, that it terminated as the Lachlan and the Macquarie had done; and +that their united waters formed an inland sea or basin. It is evident that +Mr. Oxley had this impression on his mind, when he turned towards the +coast; but the wet state of the lowlands prevented him from ascertaining +its correctness or error. Doubt, consequently, still existed as to the +nature of the country he had left behind him; a question in which the best +interests of the colony were apparently involved. Subsequently to these +discoveries, Mr. Surveyor Mechan, accompanied by Mr. Hamilton Hume, a +colonist of considerable experience, explored the country more to the +southward and westward of Sydney, and discovered most of the new country +called Argyle, and also Lake Bathurst. + +Mr. Hume was afterwards associated with a Mr. Hovel, in an excursion to +the south coast, under the auspices of Sir Thomas Brisbane. After a most +persevering and laborious journey, they reached the sea; but it is +uncertain whether they made Port Philips, or Western Port. Mr. Hume, whose +practical experience will yield to that of no man, entertains a conviction +that it was to the former they descended from the neighbouring ranges; but +Mr. Hovel, I believe supports a contrary opinion. In the early stage of +their journey, they passed over York or Yass Plains; and, after crossing +the Morumbidgee, were generally entangled among mountain ranges that +increased in height to the east and south-east. They crossed three +considerable rivers, falling westerly, which they named the Goulburn, the +Hume, and the Ovens; and found a beautiful and well-watered country in the +vicinity of the coast. + +In 1826, Mr. Allan Cunningham, Botanical Collector to his late Majesty, +traversed a considerable portion of the interior to the north of Bathurst, +and, with a laudable zeal, devoted his labours to the acquisition of +general information, as well as to his more immediate professional +pursuits. In 1827, this gentleman again bent his steps towards the +northward, and succeeded in gaining the 28th parallel of latitude; and, +on a subsequent occasion, having taken his departure from Moreton Bay, he +connected his former journey with that settlement, and thus contributed +largely to our knowledge of the mountain country between it and the +capital. Mr. Cunningham, who, independently of his individual excursions, +had not only circumnavigated the Australian Continent with Capt. King, +but had formed also one of the party with Mr. Oxley, in the journeys +before noticed, had adopted this gentleman's opinion with regard to the +swampy and inhospitable character of the distant interior. Its depressed +appearance from the high ground on which Mr. Cunningham subsequently +moved, tended to confirm this opinion, which was moreover daily gaining +strength from the reports of the natives, who became more frequent in +their intercourse with the whites, and who reported that there were large +waters to the westward, on which the natives had canoes, and in which +there were fish of great size. + +It became, therefore, a current opinion, that the western interior of New +Holland comprehended an extensive basin, of which the ocean of reeds which +had proved so formidable to Mr. Oxley, formed most probably the outskirts; +and it was generally thought that an expedition proceeding into the +interior, would encounter marshes of vast extent, which would be extremely +difficult to turn, and no less dangerous to enter. + +It remained to be proved, however, whether these conjectures were founded +in fact. The chief difficulty lay in the character of the country, and in +providing the necessary means to ensure success. Those which were resorted +to will be found in the succeeding chapter. Whether they would have been +found sufficient and applicable had the interior been wholly under water, +is doubtful; and my impression on this point induced me to make more +efficient arrangements on the second expedition. + + + + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER in 1828 and 1829. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful +droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of New South Wales +is periodically subject. It continued during the two following years with +unabated severity. The surface of the earth became so parched up that +minor vegetation ceased upon it. Culinary herbs were raised with +difficulty, and crops failed even in the most favourable situations. +Settlers drove their flocks and herds to distant tracts for pasture and +water, neither remaining for them in the located districts. The interior +suffered equally with the coast, and men, at length, began to despond +under so alarming a visitation. It almost appeared as if the Australian +sky were never again to be traversed by a cloud. + +OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION. + +But, however severe for the colony the seasons had proved, or were likely +to prove, it was borne in mind at this critical moment, that the wet and +swampy state of the interior had alone prevented Mr. Oxley from +penetrating further into it, in 1818. Each successive report from +Wellington Valley, the most distant settlement to the N. W., confirmed the +news of the unusually dry state of the lowlands, and of the exhausted +appearance of the streams falling into them. It was, consequently, hoped +that an expedition, pursuing the line of the Macquarie, would have a +greater chance of success than the late Surveyor General had; and that the +difficulties he had to contend against would be found to be greatly +diminished, if not altogether removed. The immediate fitting out of an +expedition was therefore decided upon, for the express purpose of +ascertaining the nature and extent of that basin into which the Macquarie +was supposed to fall, and whether any connection existed between it and +the streams falling westerly. As I had early taken a great interest in the +geography of New South Wales, the Governor was pleased to appoint me to +the command of this expedition. + +JOURNEY FROM SYDNEY TO EMU PLAINS. + +In the month of September, 1828, I received his Excellency's commands to +prepare for my journey; and by the commencement of November, had organised +my party, and completed the necessary arrangements. On the 9th of that +month, I waited on the Governor, at Parramatta, to receive his definitive +instructions. As the establishments at Sydney had been unable to supply me +with the necessary number of horses and oxen, instructions had been +forwarded to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of Wellington Valley, to +train a certain number for my use; and I was now directed to push for that +settlement without loss of time. I returned to Sydney in the afternoon of +the 9th, and on the 10th took leave of my brother officers, to commence a +journey of very dubious issue; and, in company with my friend, +Staff-surgeon M'Leod, who had obtained permission to accompany me to the +limits of the colony, followed my men along the great western road. We +moved leisurely over the level country, between the coast and the Nepean +River, and availed ourselves of the kind hospitality of those of our +friends whose property lay along that line of road, to secure more +comfortable places of rest than the inns would have afforded. + +We reached Sheane, the residence of Dr. Harris, on the 11th, and were +received by him with the characteristic kindness with which friends or +strangers are ever welcomed by that gentleman, He had accompanied +Mr. Oxley as a volunteer in 1818, and his name was then given to the +mount which formed the extreme point to which the main body of the first +expedition down the banks of the Macquarie penetrated, in a westerly +direction. + +The general appearance of the property of Dr. Harris, showed how much +perseverance and labour had effected towards its improvement. Many acres +of ground bore a promising crop, over which a gloomy forest had once +waved. The Doctor's farming establishment was as complete as his husbandry +seemed to be prosperous; but he did not appear to be satisfied with the +extent of his dwelling, to which he was making considerable additions, +although I should have thought it large enough for all ordinary purposes +of residence or hospitality. The rewards of successful industry were +everywhere visible. + +FROM EMU PLAINS TO WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +On the 13th, we gained Regent's Ville, the more splendid mansion of Sir +John Jamieson, which overlooks the Nepean River, and commands the most +beautiful and extensive views of the Blue Mountains. Crossing the ford on +the 14th, we overtook the men as they were toiling up the first ascent of +those rugged bulwarks, which certainly gave no favourable earnest of the +road before us; and, as we could scarcely hope to reach the level country +to the westward without the occurrence of some accident, I determined to +keep near the drays, that I might be on hand should my presence be +required. We gained O'Connell's plains on the 20th November, and arrived +at Bathurst on the 22nd, with no other damage than the loss of one of the +props supporting the boat which snapped in two as we descended Mount York. +On examination, it was found that the boat had also received a slight +contusion, but it admitted of easy repair. + +I was detained at Bathurst longer than I intended, in consequence of +indisposition, and during my stay there experienced many proofs of the +kind hospitality of the settlers of that promising district: nor was I +ever more impressed with the importance of the service upon which I was +employed, or more anxious as to the issue, than while contemplating the +rapid advance of agriculture upon its plains, and the formidable bar to +its prosperity which I had left behind me, in the dark and gloomy ranges +which I had crossed. + +On the 27th, Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose experience well qualified him for +the task, and who had been associated with me in the expedition, having +joined me, we proceeded on our journey, and reached Wellington Valley +about the end of the month. + +WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +I wished to push into the interior without any delay, or at least, so soon +as we should have completed our arrangements and organized the party; but, +although Mr. Maxwell had paid every attention to the training of the +cattle, he was of opinion that they could not yet be wholly relied upon, +and strongly recommended that they should be kept at practice for another +week. As we could not have left the settlement under the most favourable +circumstances in less than four days, the further delay attendant on this +measure was considered immaterial, and it was, accordingly, determined +upon. Mr. Hume undertook to superintend the training of the animals, and +this left me at leisure to gather such information as would be of use to +us in our progress down the river. + +In his description of Wellington Valley, Mr. Oxley has not done it more +than justice. It is certainly a beautiful and ferthe spot, and it was now +abundant in pasturage, notwithstanding the unfavourable season that had +passed over it. + +The settlement stands upon the right bank of the Bell, about two miles +above the junction of that stream with the Macquarie. Its whitewashed +buildings bore outward testimony to the cleanliness and regularity of the +inhabitants; and the respectful conduct of the prisoners under his charge, +showed that Mr. Maxwell had maintained that discipline by which alone he +could have secured respect to himself and success to his exertions, at +such a distance from the seat of government. + +The weather was so exceedingly hot, during our stay, that it was +impossible to take exercise at noon; but in the evening, or at an early +hour in the morning, we were enabled to make short excursions in the +neighbourhood. + +Mr. Maxwell informed me that there were three stations below the +settlement, the first of which, called Gobawlin, belonging to Mr. Wylde, +was not more than five miles from it; the other two, occupied by Mr. +Palmer, were at a greater distance, one being nineteen, the other +thirty-four miles below the junction of the Bell. He was good enough to +send for the stockman (or chief herdsman), in charge of the last, to give +me such information of the nature of the country below him, as he could +furnish from personal knowledge or from the accounts of the natives. + +LOW STATE OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER. + +Mr. Maxwell pointed out to me the spot on which Mr. Oxley's boats had been +built, close upon the bank of the Macquarie; and I could not but reflect +with some degree of apprehension on the singularly diminished state of the +river from what it must then have been to allow a boat to pass down it. +Instead of a broad stream and a rapid current, the stream was confined to +a narrow space in the centre of the channel, and it ran so feebly amidst +frequent shallows that it was often scarcely perceptible. The Bell, also, +which Mr. Oxley describes as dashing and rippling along its pebbly bed, +had ceased to flow, and consisted merely of a chain of ponds. + +On the 3rd of Dec, the stockman from below arrived; but the only +information we gathered from him was the existence of a lake to the left +of the river, about three days' journey below the run of his herds, on the +banks of which he assured us, the native companions, a species of stork, +stood in rows like companies of soldiers. + +He brought up a nest of small paroquets of the most beautiful plumage, as +a present to Mr. Maxwell, and affirmed that they were common about his +part of the river. The peculiarity of the seasons had also brought a +parrot into the valley which had never before visited it. This delicate +bird was noticed by Captain Cook upon the coast, and is called +PSITTACUS NOVAE HOLLANDIAE, or New Holland Parrot, by Mr. Brown. It had +not, however, been subsequently seen until the summer of 1828, when it +made its appearance at Wellington Valley in considerable numbers, together +with a species of merops or mountain bee-eater. + +DEPARTURE FOR THE INTERIOR. + +On the 5th, our preparations being wholly completed, and the loads +arranged, the party was mustered, end was found to consist of myself and +Mr. Hume, two soldiers and eight prisoners of the crown, two of whom were +to return with dispatches. Our animals numbered two riding, and seven +pack, horses, two draft, and eight pack, bullocks, exclusive of two +horses of my own, and two for the men to be sent back. + +BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE. + +The morning of the 7th December, the day upon which we were to leave the +valley, was ushered in by a cloudless sky, and that heated appearance in +the atmosphere which foretells an oppressively sultry day. I therefore put +off the moment of our departure to the evening, and determined to proceed +no further than Gobawlin. I was the more readily induced to order this +short journey because the animals had not been practised to their full +loads, and I thought they might have given some trouble at starting with +an unusual weight. They moved off however very quietly, and as if they had +been accustomed to their work by a long course of training. We took our +departure from the settlement at 3 p.m. and, crossing to the right bank of +the Macquarie, a little above its junction with the Bell, reached Mr +Wylde's station about half-past five. Thus we commenced our journey under +circumstances as favorable as could have been wished. In disengaging +ourselves on the following day from the hills by which Wellington Valley +is encompassed on the westward, with a view to approach Mr. Palmer's first +station, we kept rather wide of the river, and only occasionally touched +on its more projecting angles. The soil at a distance from the stream was +by no means so good as that in its immediate vicinity, nor was the timber +of the same description. On the rich and picturesque grounds near the +river the angophora prevailed with the flooded gum, and the scenery upon +its banks was improved by the casuarinae that overhung them. On the +latter, inferior eucalypti and cypresses were mixed together. The country +was broken and undulating, and the hills stony, notwithstanding which, +they appeared to have an abundance of pasture upon them. Mr. Hume rode +with me to the summit of a limestone elevation, from which I thought it +probable we might have obtained such a view as would have enabled us to +form some idea of the country into which we were about to descend. But in +following the river line, the eye wandered over a dark and unbroken +forest alone. The ranges from which we were fast receding formed an +irregular and beautiful landscape to the southward; and contrasted +strongly with the appearance of the country to the N. W., in which +direction it was rapidly assuming a level. + +We reached Mr. Palmer's at a late hour in the afternoon, in consequence of +a delay we experienced in crossing a gully, and encamped upon a high bank +immediately opposite to the mouth of Molle's rivulet which here joins the +Macquarie from the southward. The cattle had consumed all the food, and +the ground on both sides of the river looked bare and arid. + +No doubt, however, the face of the country in ordinary seasons wears a +very different appearance. Its general elevation continued high; nor did +the Macquarie assume any change of aspect. Mountain debris and rounded +pebbles of various kinds formed its bed, which was much encumbered with +timber. + +DIBILAMBLE. + +We had been unable to persuade any of the natives of Wellington Valley to +accompany us as guides, on our leaving that settlement. Even Mr. Maxwell's +influence failed; for, notwithstanding the promises of several, when they +saw that we were ready to depart, they either feigned sickness or stated +that they were afraid of the more distant natives. The fact is, that they +were too lazy to wander far from their own district, and too fond of +Maxwell's beef to leave it for a precarious bush subsistence. Fortunately +we found several natives with Mr. Palmer's stockmen, who readily undertook +to conduct us by the nearest route to the cataract, which we considered to +be midway between Wellington Valley and Mount Harris. We started under +their guidance for Dibilamble, Mr. Palmer's second station, and reached it +about half-past 4 p.m. The distance between the two is sixteen miles. The +country for some miles differs in no material point from that through +which we had already passed. The same rich tracts of soil near the river +and the same inferiority in the tracks remote from it. Near Dibilamble, +however, the limestone formation terminates, and gives place to barren +stony ridges, upon which the cypress callities is of close and stunted +growth. The ridges themselves were formed of a coarse kind of freestone +in a state of rapid decomposition. The Tabragar (the Erskine of Mr. Oxley) +falls into the Macquarie at Dibilamble. It had long ceased to flow, being +a small mountain torrent whose source, if we judge from the shingly nature +of its bed, cannot be very distant. Our descent was considerable during +the day; the rapids were frequent in the river, but it underwent no change +in its general appearance. Its waters were hard and transparent, and its +banks, in many places, extremely lofty; with a red sandy loam and gravel +under the alluvial deposits. It generally happened that where the bank was +high on the one side it was low and subject to flood, to a limited extent +at least, on the other. Upon these low grounds the blue-gum trees were of +lofty growth, but on the upper levels box prevailed. + +SCENERY NEAR THE RIVER. + +The views upon the river were really beautiful, and varied at every turn; +nor is it possible for any tree to exceed the casuarina in the graceful +manner in which it bends over the stream, or clings to some solitary rock +in its centre. + +It here became necessary for us to cross to the left bank of the river, +not only to avoid its numerous windings, and thus to preserve as much as +possible the direct line to Mount Harris; but also, because the travelling +was much better on the south side. We therefore availed ourselves of a +ford opposite to the ground on which the tents had stood; and then pursued +our journey, in a south-westerly course, over a country of a description +very inferior to that of any we had previously noticed. + +Iron-bark and cypresses generally prevailed along our line of route on a +poor and sandy soil, which improved after we passed Elizabeth Burn, a +small creek mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +TAYLOR'S RIVULET. + +We approached the river again early in the day, and pitched our tent on +the summit of a sloping bank that overlooked one of its long still +reaches. We were protected from the sun by the angophora trees, which +formed a hanging wood around us, and, with its bright green foliage, gave +a cheerfulness to the scene that was altogether unusual. The opposite side +of the river was rather undulated, and the soil appeared to be of the +finest description. The grass, although growing in tufts, afforded +abundance of pasture for the cattle; and, on the whole, this struck me as +a most eligible spot for a station, and I found it occupied as such on the +return of the expedition. We had encamped about a quarter of a mile from +Taylor's Rivulet, which discharges itself into the Macquarie from the +N. E., and is the first stream, upon the right bank, below the Wellington +Valley. + +Immediately after receiving it the river sweeps away to the southward, in +consequence of which it became again necessary for us to cross it. Our +guides, who were intelligent lads, led the cattle to a ford, a little +below the junction of Taylor's Rivulet, at which we effected a passage +with some difficulty; the opposite bank being very steep, and we were +obliged to force our way up a gully for some eighty or a hundred yards +before we could extricate the team. Pursuing our journey, in a N. W. +direction, we soon left the rich and undulating grounds bordering the +river behind us. A poor, level, and open country, succeeded them. The +soil changed to a light red, sandy loam, on which eucalypti, cypresses, +and casuarinae, were intermixed with minor shrubs; of which latter, the +cherry tree (exocarpus cupressiformis) was the most prevalent. + +At about seven miles from the river we passed some barren freestone +ridges, near which Mr. Hume killed the first kangaroo we had seen. At +mid-day we passed a small creek, at which the cattle were watered; and +afterwards continued our journey through a country similar to that over +which we had already made our way. + +As we neared the stream we noticed the acacia pendula for the first +time,--an indication of our approach to the marshes. The weather still +continued extremely hot. Our journey this day was unusually long, and our +cattle suffered so much, and moved so slowly, that it was late when we +struck upon the Macquarie, at a part where its banks were so high that we +had some difficulty in finding a good watering place. + +SURPRISE SOME NATIVES. + +Being considerably in front of the party, with one of our guides, when we +neared the river, I came suddenly upon a family of natives. They were much +terrified, and finding that they could not escape, called vehemently to +some of their companions, who were in the distance. By the time Mr. Hume +came up, they had in some measure recovered their presence of mind, but +availed themselves of the first favourable moment to leave us. I was +particular in not imposing any restraint on these men, in consequence of +which they afterwards mustered sufficient resolution to visit us in our +camp. We now judged that we were about ten miles from the cataract, and +that, according to the accounts of the stockman, we could not be very +distant from the lake he had mentioned. + +NATIVE BURIAL PLACE. + +As I was unwilling to pass any important feature of the country without +enquiry or examination, I requested Mr. Hume to interrogate the strangers +on the subject. They stated that they belonged to the lake tribe, that the +lake was a short day's journey to the eastward, and that they would guide +us to it if we wished. The matter was accordingly arranged. They left us +at dusk, but returned to the camp at the earliest dawn; when we once more +crossed the river, and, after traversing a very level country for about +nine miles, arrived at our destination. We passed over the dried beds of +lagoons, and through coppices of cypresses and acacia pendula, or open +forest, but did not observe any of the barren stony ridges so common to +the N.E. About a mile, or a mile and a half, from the lake we examined a +solitary grave that had recently been constructed. It consisted of an +oblong mound, with three semicircular seats. A walk encompassed the whole, +from which three others branched off for a few yards only, into the +forest. Several cypresses, overhanging the grave, were fancifully carved +on the inner side, and on one the shape of a heart was deeply engraved. + +BUDDAH LAKE. + +We were sadly disappointed in the appearance of the lake, which the +natives call the Buddah. It is a serpentine sheet of fresh water, of +rather more than a mile in length, and from three to four hundred yards in +breadth. Its depth was four fathoms; but it seemed as if it were now five +or six feet below the ordinary level. No stream either runs into it or +flows from it; yet it abounds in fish; from which circumstance I should +imagine that it originally owed its supply to the river during some +extensive inundation. Notwithstanding that we had crossed some rich tracts +of land in our way to it, the neighbourhood of the lake was by no means +ferthe. The trees around it were in rapid decay, and the little +vegetation to be seen appeared to derive but little advantage from its +proximity to water. + +EXTREME HEAT OF THE WEATHER. + +We had started at early dawn; and the heat had become intolerable long ere +the sun had gained the meridian. It was rendered still more oppressive +from the want of air in the dense bushes through which we occasionally +moved. At 2 p.m. the thermometer stood at 129 degrees of Fahrenheit, in +the shade; and at 149 degrees in the sun; the difference being exactly 20 +degrees. It is not to be wondered at that the cattle suffered, although +the journey was so short. The sun's rays were too powerful even for the +natives, who kept as much as possible in the shade. In the evening, when +the atmosphere was somewhat cooler, we launched the boat upon the lake, +in order to get some wild fowl and fish; but although we were tolerably +successful with our guns, we did not take anything with our hooks. + +The natives had, in the course of the afternoon, been joined by the rest +of the tribe, and they now numbered about three and twenty. They were +rather distant in their manner, and gazed with apparent astonishment at +the scene that was passing before them. + +If there had been other proof wanting, of the lamentably parched and +exhausted state of the interior, we had on this occasion ample evidence of +it, and of the fearful severity of the drought under which the country was +suffering. As soon as the sun dipped under the horizon, hundreds of birds +came crowding to the border of the lake, to quench the thirst they had +been unable to allay in the forest. Some were gasping, others almost too +weak to avoid us, and all were indifferent to the reports of our guns. + +CATARACT OF THE MACQUARIE. + +On leaving the Buddah, eleven only of the natives accompanied us. We +reached the river again about noon, on a north-half-east course, where it +had a rocky bed, and continued to journey along it, until we reached the +cataract at which we halted. We travelled over soil generally inferior to +that which we had seen on the preceding day, but rich in many places. The +same kind of timber was observed, but the acacia pendula was more +prevalent than any other, although near the river the flooded gum and +Australian apple-tree were of beautiful growth. + +It had appeared to me that the waters of the Macquarie had been +diminishing in volume since our departure from Wellington Valley, and I +had a favourable opportunity of judging as to the correctness of this +conclusion at the cataract, where its channel, at all times much +contracted, was particularly so on the present occasion. So little force +was there in the current, that I began to entertain doubts how long it +would continue, more especially when I reflected on the level character of +the country we had entered, and the fact of the Macquarie not receiving +any tributary between this point and the marshes. I was in consequence +led to infer that result, which, though not immediately, eventually took +place. + +As they were treated with kindness, the natives who accompanied us soon +threw off all reserve, and in the afternoon assembled at the pool below +the fall to take fish. They went very systematically to work, with short +spears in their hands that tapered gradually to a point, and sank at once +under water without splash or noise at a given signal from an elderly man. +In a short time, one or two rose with the fish they had transfixed; the +others remained about a minute under water, and then made their +appearance near the same rock into the crevices of which they had driven +their prey. Seven fine bream were taken, the whole of which they insisted +on giving to our men, although I am not aware that any of themselves had +broken their fast that day. They soon, however, procured a quantity of +muscles, with which they sat down very contentedly at a fire. My +barometrical admeasurement gave the cataract an elevation of 680 feet +above the level of the sea; and my observations placed it in east +longitude 148 degrees 3 minutes and in latitude 31 degrees 50 minutes +south. + +It became an object with us to gain the right bank of the Macquarie as +soon as possible; for it was evident that the country to the southward of +it was much more swampy than it was to the north: but for some distance +below the cataract, we found it impossible to effect our purpose. The +rocks composing the bed of the river at the cataract, which are of trapp +formation, disappeared at about eight miles below it, when the river +immediately assumed another character. Its banks became of equal height, +which had not before been the case, and averaged from fifteen to eighteen +feet. They were composed entirely of alluvial soil, and were higher than +the highest flood-marks. Its waters appeared to be turbid and deep, and +its bed was a mixture of sand and clay. The casuarina, which had so often +been admired by us, entirely disappeared and the channel in many places +became so narrow as to be completely arched over by gum-trees. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +On the 16th, we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives who joined our +train after the very necessary ceremonies of an introduction had passed, +and when added to those who still accompanied us, amounted to fifty-three. +On this occasion I was riding somewhat in front of the party, when I came +upon them. They were very different in appearance from those whom we had +surprised at the river; and from the manner in which I was received, I was +led to infer that they had been informed of our arrival, and had +purposely assembled to meet us. I was saluted by an old man, who had +stationed himself in front of his tribe, and who was their chief. Behind +him the young men stood in a line, and behind them the warriors were +seated on the ground. + +CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES. + +I had a young native with me who had attached himself to our party, and +who, from his extreme good nature and superior intelligence, was +considered by us as a first-rate kind of fellow. He explained who and what +we were, and I was glad to observe that the old chief seemed perfectly +reconciled to my presence, although he cast many an anxious glance at the +long train of animals that were approaching. The warriors, I remarked, +never lifted their eyes from the ground. They were hideously painted with +red and yellow ochre, and had their weapons at their sides, while their +countenances were fixed, sullen, and determined. In order to overcome this +mood, I rode up to them, and, taking a spear from the nearest, gave him +my gun to examine; a mark of confidence that was not lost upon them, for +they immediately relaxed from their gravity, and as soon as my party +arrived, rose up and followed us. That which appeared most to excite their +surprise, was the motion of the wheels of the boat carriage. The young +native whom I have noticed above, acted as interpreter, and, by his +facetious manner, contrived to keep the whole of us in a fit of laughter +as we moved along. He had been named Botheri by some stockman. + + +In consequence of our wish to cross the river, we kept near it, and +experienced considerable delay from the frequent marshes that opposed +themselves to our progress. In one of these we saw a number of ibises and +spoonbills; and the natives succeeded in killing two or three snakes. Our +view to the westward was extremely limited; but to the eastward the +country appeared in some places to expand into plains. + +CROSSING OF THE RIVER. + +After travelling some miles down the banks of the river, finding that they +still retained their steep character, we turned back to a place which Mr. +Hume had observed, and at which he thought we might, with some little +trouble, cross to the opposite side. And, however objectionable the +attempt was, we found ourselves obliged to make it. We descended, +therefore, into the channel of the river, and unloaded the animals and +boat-carriage. In order to facilitate the ascent of the right bank, some +of the men were directed to cut steps up it. I was amused to see the +natives voluntarily assist them; and was surprised when they took up bags +of flour weighing 100 pounds each, and carried them across the river. We +were not long in getting the whole of the stores over. The boat was then +hoisted on the shoulders of the strongest, and deposited on the top of the +opposite bank; and ropes being afterwards attached to the carriage, it was +soon drawn up to a place of safety. The natives worked as hard as our own +people, and that, too, with a cheerfulness for which I was altogether +unprepared, and which is certainly foreign to their natural habits. We +pitched our tents as soon as we had effected the passage of the river; +after which, the men went to bathe, and blacks and whites were mingled +promiscuously in the stream. I did not observe that the former differed in +any respect from the natives who frequent the located districts. They were +generally clean limbed and stout, and some of the young men had pleasing +intelligent countenances. They lacerate their bodies, inflicting deep +wounds to raise the flesh, and extract the front teeth like the Bathurst +tribes; and their weapons are precisely the same. They are certainly a +merry people, and sit up laughing and talking more than half the night. + +BAROMETER BROKEN. + +During the removal of the stores my barometer was unfortunately broken, +and I had often, in the subsequent stages of the journey, occasion to +regret the accident. I apprehend that the corks in the instrument, placed +to steady the tube, are too distant from each other in most cases; and +indeed I fear that barometers as at present constructed, will seldom be +carried with safety in overland expeditions. + +DESERTED BY THE NATIVES. + +Nine only of the natives accompanied us on the morning succeeding the day +in which we crossed the river. Botheri was, however, at the head of them; +and, as we journeyed along, he informed me that he had been promised a +wife on his return from acting as our guide, by the chief of the last +tribe. The excessive heat of the weather obliged us to shorten our +journey, and we encamped about noon in some scrub after having traversed a +level country for about eleven miles. + +Several considerable plains were noticed to our right, stretching east and +west, which were generally rich in point of soil; but we passed through +much brushy land during the day. It was lamentable to see the state of +vegetation upon the plains from want of moisture. Although the country +had assumed a level character, and was more open than on the higher +branches of the Macquarie, the small freestone elevations, backing the +alluvial tracts near the river, still continued upon our right, though +much diminished in height, and at a great distance from the banks. They +seemed to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood, but dwarf-box and the +acacia pendula prevailed along the plains; while flooded-gum alone +occupied the lands in the immediate neighbourhood of the stream, which was +evidently fast diminishing, both in volume and rapidity; its bed, however, +still continuing to be a mixture of sand and clay. + +The cattle found such poor feed around the camp that they strayed away in +search of better during the night. On such an occasion Botheri and his +fraternity would have been of real service; but he had decamped at an +early hour, and had carried off an axe, a tomahawk, and some bacon, +although I had made him several presents. I was not at all surprised at +this piece of roguery, since cunning is the natural attribute of a savage; +but I was provoked at their running away at a moment when I so much +required their assistance. + +Left to ourselves, I found Mr. Hume of the most essential service in +tracking the animals, and to his perseverance we were indebted for their +speedy recovery, They had managed to find tolerable feed near a serpentine +sheet of water, which Mr. Hume thought it would be advisable to examine. +We directed our course to it as soon as the cattle were loaded, moving +through bush, and found it to be a very considerable creek that receives a +part of the superfluous waters of the Macquarie, and distributes them, +most probably, over the level country to the north. It was much wider than +the river, being from fifty to sixty yards across, and is resorted to by +the natives, who procure muscles from its bed in great abundance. We were +obliged to traverse its eastern bank to its junction with the river, at +which it fortunately happened to be dry. We had, however, to cut roads +down both its banks before we could cross it; and, consequently, made but +a short day's journey. The soil passed over was inferior to the generality +of soil near the river, but we encamped on a tongue of land on which both +the flooded-gum and the grass were of luxuriant height. We found a +quantity of a substance like pipe-clay in the bed of the river, similar to +that mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +GREAT HEAT. + +The heat, which had been excessive at Wellington Valley, increased upon us +as we advanced into the interior. The thermometer was seldom under 114 +degrees at noon, and rose still higher at 2 p.m. We had no dews at night, +and consequently the range of the instrument was trifling in the +twenty-four hours. The country looked bare and scorched, and the plains +over which we journeyed had large fissures traversing them, so that the +earth may literally be said to have gasped for moisture. The country, +which above the cataract had borne the character of open forest, excepting +on the immediate banks of the river, where its undulations and openness +gave it a park-like appearance, or where the barren stony ridges prevailed +below that point, generally exhibited alternately plain and brush, the +soil on both of which was good. On the former, crested pigeons were +numerous, several of which were shot. We had likewise procured some of the +rose-coloured and grey parrots, mentioned by Mr. Oxley, and a small +paroquet of beautiful plumage; but there was less of variety in the +feathered race than I expected to find, and most of the other birds we had +seen were recognised by me as similar to specimens I had procured from +Melville Island, and were, therefore, most probably birds of passage. + +ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE RIVER. + +As we neared Mount Harris, the Macquarie became more sluggish in its flow, +and fell off so much as scarcely to deserve the name of a river. In +breadth, it averaged from thirty-five to forty-five yards, and in the +height of its banks, from fifteen to eighteen. Mr. Hume had succeeded in +taking some fish at one of the stock stations; but if I except those +speared by the natives, we had since been altogether unsuccessful with the +hook, a circumstance which I attribute to the lowness of the river itself. + +About thirty miles from the cataract the country declines to the north as +a medium point, and again changes somewhat in its general appearance. To +the S. and S.W. it appeared level and wooded, while to the N. the plains +became more frequent, but smaller, and travelling over them was extremely +dangerous, in consequence of the large fissures by which they were +traversed. The only trees to be observed were dwarf-box and the acacia +pendula, both of stunted growth, although flooded-gum still prevailed upon +the river. + +On the 20th we travelled on a N.W. course, and in the early part of the +day passed over tolerably good soil. It was succeeded by a barren scrub, +through which we penetrated in the direction of Welcome Rock, a point we +had seen from one of the Plains and had mistaken for Mount Harris. + +ARRIVAL AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +On a nearer approach, however, we observed our error, and corrected it by +turning more to the left; and we ultimately encamped about a mile to the +W.S.W. of the latter eminence. On issuing from the scrub we found +ourselves among reeds and coarse water-grass; and, from the appearance of +the country, we were led to conclude that we had arrived at a part of the +interior more than ordinarily subject to overflow. + +As soon as the camp was fixed, Mr. Hume and I rode to Mount Harris, over +ground subject to flood and covered for the most part by the polygonum, +being too anxious to defer our examination of its neighbourhood even for a +few hours. + +VESTIGES OF MR. OXLEY'S ENCAMPMENT. + +Nearly ten years had elapsed since Mr. Oxley pitched his tents under the +smallest of the two hills into which Mount Harris is broken. There was no +difficulty in hitting upon his position. The trenches that had been cut +round the tents were still perfect, and the marks of the fire-places +distinguishable; while the trees in the neighbourhood had been felled, +and round about them the staves of some casks and a few tent-pegs were +scattered. Mr. Oxley had selected a place at some distance from the river, +in consequence of its then swollen state. I looked upon it from the same +ground, and could not discern the waters in its channel; so much had they +fallen below their ordinary level. He saw the river when it was +overflowing its banks; on the present occasion it had scarcely sufficient +water to support a current. On the summit of the greater eminence, which +we ascended, there remained the half-burnt planks of a boat, some clenched +and rusty nails, and an old trunk; but my search for the bottle Mr. Oxley +had left was unsuccessful. + +A reflection naturally arose to my mind on examining these decaying +vestiges of a former expedition, whether I should be more fortunate than +the leader of it, and how far I should be enabled to penetrate beyond the +point which had conquered his perseverance. Only a week before I left +Sydney I had followed Mr. Oxley to the tomb. A man of uncommon quickness, +and of great ability, the task of following up his discoveries was not +less enviable than arduous; but, arrived at that point at which his +journey may be said to have terminated and mine only to commence, I knew +not how soon I should be obliged, like him, to retreat from the marshes +and exhalations of so depressed a country. My eye instinctively turned to +the North-West, and the view extended over an apparently endless forest. +I could trace the river line of trees by their superior height; but saw no +appearance of reeds, save the few that grew on the banks of the stream. + +Mount Foster, somewhat higher than Mount Harris, on the opposite side of +the river, alone broke the line of the horizon to the North N.W. at a +distance of five miles. From that point all round the compass, the low +lands spread, like a dark sea, before me; except where a large plain +stretching from E. to W., and lying to the S.E. broke their monotony; +and if there was nothing discouraging, there certainly was nothing +cheering, in the prospect. + +ILLNESS OF TWO OF THE MEN. + +On our return to the camp, I was vexed to find two of the men, Henwood and +Williams, with increased inflammation of the eyes, of which they had +previously been complaining, and I thought it advisable to bleed the +latter. + +In consequence of the indisposition of these men, we remained stationary +on the 21st, which enabled me to pay a second visit to Mount Harris. On +ascending the smaller hill, I was surprised to find similar vestiges on +its summit to those I had noticed on the larger one; in addition to which, +the rollers still continued on the side of the hill, which had been used +to get the boat up it. [Mr. Oxley had two boats; one of which he dragged +to the top of each of these hills, and left them turned bottom upwards, +buryinq a bottle under the head of the larger boat, which was conveyed to +the more distant hill.] + +Mount Harris is of basaltic formation, but I could not observe any +columnar regularity in it, although large blocks are exposed above the +ground. The rock is extremely hard and sonorous. + +MOUNT FOSTER AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. + +We moved leisurely towards Mount Foster, on the 22nd, and arrived opposite +to it a little before sunset. The country between the two is mostly open, +or covered only with the acacia pendula and dwarf-box. The soil, although +an alluvial deposit, is not of the best; nor was vegetation either fresh +or close upon it. As soon as the party stopped, I crossed the river, and +lost no time in ascending the hill, being anxious to ascertain if any +fresh object was visible from its summit, I thought that from an eminence +so much above the level of the surrounding objects, I might obtain a view +of the marshes, or of water; but I was wholly disappointed. The view was +certainly extensive, but it was otherwise unsatisfactory. Again to the +N.W. the lowlands spread in darkness before me; there were some +considerable plains beyond the near wood; but the country at the foot of +the hill appeared open and promising. Although the river line was lost in +the distance, it was as truly pointed out by the fires of the natives, +which rose in upright columns into the sky, as if it had been marked by +the trees upon its banks. + +To the eastward, Arbuthnot's range rose high above the line of the +horizon, bearing nearly due East, distant seventy miles. The following +sketch of its outlines will convey a better idea of its appearance from +Mount Foster than any written description. + +[small sketch here--not shown in etext] + +I stayed on the mount until after sunset, but I could not make out any +space that at all resembled the formidable barrier I knew we were so +rapidly approaching. I saw nothing to check our advance, and I therefore +returned to the camp, to advise with Mr. Hume upon the subject. Not having +been with me on Mount Foster, he took the opportunity to ascend it on the +following morning; and on his return concurred with me in opinion, that +there was no apparent obstacle to our moving onwards. As the men were +considerably better, I had the less hesitation in closing with the +marshes. We left our position, intending to travel slowly, and to halt +early. + +The first part of our journey was over rich flats, timbered sufficiently +to afford a shade, on which the grass was luxuriant; but we were obliged +to seek more open ground, in consequence of the frequent stumbling of the +cattle. + +We issued, at length, upon a plain, the view across which was as dreary as +can be imagined; in many places without a tree, save a few old stumps +left by the natives when they fired the timber, some of which were still +smoking in different parts of it. Observing some lofty trees at the +extremity of the plain, we moved towards them, under an impression that +they indicated the river line. But on this exposed spot the sun's rays +fell with intense power upon us, and the dust was so minute and +penetrating, that I soon regretted having left the shady banks of the +river. + +About 2.p.m. we neared the trees for which we had been making, over ground +evidently formed by alluvial deposition, and were astonished to find that +reeds alone were growing under the trees as far as the eye could +penetrate. It appeared that we were still some distance from the river, +and it was very doubtful how far we might be from water, for which the +men were anxiously calling. I therefore halted, and sent Fraser into the +reeds towards some dead trees, on which a number of spoonbills were +sitting. He found that there was a small lake in the centre of the reeds, +the resort of numerous wild fowl; but although the men were enabled to +quench their thirst, we found it impossible to water the animals. We were +obliged, therefore, to continue our course along the edge of the reeds; +which in a short time appeared in large masses in front of us, stretching +into a vast plain upon our right; and it became evident that the whole +neighbourhood was subject to extensive inundation. + +ENCAMP AMIDST REEDS. + +I was fearful that the reeds would have checked us; but there was a +passage between the patches, through which we managed to force our way +into a deep bight, and fortunately gained the river at the bottom of it +much sooner than we expected. We were obliged to clear away a space for +the tents; and thus, although there had been no such appearance from Mount +Foster, we found ourselves in less than seven hours after leaving it, +encamped pretty far in that marsh for which we had so anxiously looked +from its summit, and now trusting to circumstances for safety, upon +ground on which, in any ordinary state of the river, it would have been +dangerous to have ventured. Indeed, as it was, our situation was +sufficiently critical, and would not admit of hesitation on my part. + +NATURE OF THE COUNTRY. + +After the cattle had been turned out, Mr. Hume and I again mounted our +horses, and proceeded to the westward, with a view to examine the nature +of the country before us, and to ascertain if it was still practicable to +move along the river side. For, although it was evident that we had +arrived at what might strictly be called the marshes of the Macquarie, I +still thought we might be at some distance from the place where Mr. Oxley +terminated his journey. + +There was no indication in the river to encourage an idea that it would +speedily terminate; nor, although we were on ground subject to extensive +inundation, could we be said to have reached the heart of the marshes, as +the reeds still continued in detached bodies only. We forced a path +through various portions of them, and passed over ground wholly subject to +flood, to a distance of about six miles. We then crossed a small rise of +ground, sufficiently high to have afforded a retreat, had necessity +obliged us to seek for one; and we shortly afterwards descended on the +river, unaltered in its appearance, and rather increased than diminished +in size. A vast plain extended to the N.W., the extremity of which we +could not discern; though a thick forest formed its northern boundary. + +It was evident that this plain had been frequently under water, but it was +difficult to judge from the marks on the trees to what height the floods +had risen. The soil was an alluvial deposit, superficially sandy; and many +shells were scattered over its surface. To the south, the country appeared +close and low; nor do I think we could have approached the river from that +side, by reason of the huge belts of reeds that appeared to extend as far +as the the eye could reach. + +MEN ATTACKED WITH OPHTHALMIA. + +The approach of night obliged us to return to the camp. On our arrival, +we found that the state of Henwood and Williams would prevent our stirring +for a day or two. Not only had they a return of inflammation, but several +other of the men complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, which +were dreadfully blood-shot and weak. I was in some measure prepared for a +relapse in Henwood, as the exposure which he necessarily underwent on the +plain was sufficient to produce that effect; but I now became apprehensive +that the affection would run through the party. + +Considering our situation in its different bearings, it struck me that the +men who were to return to Wellington Valley with an account our our +proceedings for the Governor's information, had been brought as far as +prudence warranted. There was no fear of their going astray, as long as +they had the river to guide them; but in the open country which we were to +all appearance approaching, or amidst fields of reeds, they might wander +from the track, and irrecoverably lose themselves. I determined, +therefore, not to risk their safety, but to prepare my dispatches for +Sydney, and I hoped most anxiously, that ere they were closed, all +symptoms of disease would have terminated. + +In the course of the day, however, Spencer, who was to return with Riley +to Wellington Valley, became seriously indisposed, and I feared that he +was attacked with dysentery. Indeed, I should have attributed his illness +to our situation, but I did not notice any unusual moisture in the +atmosphere, nor did any fogs rise from the river. I therefore the rather +attributed it to exposure and change of diet, and treated him accordingly. +To my satisfaction, when I visited the men late in the evening, I found a +general improvement in the whole of them. Spencer was considerably +relieved, and those of the party who had inflammation of the eyes no +longer felt that painful irritation of which they had before complained. +I determined, therefore, unless untoward circumstances should prevent it, +to send Riley and his companion homewards, and to move the party without +loss of time. + +We had not seen any natives for many days, but a few passed the camp on +the opposite side of the river on the evening of the 25th. They would not, +however, come to us; but fled into the interior in great apparent alarm. + +DEPARTURE OF TWO MEN FOR WELLINGTON. + +On the morning of the 26th, the men were sufficiently recovered to pursue +their journey. Riley and Spencer left us at an early hour; and about +7 a.m. we pursued a N.N.W. course along the great plain I have noticed, +starting numberless quails, and many wild turkeys, by the way. Leaving +that part of the river on which Mr. Hume and I had touched considerably to +the left, we made for the point of a wood, projecting from the river line +of trees into the plain. The ground under us was an alluvial deposit, and +bore all the marks of frequent inundation. + +The soil was yielding, blistered, and uneven; and the claws of cray-fish, +together with numerous small shells, were every where collected in the +hollows made by the subsiding of the waters, between broad belts of reeds +and scrubs of polygonum. + +CONSULTATION. + +On gaining the point of the wood, we found an absolute check put to our +further progress. We had been moving directly on the great body of the +marsh, and from the wood it spread in boundless extent before us. It was +evidently lower than the ground on which we stood; we had therefore, a +complete view over the whole expense; and there was a dreariness and +desolation pervading the scene that strengthened as we gazed upon it. +Under existing circumstances, it only remained for us either to skirt +the reeds to the northward, or to turn in again upon the river; and as I +considered it important to ascertain the direction of the Macquarie at so +critical and interesting a point, I thought it better to adopt the latter +measure. We, accordingly, made for the river, and pitched our tents, as at +the last station, in the midst of reeds. + +There were two points at this time, upon which I was extremely anxious. +The first was as to the course of the river; the second, as to the extent +of the marshes by which we had been checked, and the practicability of the +country to the northward. + +In advising with Mr. Hume, I proposed launching the boat, as the surest +means of ascertaining the former, and he, on his part, most readily +volunteered to examine the marshes, in any direction I should point out. +It was therefore, arranged, that I should take two men, and a week's +provision with me in the boat down the river; and that he should proceed +with a like number of men on an excursion to the northward. + +After having given directions as to the regulations of camp during our +absence, we separated, on the morning of the 26th for the first time, in +furtherance of the objects each had in view. + +BOAT EXCURSION. + +In pulling down the river, I found that its channel was at first extremely +tortuous and irregular, but that it held a general N.W. course, and bore +much the same appearance as it had done since our descent from Mount +Foster. + +We had a laborious task in lifting the boat over the trunks of trees that +had fallen into the channel of the river or that had been left by the +floods, and at length we stove her in upon a sunken log. The injury she +received was too serious not to require immediate repair; and we, +therefore, patched her up with a tin plate. This accident occasioned some +delay, and the morning was consumed without our having made any +considerable progress. At length, however, we got into a more open +channel. + +The river suddenly increased in breadth to thirty-five or forty-five +yards, with a depth of from twelve to twenty feet of water. Its banks +shelved perpendicularly down, and were almost on a level with the surface +of the stream; and the flood mark was not more than two feet high on the +reeds by which they were lined. We had hitherto passed under the shade of +the flooded gum, which still continued on the immediate banks of the +river; but, the farther we advanced, the more did we find these trees in a +state of decay, until at length they ceased, or were only rarely met with. + +TERMINATION OF THE RIVER. + +About 2 p.m. I brought up under a solitary tree, in consequence of heavy +rain: this was upon the left bank. In the afternoon, however, we again +pushed forward, and soon lost sight of every other object amidst reeds of +great height. The channel of the river continued as broad and as deep as +ever, but the flood mark did not show more than a foot above the banks, +which were now almost on a level with the water; and the current was so +sluggish as to be scarcely perceptible. These general appearances +continued for about three miles, when our course was suddenly, and most +unexpectedly, checked. The channel, which had promised so well, without +any change in its breadth or depth, ceased altogether; and whilst we were +yet lost in astonishment at so abrupt a termination of it, the boat +grounded. It only remained for us to examine the banks, which we did with +particular attention. Two creeks were then discovered, so small as +scarcely to deserve the name, and which would, under ordinary +circumstances, have been overlooked. The one branched off to the +north--the other to the west. We were obliged to get out of the boat to +push up the former, the leeches sticking in numbers to our legs. The creek +continued for about thirty yards, when it was terminated; and, in order +fully to satisfy myself of the fact, I walked round the head of it by +pushing through the reeds. Night coming on, we returned to the tree at +which we had stopped during the rain, and slept under it. The men cut away +the reeds, or we should not have had room to move. At 2 a.m. it commenced +raining, with a heavy storm of thunder and lightning; the boat was +consequently hauled ashore, and turned over to afford us a temporary +shelter. The lightning was extremely vivid, and frequently played upon +the ground, near the firelocks, for more than a quarter of a minute at a +time. + +It is singular, that Mr. Oxley should, under similar circumstances, have +experienced an equally stormy night, and most probably within a few yards +of the place on which I had posted myself. Notwithstanding that the +elements were raging around me, as if to warn me of the danger of my +situation, my mind turned solely on the singular failure of the river. I +could not but encourage hopes that this second channel that remained to +be explored would lead us into an open space again; and as soon as the +morning dawned we pursued our way to it. In passing some dead trees upon +the right bank, I stopped to ascend one, that, from an elevation, I might +survey the marsh, but I found it impossible to trace the river through it. +The country to the westward was covered with reeds, apparently to the +distance of seven miles; to the N.W. to a still greater distance; and to +the north they bounded the horizon. + +The whole expanse was level and unbroken, but here and there the reeds +were higher and darker than at other places, as if they grew near constant +moisture; but I could see no appearance of water in any body, or of high +lands beyond the distant forest. + +As soon as we arrived at the end of the main channel, we again got out of +the boat, and in pushing up the smaller one, soon found ourselves under a +dark arch of reeds. It did not, however, continue more than twenty yards +when it ceased, and I walked round the head of it as I had done round that +of the other. We then examined the space between the creeks, where the +bank receives the force of the current, which I did not doubt had formed +them by the separation of its eddies. Observing water among the reeds, I +pushed through them with infinite labour to a considerable distance. The +soil proved to be a stiff clay; the reeds were closely embodied, and from +ten to twelve feet high; the waters were in some places ankle deep, and in +others scarcely covered the surface. They were flowing in different +points, with greater speed than those of the river, which at once +convinced me that they were not permanent, but must have lodged in the +night during which so much rain had fallen. They ultimately appeared to +flow to the northward, but I found it impossible to follow them, and it +was not without difficulty that, after having wandered about at every +point of the compass, I again reached the boat. + +CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE RIVER. + +The care with which I had noted every change that took place in the +Macquarie, from Wellington Valley downwards, enabled me, in some measure, +to account for its present features. I was led to conclude that the waters +of the river being so small in body, excepting in times of flood, and +flowing for so many miles through a level country without receiving any +tributary to support their first impulse, became too sluggish, long ere +they reached the marshes, to cleave through so formidable a barrier; and +consequently spread over the surrounding country--whether again to take +up the character of a river, we had still to determine. Unless, however, +a decline of country should favour its assuming its original shape, it was +evident that the Macquarie would not be found to exist beyond this marsh, +of the nature and extent of which we were still ignorant. The loss of my +barometer was at this time severely felt by me, since I could only guess +at our probable height above the ocean; and I found that my only course +was to endeavour to force my way to the northward, to ascertain, if I +could, from the bottom of the marshes; then penetrate in a westerly +direction beyond them, in order to commence my survey of the S.W. +interior. I was aware of Mr. Hume's perseverance, and determined, +therefore, to wait the result of his report ere I again moved the camp, to +which we returned late in the afternoon of the second day of our +departure. We found it unsufferably hot and suffocating in the reeds, and +were tormented by myriads of mosquitoes, but the waters were perfectly +sweet to the taste, nor did the slightest smell, as of stagnation, proceed +from them. I may add that the birds, whose sanctuary we had invaded, as +the bittern and various tribes of the galinule, together with the frogs, +made incessant noises around us, There were, however, but few water-fowl +on the river; which was an additional proof to me that we were not near +any very extensive lake. + +MR. HUME'S REPORT. + +Mr. Hume had returned before me to the camp, and had succeeded in finding +a serpentine sheet of water, about twelve miles to the northward; which he +did not doubt to be the channel of the river. He had pushed on after this +success, in the hope of gaining a further knowledge of the country; but +another still more extensive marsh checked him, and obliged him to retrace +his steps. He was no less surprised at the account I gave of the +termination of the river, than I was at its so speedily re-forming, and it +was determined to lose no time in the further examination of so singular a +region. + +FALSE CHANNEL; PERPLEXITIES. + +On the morning of the 28th therefore we broke up the camp, and proceeded +to the northward, under Mr. Hume's guidance, moving over ground wholly +subject to flood, and extensively covered with reeds; the great body of +the marsh lying upon our left. After passing the angle of a wood, upon our +right, from which Mount Foster was distant about fourteen miles, we got +upon a small plain, on which there was a new species of tortuous box. This +plain was clear of reeds, and the soil upon it was very rich. Crossing in +a westerly direction we arrived at the channel found by Mr. Hume, who must +naturally have concluded that it was a continuation of the river. The boat +was immediately prepared, and I went up it in order to ascertain the +nature of its formation. For two miles it preserved a pretty general width +of from twenty to thirty yards; but at that distance began to narrow, and +at length it became quite shallow and covered with weeds. We were +ultimately obliged to abandon the boat, and to walk along a native path. +The country to the westward was more open than I had expected. About a +quarter of a mile from where we had left the boat, the channel separated +into two branches; to which I perceived it owed its formation, coming, as +they evidently did, direct from the heart of the marsh. The wood through +which I had entered it on the first occasion bore south of me, to which +one of the branches inclined; as the other did to the S.W. An almost +imperceptible rise of ground was before me, which, by giving an impetus to +the waters of the marsh, accounted to me for the formation of the main +channel. It was too late, on my return to the camp, to prosecute any +further examination of it downwards; but in the morning, Mr. Hume +accompanied me in the boat, to ascertain to what point it led; and we +found that at about a mile it began to diminish in breadth, until at +length it was completely lost in a second expanse of reeds. We passed a +singular scaffolding erected by the natives, on the side of the channel, +to take fish; and also found a weir at the termination of it for the like +purpose so that it was evident the natives occasionally ventured into +the marshes. + +There was a small wood to our left which Mr. Hume endeavoured to gain, but +he failed in the attempt. He did, however, reach a tree that was +sufficiently high to give him a full view of the marsh, which appeared to +extend in every direction, but more particularly to the north, for many +miles. We were, however, at fault, and I really felt at a loss what step +to take. I should have been led to believe from the extreme flatness of +the country, that the Macquarie would never assume its natural shape, but +from the direction of the marshes I could not but indulge a hope that it +would meet the Castlereagh, and that their united waters might form a +stream of some importance. Under this impression I determined on again +sending Mr. Hume to the N.E. in order to ascertain the nature of the +country in that direction. + +EXCURSION TO THE NORTH-WEST. + +The weather was excessively hot, and as my men were but slowly recovering, +I was anxious while those who were in health continued active, to give the +others a few days of rest. I proposed, therefore, to cross the river, and +to make an excursion into the interior, during the probable time of +Mr. Hume's absence; since if, as I imagined, the Macquarie had taken a +permanent northerly course, I should not have an opportunity of examining +the distant western country. Mr. Hume's experience rendered it unnecessary +for me to give him other than general directions. + +A PLAIN ON FIRE. + +On the last day of the year we left the camp, each accompanied by two men. +I had the evening previously ordered the horses I intended taking with me +across the channel, and at an early hour of the morning I followed them. +Getting on a plain, immediately after I had disengaged myself from the +reeds on the opposite side of the river, which was full of holes and +exceedingly treacherous for the animals, I pushed on for a part of the +wood Mr. Hume had endeavoured to gain from the boat, with the intention of +keeping near the marsh. On entering it, I found myself in a thick brush of +eucalypti, casuarinae and minor trees; the soil under them being mixed +with sand. I kept a N.N.W. course through it, and at the distance of +three miles from its commencement, ascended a tree, to ascertain if I was +near the marshes; when I found that I was fast receding from them. I +concluded, therefore, that my conjecture as to their direction was right, +and altered my course to N.W., a direction in which I had observed a dense +smoke arising, which I supposed had been made by some natives near water. +At the termination of the brush I crossed a barren sandy plain, and from +it saw the smoke ascending at a few miles' distance from me. Passing +through a wood, at the extremity of the plain, I found myself at the +outskirts of an open space of great extent, almost wholly enveloped in +flames. The fire was running with incredible rapidity through the rhagodia +shrubs with which it was covered. Passing quickly over it, I continued my +journey to the N.W. over barren plains of red sandy loam of even surface, +and bushes of cypresses skirted by acacia pendula. It was not until after +sunset that we struck upon a creek, in which the water was excellent; and +we halted on its banks for the night, calculating our distance at +twenty-nine miles from the camp. The creek was of considerable size, +leading northerly. Several huts were observed by us, and from the heaps of +muscle-shells that were scattered about, there could be no doubt of its +being much frequented by the natives. The grass being fairly burnt up, our +animals found but little to eat, but they had a tolerable journey. and did +not attempt to wander in search of better food. I shot a snipe near the +creek, much resembling the painted snipe of India; but I had not the means +with me of preserving it. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +Continuing our journey on the following morning, we at first kept on the +banks of the creek, and at about a quarter of a mile from where we had +slept, came upon a numerous tribe of natives. A young girl sitting by the +fire was the first to observe us as we were slowly approaching her. She +was so excessively alarmed, that she had not the power to run away; but +threw herself on the ground and screamed violently. We now observed a +number of huts, out of which the natives issued, little dreaming of the +spectacle they were to behold. But the moment they saw us, they started +back; their huts were in a moment in flames, and each with a fire-brand +ran to and fro with hideous yells, thrusting them into every bush they +passed. I walked my horse quietly towards an old man who stood more +forward than the rest, as if he intended to devote himself for the +preservation of his tribe. I had intended speaking to him, but on a nearer +approach I remarked that he trembled so violently that it was impossible +to expect that I could obtain any information from him, and as I had not +time for explanations, I left him to form his own conjectures as to what +we were, and continued to move towards a thick brush, into which they did +not venture to follow us. + +CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY. + +After a ride of about eighteen miles, through a country of alternate plain +and brush, we struck upon a second creek leading like the first to the +northward. The water in it was very bitter and muddy, and it was much +inferior in appearance to that at which we had slept. After stopping for +half-an-hour upon its banks, to rest our animals, we again pushed forward. +We had not as yet risen any perceptible height above the level of the +marshes, but had left the country subject to overflow for a considerable +space behind us. The brushes through which we had passed were too sandy to +retain water long, but the plains were of such an even surface, that they +could not but continue wet for a considerable period after any fall of +rain. They were covered with salsolaceous plants, without a blade of +grass; and their soil was generally a red sandy loam. There were +occasional patches that appeared moist, in which the calystemma was +abundant, and these patches must, I should imagine, form quagmires in the +wet season. + +On leaving the last-mentioned creek, we found a gently rising country +before us; and about three or four miles from it we crossed some stony +ridges, covered with a new species of acacia so thickly as to prevent our +obtaining any view from them. As the sun declined, we got into open forest +ground; and travelled forwards in momentary expectation, from appearances, +of coming in sight of water; but we were obliged to pull up at sunset on +the outskirts of a larger plain without having our expectation realized. +The day had been extremely warm, and our animals were as thirsty as +ourselves. Hope never forsakes the human breast; and thence it was that, +after we had secured the horses, we began to wander round our lonely +bivouac. It was almost dark, when one of my men came to inform me that he +had found a small puddle of water, to which be had been led by a pigeon. + +It was, indeed, small enough, probably the remains of a passing shower; it +was, however, sufficient for our necessities, and I thanked Providence for +its bounty to us. We were now about sixty miles from the Macquarie, in a +N.W. by W. direction, and the country had proved so extremely +discouraging, that I intimated to my men my intention of retracing my +steps, should I not discover any change in it before noon on the morrow. +A dense brush of acacia succeeded to the plain on which we had slept, +which we entered, and shortly afterwards found ourselves in an open space, +of oblong shape, at the extremity of which there was a shallow lake. The +brush completely encircled it, and a few huts were upon its banks. About +10 p.m. we got into an open forest track of better appearance than any +over which we had recently travelled. + +ISOLATED HILL. + +There was a visible change in the country, and the soil, although red, was +extremely rich and free from sand. A short time afterwards we rose to the +summit of a round hill, from which we obtained an extensive view on most +points of the compass. We had imperceptibly risen considerably above the +general level of the interior. + +VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT. + +Beneath us, to the westward, I observed a broad and thinly wooded valley; +and W. by S., distant apparently about twenty miles, an isolated mountain, +whose sides seemed almost perpendicular, broke the otherwise even line of +the horizon; but the country in every other direction looked as if it was +darkly wooded. Anticipating that I should find a stream in the valley, I +did not for a moment hesitate in striking down into it. Disappointed, +however, in this expectation, I continued onwards to the mountain, which I +reached just before the sun set. Indeed, he was barely visible when I +gained its summit; but my eyes, from exposure to his glare, became so +weak, my face was so blistered, and my lips cracked in so many places, +that I was unable to look towards the west, and was actually obliged to +sit down behind a rock until he had set. + +Perhaps no time is so favourable for a view along the horizon as the +sunset hour; and here, at an elevation of from five to six hundred feet +above the plain, the visible line of it could not have been less than from +thirty-five to forty-five miles. The hill upon which I stood was broken +into two points; the one was a bold rocky elevation; the other had its +rear face also perpendicular, but gradually declined to the north, and at +a distance of from four to five miles was lost in an extensive and open +plain in that direction. In the S.E. quarter, two wooded hills were +visible, which before had appeared to be nothing more than swells in the +general level of the country. A small hill, similar to the above, bore +N.E. by compass; and again, to the west, a more considerable mountain than +that I had ascended, and evidently much higher, reflected the last beams +of the sun as he sunk behind them. I looked, however, in vain for water. +I could not trace either the windings of a stream, or the course of a +mountain torrent; and, as we had passed a swamp about a mile from the +hill, we descended to it for the night, during which we were grievously +tormented by the mosquitoes. + +RESULTS OF THE EXCURSION. + +I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been +sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the +track before me was still less inviting. Nothing but a dense forest, and a +level country, existed between me and the distant hill. I had learnt, by +experience, that it was impossible to form any opinion of the probable +features of so singular a region as that in which I was wandering, from +previous appearances, or to expect the same result, as in other countries, +from similar causes. In a geographical point of view, my journey had been +more successful, and had enabled me to put to rest for ever a question of +much previous doubt. Of whatever extent the marshes of the Macquarie might +be, it was evident they were not connected with those of the Lachlan. I +had gained knowledge of more than 100 miles of the western interior, and +had ascertained that no sea, indeed that little water, existed on its +surface; and that, although it is generally flat, it still has elevations +of considerable magnitude upon it. + +Although I had passed over much barren ground, I had likewise noticed soil +that was far from poor, and the vegetation upon which in ordinary seasons +would, I am convinced, have borne a very different aspect. + +Yet, upon the whole, the space I traversed is unlikely to become the haunt +of civilized man, or will only become so in isolated spots, as a chain of +connection to a more ferthe country; if such a country exist to the +westward. + +The hill which thus became the extreme of my journey, is of sandstone +formation, and is bold and precipitous. Its summit is level and lightly +timbered. As a tribute of respect to the late Surveyor-General, I called +it Oxley's Table Land, and I named the distant hills D'Urban's Group, +after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, in compliance with a previous request of my +friend Lieut. De la Condamine, that I would so name any prominent feature +of the interior that I might happen to come upon. + +RETURN TO THE CAMP. + +In returning to the camp, I made a circuit to the N.E., and reached the +Macquarie late on the evening of the 5th of January; having been absent +six days, during which we could not have ridden less than 200 miles. Yet +the horses were not so fatigued as it was natural to expect they would +have been. + +My servant informed me that a party of natives had visited the camp on the +3rd, but that they retired precipitately on seeing the animals. I +regretted to find the men but little better than when I left them. Several +still complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, and of great +weakness of sight. Attributing their continued indisposition in some +measure to our situation, I was anxious to have moved from it; but as Mr. +Hume was still absent, I could not decide upon the measure. He made his +appearance, however, on the 6th, having ridden the greater part of the day +through rain, which commenced to fall in the morning. Soon after his +arrival, Dawber, my overseer of animals, who had accompanied him, was +taken suddenly ill. During the night he became much worse, with shivering +and spasms, and on the following morning he was extremely weak and +feverish. To add to my anxiety, Mr. Hume also complained of indisposition. +His state of health made me the more anxious to quit a position which I +fancied unwholesome, and in which, if there was no apparent, there was +certainly some secret, exciting cause; and as Mr. Hume reported having +crossed a chain of ponds about four miles to the eastward, and out of the +immediate precincts of the marshes, I ordered the tents to be struck, and +placing Dawber on my horse, we all moved quietly over to them. + +MR. HUME'S EXCURSION. + +The result of Mr. Hume's journey perplexed me exceedingly. He stated, that +on setting out from the Macquarie his intention was to have proceeded to +the N.E., to ascertain how far the reeds existed in that direction, and, +if at all practicable, to reach the Castlereagh; but in case of failure, +to regain the Macquarie by a westerly course. At first he travelled nearly +four miles east, to clear the marshes, when he came on the chain of ponds +to which we had removed. + +He travelled over good soil for two miles after crossing this chain of +ponds, but afterwards got on a red sandy loam, and found it difficult to +proceed, by reason of the thickness of the brush, and the swampy state of +the ground in consequence of the late rain. + +The timber in the brushes was of various kinds, and he saw numerous +kangaroos and emus. On issuing from this brush, he crossed a creek, +leading northerly, the banks of which were from ten to twelve feet high. +Whatever the body of water usually in it is, it now only afforded a few +shallow puddles. Mr. Hume travelled through brushes until he came upon a +third creek, similar to the one he had left behind him, at which he halted +for the night. The water in it was bad, and the feed for the animals +extremely poor. The brush lined the creek thickly, and consisted chiefly +of acacia pendula and box. The country preserved an uniform level, nor did +Mr. Hume, from the highest trees, observe any break on the horizon. + +On the 2nd of January, Mr. Hume kept more northerly, being unable to +penetrate the brushes he encountered. At two miles he crossed a creek +leading to the N.W., between which and the place at which he had slept, he +passed a native burial ground, containing eight graves. The earth was +piled up in a conical shape, but the trees were not carved over as he had +seen them in most other places. + +The country became more open after he had passed the last mentioned creek, +which he again struck upon at the distance of eight miles, and as it was +then leading to the N.N.E. he followed it down for eighteen or twenty +miles, and crossed it frequently during the day. The creek was dry in most +places, and where he stopped for the night the water was bad, and the +cattle feed indifferent. + +Mr. Hume saw many huts, but none of them had been recently occupied, +although large quantities of muscle-shells were scattered about. He +computed that he had travelled about thirty miles, in a N.N.W. +direction, and the whole of the land he passed over was, generally +speaking, bad, nor did it appear to be subject to overflow. + +On the 3rd, Mr. Hume proceeded down the creek on which he had slept, on a +northern course, under an impression that it would have joined the +Castlereagh, but it took a N.W. direction after he had ridden about four +miles, and then turned again to the eastward of north. In consequence of +this, he left it, and proceeded to the westward, being of opinion that the +river just mentioned must have taken a more northerly course than Mr. +Oxley supposed it to have done. + +A short time after Mr. Hume turned towards the Macquarie, the country +assumed a more pleasing appearance. He soon cleared the brushes, and at +two miles came upon a chain of ponds, again running northerly in times of +flood. Shortly after crossing these, he found himself on an extensive +plain, apparently subject to overflow. The timber on it was chiefly of +the blue-gum kind, and the ground was covered with shells. He then thought +he was approaching the Macquarie, and proceeded due west across the flat +for about two miles. At the extremity of it there was a hollow, which he +searched in vain for water. Ascending about thirty feet, he entered a +thick brush of box and acacia pendula, which continued for fourteen miles, +when it terminated abruptly, and extensive plains of good soil commenced, +stretching from N. to S. as far as the eye could reach, on which there +were many kangaroos. Continuing to journey over them, he reached a creek +at 5 p.m. on which the wild fowl were numerous, running nearly north and +south, and he rested on its banks for the night. The timber consisted both +of blue and rough gum, and the soil was a light earth. + +Mr. Hume expected in the course of the day to have reached the Macquarie, +but on arriving at the creek, he began to doubt whether it any longer +existed, or whether it had not taken a more westerly direction. On the +following morning, therefore, he crossed the creek, and travelled +W.S.W., for about two miles over good plains; then through light brushes +of swamp-oak, cypress, box, and acacia pendula, for about twelve miles, to +another creek leading northerly. He shortly afterwards ascended a range of +hills stretching W.N.W. to which he gave the name of New Year's Range. +From these hills, he had an extensive view, although not upon the highest +part, but the only break he could see in the horizon was caused by some +hills bearing by compass W. by S. distant about twenty-five miles. There +was, however, an appearance as of high land to the northward, although Mr. +Hume thought it might have been an atmospheric deception. From the range +he looked in vain for the Macquarie, or other waters, and, as his +provisions were nearly consumed, he was obliged to give up all further +pursuit, and to retrace his steps. He fell in with two parties of natives, +which, taken collectively, amounted to thirty-five in number, but had no +communication with them. + +It was evident, from the above account, that supposing a line to have been +drawn from the camp northerly, Mr. Hume must have travelled considerably +to the westward of it, and as I had run on a N.W. course from the marshes, +it necessarily followed that our lines of route must have intersected each +other, or that want of extension could alone have prevented them from +having done so; but that, under any circumstances, they could not have +been very far apart. This was too important a point to be left undecided, +as upon it the question of the Macquarie's termination seemed to depend. + +Both Mr. Hume and myself were of opinion, that a medium course would be +the most satisfactory for us to pursue, to decide this point; and it +appeared that we could not do better than, by availing ourselves of the +creek on which we were, and skirting the reeds, to take the first +opportunity of dashing through them in a westerly direction. + +DOUBTS OF THE FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE RIVER. + +I entertained great doubts as to the longer existence of the river, and as +I foresaw that, in the event of its having terminated we should strike at +once into the heart of the interior, I became anxious for the arrival of +supplies at Mount Harris; and although I could hardly expect that they had +yet reached it, I determined to proceed thither. Mr. Hume was too unwell +for me to think of imposing additional fatigue upon him; I left him, +therefore, to conduct the party, by easy stages, to the northward, until +such time as I should overtake them. Even in one day there was a visible +improvement in the men, and Dawber's attack seemed to be rather the +effects of cold than of any thing else. A death, however, under our +circumstances, would have been so truly deplorable an event, that the +least illness was sufficient to create alarm. + +I can hardly say that I was disappointed on my arrival at Mount Harris, to +find its neighbourhood silent and deserted. I remained, however, under it +for the greater part of the next day, and, prior to leaving it, placed a +sheet of paper with written instructions against a tree, though almost +without a hope that it would remain untouched. + +PERPLEXING SITUATION. + +A little after sun-set we reached the first small marsh, at which we +slept; and on the following morning I crossed the plains of the Macquarie, +and joined the party at about fifteen miles from the creek at which I had +left it. I found it in a condition that was as unlooked for by Mr. Hume as +it was unexpected by me, and really in a most perplexing situation. + +On the day I left him, Mr. Hume only advanced about two miles, in +consequence of some derangement in the loads. Having crossed the creek, +he, the next morning, proceeded down its right bank, until it entered the +marshes and was lost. He then continued to move on the outskirts of the +latter, and having performed a journey or about eight miles, was anxious +to have stopped, but there was no water at hand. The men, however, were so +fatigued, in consequence of previous illness, that he felt it necessary to +halt after travelling about eleven miles. + +No water could be procured even here, notwithstanding that Mr. Hume, who +was quite unfit for great exertion, underwent considerable bodily fatigue +in his anxiety to find some. He was, therefore, obliged to move early on +the following morning, but neither men nor animals were in a condition to +travel; and he had scarcely made three miles' progress, when he stopped +and endeavoured to obtain a supply or water by digging pits among the +reeds. From these he had drawn sufficient for the wants of the people when +I arrived. Some rain had fallen on the 6th and 7th of the month, or it is +more than probable the expedient to which he resorted would have failed of +success. Mr. Hume, I was sorry to observe, looked very unwell; but nothing +could prevent him from further endeavours to extricate the party from its +present embarrassment. + +JOURNEY CONTINUED. + +As soon as I had taken a little refreshment, therefore, I mounted a fresh +horse; and he accompanied me across a small plain, immediately in front of +the camp, which was subject to overflow and covered with polygonum, having +a considerable extent of reeds to its right. + +From the plain we entered a wood of blue-gum, in which reeds, grass, and +brush formed a thick coppice. We at length passed into an open space, +surrounded on every side by weeds in dense bodies. The great marsh bore +south of us, and was clear and open, but behind us the blue-gum trees +formed a thick wood above the weeds. + +About two hundred yards from the outskirts of the marsh there was a line +of saplings that had perished, and round about them a number of the tern +tribe (sea swallow) were flying, one of which Mr. Hume had followed a +considerable way into the reeds the evening before, in the hope that it +would have led him to water. The circumstance of their being in such +numbers led us to penetrate towards them, when we found a serpentine sheet +of water of some length, over which they were playing. We had scarcely +time to examine it before night closed in upon us, and it was after nine +when we returned to the tents. + +From the general appearance of the country to the northward, and from the +circumstance of our having got to the bottom of the great marsh, which but +a few days before had threatened to be so formidable, I thought it +probable that the reeds would not again prove so extensive as they had +been, and I determined, if I could do so, to push through them in a +westerly direction from our position. + +SECOND GREAT MARSH. + +The pits yielded us so abundant a supply during the night, that in the +morning we found it unnecessary to take the animals to water at the +channel we had succeeded in finding the evening before; but pursuing a +westerly course we passed it, and struck deep into the reeds. At mid-day +we were hemmed in by them on every side, and had crossed over numerous +channels, by means of which the waters of the marshes are equally and +generally distributed over the space subject to their influence. Coming to +a second sheet of water, narrower, but longer, as well as we could judge, +than the first, we stopped to dine at it; and, while the men were resting +themselves, Mr. Hume rode with me in a westerly direction, to ascertain +what obstacles we still had to contend with. Forcing our way through +bodies of reeds, we at length got on a plain, stretching from S.E. to +N.W., bounded on the right by a wood of blue-gum, under which the reeds +still extended, and on the left by a wood in which they did not appear to +exist. Certain that there was no serious obstacle in our way, we returned +to the men; and as soon as they had finished their meal, led them over the +plain in a N.W. by W. direction. It was covered with shells, and was full +of holes from the effects of flood. + +CONCLUSIONS IN REGARD TO THE MACQUARIE. + +As we were journeying over it, I requested Mr. Hume to ride into the wood +upon our left, to ascertain if it concealed any channel. On his return he +informed me that he descended from the plain into a hollow, the bottom of +which was covered with small shells and bulrushes. He observed a new +species of eucalypti, on the trunks of which the water-mark was three feet +high. After crossing this hollow, which was about a quarter of a mile in +breadth, he gained an open forest of box, having good grass under it; and, +judging from the appearance of the country that no other channel could +exist beyond him, and that he had ascertained sufficient for the object I +had in view, he turned back to the plain. We stopped for the night under a +wood of box, where the grass, which had been burnt down, was then +springing up most beautifully green, and was relished exceedingly by the +animals. + +It was in consequence of our not having crossed any channel, while +penetrating through the reeds, that could by any possible exaggeration +have been laid down as the bed of the river, that I detached Mr. Hume; and +the account he brought me at once confirmed my opinion in regard to the +Macquarie, and I thenceforth gave up every hope of ever seeing it in its +characteristic shape again. + +Independently however of all circumstantial evidence, it was clear that +the river had not re-formed at a distance of twenty-five miles to the +north of us, since Mr. Hume had gone to the westward of that point, at +about the same distance on his late journey, without having observed the +least appearance of reeds or of a river. He had, indeed, noticed a hollow, +which occasionally contained water, but he saw nothing like the bed of a +permanent stream. I became convinced, also, from observation of the +country through which we had passed, that the sources of the Macquarie +could not be of such magnitude as to give a constant flow to it as a +river, and at the same time to supply with water the vast concavity into +which it falls. In very heavy rains only could the marshes and adjacent +lands be laid wholly under water, since the evaporation alone would be +equal to the supply. + +The great plains stretching for so many miles to the westward of Mount +Harris, even where they were clear of reeds, were covered with shells and +the claws of cray-fish and their soil, although an alluvial deposit, was +superficially sandy. They bore the appearance not only of frequent +inundation, but of the floods having eventually subsided upon them. This +was particularly observable at the bottom of the marshes. We did not find +any accumulation of rubbish to indicate a rush of water to any one point; +but numerous minor channels existed to distribute the floods equally and +generally over every part of the area subject to them, and the marks of +inundation and subsidence were everywhere the same. The plain we had last +crossed, was, in like manner, covered with shells, so that we could not +yet be said to be out of the influence of the marshes; besides which we +had not crossed the hollow noticed by Mr. Hume, which it was clear we +should do, sooner or later. + +SITUATION OF THE PARTY. + +To have remained in our position would have been impossible, as there was +no water either for ourselves or the animals; to have descended into the +reeds again, for the purpose of carrying on a minute survey, would, under +existing circumstances, have been imprudent. Our provisions were running +short, and if a knowledge of the distant interior was to be gained, we had +no time to lose. It was determined, therefore, to defer our further +examination of the marshes to the period of our return; and to pursue such +a course as would soonest and most effectually enable us to determine the +character of the western interior. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +We left our position at the head of the plain early on the 13th of +January, and, ere the sun dipped, had entered a very different country +from that in which we had been labouring for the last three weeks. We had, +as yet, passed over little other than an alluvial soil, but found that it +changed to a red loam in the brushes immediately backing the camp. An open +forest track succeeded this, over which the vegetation had an unusual +freshness, indicating that the waters had not long subsided from its +surface. We shortly afterwards crossed a hollow, similar to that Mr. Hume +had described, in which bulrushes had taken the place of reeds. +Flooded-gum trees, of large size, were also growing in it, but on either +side box alone prevailed, under which the forest grass grew to a +considerable height. We crossed the hollow two or three times, and as +often remarked the line of separation between those trees. The last time +we crossed it the country rose a few feet, and we journeyed for the +remainder of the day, at one time over good plains, at another through +brushes, until we found water and feed, at which we stopped for the night, +after having travelling about thirteen miles on a W. by N. course. The +mosquitoes were so extremely troublesome at this place that we called it +Mosquito Brush. At this time my men were improving rapidly, and Mr. Hume +complained less, and looked better. I hoped, therefore, that our progress +would be rapid into the interior. + +CREEK LEADING NORTHERLY; PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. + +On the 14th we took up a westerly course, and in the first instance +traversed a plain of great extent; the soil of which was for the most part +a red sandy loam, but having patches of light earth upon it. The former +was covered with plants of the chenopedia kind; the latter had evidently +been quagmires, and bore even then the appearance of moisture. At about +seven miles from Mosquito Brush we struck upon a creek of excellent water, +upon which the wild fowl were numerous. Some natives was seen, but they +were only women, and seemed so alarmed that I purposely avoided them. As +the creek was leading northerly, we traced it down on that course for +about seven miles, and then halted upon its banks, which were composed of +a light tenacious earth. Brushes of casuarina existed near it, but a +tortuous box was the prevailing tree, which, excepting for the knees of +small vessels, could not have been applied to any use, while the +flooded-gum had entirely disappeared. Some ducks were shot in the +afternoon, which proved a great treat, as we had been living for some time +on salt provisions. Our animals fared worse than ourselves, as the bed of +the creek was occupied by coarse rushes, and but little vegetation was +elsewhere to be seen. I here killed a beautiful snake, of about four feet +in length, and of a bright yellow colour: I had not, however, the means of +preserving it. Fraser collected numerous botanical specimens, and among +them two kinds of caparis. Indeed a great alteration had taken place in +the minor shrubs, and few of those now prevalent had been observed to the +eastward of the marshes. + +From the creek, which both I and Mr. Hume must have crossed on our +respective journeys, we held a westerly course for about fifteen miles, +through a country of alternate plain and brush, the latter predominating, +and in its general character differing but little from that we had +traversed the day previous. + +The acacia pendula still continued to exist on the plains backed by dark +rows of cypresses (Cupressus callitris). In the brushes, box and +casuarina (Casuarina tortuosa), with several other kinds of eucalypti, +prevailed; but none of them were sufficiently large to be of use. The +plains were so extremely level that a meridian altitude could have been +taken without any material error; and I doubt much whether it would have +been possible to have traversed them had the season been wet. + +HUNTING PARTY OF NATIVES. + +As we were travelling through a forest we surprised a hunting party of +natives. Mr. Hume and I were considerably in front of our party at the +time, and he only had his gun with him. We had been moving along so +quietly that we were not for some time observed by them. Three were seated +on the ground, under a tree, and two others were busily employed on one of +the lower branches cutting out honey. As soon as they saw us, four of them +ran away; but the fifth, who wore a cap of emu feathers, stood for a +moment looking at us, and then very deliberately dropped out of the tree +to the ground. I then advanced towards him, but before I got round a bush +that intervened, he had darted away. I was fearful that he was gone to +collect his tribe, and, under this impression, rode quickly hack for my +gun to support Mr. Hume. On my arrival I found the native was before me. +He stood about twenty paces from Mr. Hume, who was endeavouring to explain +what he was; but seeing me approach he immediately poised his spear at +him, as being the nearest. Mr. Hume then unslung his carbine, and +presented it; but, as it was evident my re-appearance had startled the +savage, I pulled up; and he immediately lowered his weapon. His coolness +and courage surprised me, and increased my desire to communicate with him. +He had evidently taken both man and horse for one animal, and as long as +Mr. Hume kept his seat, the native remained upon his guard; but when he +saw him dismount, after the first astonishment had subsided, he stuck his +spear into the ground, and walked fearlessly up to him. We easily made him +comprehend that we were in search of water; when he pointed to the west, +as indicating that we should supply our wants there. He gave his +information in a frank and manly way, without the least embarrassment, +and when the party passed, he stepped back to avoid the animals, without +the smallest confusion. I am sure he was a very brave man; and I left him +with the most favourable impressions, and not without hope that he would +follow us. + +From a more open forest, we entered a dense scrub, the soil in which was +of a bright-red colour and extremely sandy, and the timber of various +kinds. A leafless species of stenochylus aphylta, which, from the +resemblance, I at first thought one of the polygonum tribe, was very +abundant in the open spaces, and the young cypresses were occasionally so +close as to turn us from the direction in which we had been moving. In the +scrub we crossed Mr. Hume's tract, and, from the appearance of the ground, +I was led to believe mine could not be very distant. + +FATE OF THE MACQUARIE. + +We struck upon a creek late in the afternoon, at which we stopped; New +Year's Range bearing nearly due west at about four miles' distance. Had we +struck upon my track, the question about which we were so anxious would +still have been undecided; but the circumstance of our having crossed Mr. +Hume's, which, from its direction, could not be mistaken, convinced me of +the fate of the Macquarie, and I felt assured that, whatever channels it +might have for the distribution of its waters, to the north of our line of +route, the equality of surface of the interior would never permit it +again to form a river; and that it only required an examination of the +lower parts of the marshes to confirm the theory of the ultimate +evaporation and absorption of its waters, instead of their contributing to +the permanence of an inland sea, as Mr. Oxley had supposed. + +NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +On the 17th of January we encamped under New Year's Range, which is the +first elevation in the interior of Eastern Australia to the westward of +Mount Harris. Yet when at its base, I do not think that we had ascended +above forty feet higher than the plains in the neighbourhood of that last +mentioned eminence. There certainly is a partial rise of country, where +the change of soil takes place from the alluvial deposits of the marshes, +to the sandy loam so prevalent on the plains we had lately traversed; but +I had to regret that I was unable to decide so interesting a question by +other than bare conjecture. + +Notwithstanding that Mr. Hume had already been on them, I encouraged hopes +that a second survey of the country from the highest point of New Year's +Range would enable us to form some opinion of it, by which to direct our +future movements; but I was disappointed. + +The two wooded hills I had seen from Oxley's Table Land were visible from +the range, bearing south; and other eminences bore by compass S.W. +and W. by S.; but in every other direction the horizon was unbroken. To +the westward, there appeared to be a valley of considerable extent, +stretching N. and S., in which latter direction there was a long strip of +cleared ground, that looked very like the sandy bed of a broad and rapid +river. The bare possibility of the reality determined me to ascertain by +inspection, whether my conjecture was right, and Mr. Hume accompanied me +on this excursion. After we left the camp we crossed a part of the range, +and travelled for some time through open forest land that would afford +excellent grazing in most seasons. We passed some hollows, and noticed +many huts that had been occupied near them; but the hollows were now quite +dry, and the huts had been long deserted. After about ten miles' ride we +reached a plain of white sand, from which New Year's Range was distinctly +visible; and this no doubt was the spot that had attracted my attention. +Pools of water continued on it, from which circumstance it would appear +that the sand had a substratum of clay or marl. From this plain we +proceeded southerly through acacia scrub, bounding gently undulating +forest land, and at length ascended some small elevations that scarcely +deserved the name of hills. They had fragments of quartz profusely +scattered over them; and the soil, which was sandy, contained particles of +mica. + +MOSQUITOES. + +The view from them was confused, nor did any fresh object meet our +observation. We had, however, considerably neared the two wooded hills, +and the elevations that from the range were to the S.W., now bore N.W. +of us. We had wandered too far from the camp to admit of our returning to +it to sleep; we therefore commenced a search for water, and having found +some, we tethered our horses near it for the night, and should have been +tolerably comfortable, had not the mosquitoes been so extremely +troublesome. They defied the power of smoke, and annoyed me so much, that, +hot as it was, I rolled myself in my boat cloak, and perspired in +consequence to such a degree, that my clothes were wet through, and I had +to stand at the fire in the morning to dry them. Mr. Hume, who could not +bear such confinement, suffered the penalty, and was most unmercifully +bitten. + +A MAN MISSING. + +We reached the camp about noon the following day, and learnt, to our +vexation, that one of the men, Norman, had lost himself shortly after we +started, and had not since been heard of. Dawber, my overseer, was out in +search of him. I awaited his return, therefore, before I took any measures +for the man's recovery; nor was I without hopes that Dawber would have +found him, as it appeared he had taken one of the horses with him, and +Dawber, by keeping his tracks, might eventually have overtaken him. He +returned, however, about 3 p.m. unsuccessful, when Mr. Hume and I mounted +our horses, and proceeded in different directions in quest of him, but +were equally disappointed. + +We met at the creek in the dark, and returned to the camp together, when I +ordered the cypresses on the range to be set on fire, and thus illuminated +the country round for many miles. In the morning, however, as Norman had +not made his appearance, we again started in search of the poor fellow, +on whose account I was now most uneasy; for his horse, it appeared, had +escaped him, and was found with the others at watering time. + +I did not return to the camp until after sunset, more fatigued than I +recollect ever having been before. I was, however, rejoiced on being +informed that the object of my anxiety was safe in his tent; that he had +caught sight of the hill the evening before, and that he had reached the +camp shortly after I left it. He had been absent three nights and two +days, and had not tasted water or food of any kind during that time. + +To my enquiries he replied, that, being on horseback, he thought he could +have overtaken a kangaroo, which passed him whilst waiting at the creek +for the cattle, and that in the attempt, he lost himself. It would appear +that he crossed the creek in the dark, and his horse escaped from him on +the first night. He complained more of thirst than of hunger, although he +had drunk at the watering-place to such an excess, on his return, as to +make him vomit; but, though not a little exhausted, he had escaped better +than I should have expected. + +COUNTRY AROUND NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +New Year's Range consists of a principal group of five hills, the loftiest +of which does not measure 300 feet in height. It has lateral ridges, +extending to the N.N.W. on the one hand, and bending in to the creek on +the other. The former have a few cypresses, sterculia, and iron bark upon +them; the latter are generally covered with brush, under box; the brush +for the most part consisting of two distinct species of stenochylus, and a +new acacia. The whole range is of quartz formation, small fragments of +which are profusely scattered over the ridges, and are abundantly +incrusted with oxide of iron. The soil in the neighbourhood of New Year's +Range is a red loam, with a slight mixture of sand. An open forest country +lies between it and the creek, and it is not at all deficient in pasture. + +NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +That a change of soil takes place to the westward of the creek, is +obvious, from the change of vegetation, the most remarkable feature of +which is the sudden check given to the further extension of the acacia +pendula, which is not to be found beyond it, it being succeeded by another +acacia of the same species and habits; neither do the plants of the +chenopedia class exist in the immediate vicinity of the range. + +I place these hills, as far as my observations will allow, in east +lon. 146 degrees 32 minutes 15 seconds, and in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes +south; the variation of the compass being 6 degrees 40 minutes easterly. + +As New Year's Creek was leading northerly, it had been determined to trace +it down as long as it should keep that course, or one to the westward of +it. We broke up the camp, therefore, under the range, on the evening of +the 18th, and moved to the creek, about two miles north of the place at +which we had before crossed it, with the intention of prosecuting our +journey on the morrow. But both Mr. Hume and I were so fatigued that we +were glad of an opportunity to rest, even for a single day. We remained +stationary, therefore, on the 19th; nor was I without hope that the +natives whom we had surprised in the woods, would have paid us a visit, +since Mr. Hume had met them in his search for Norman, and they had +promised not only to come to us, but to do all in their power to find +the man, whose footsteps some of them had crossed. They did not, however, +venture near us; and I rather attribute their having kept aloof, to the +circumstance of Mr. Hume's having fired a shot, shortly after he left +them, as a signal to Norman, in the event of his being within hearing of +the report. They must have been alarmed at so unusual a sound; but I am +sure nothing was further from Mr. Hume's intention than to intimidate +them; his knowledge of their manners and customs, as well as his +partiality to the natives, being equally remarkable. The circumstance is, +however, a proof of the great caution that is necessary in communicating +with them. + +ANNOYED BY KANGAROO FLIES. + +I have said that we remained stationary the day after we left the range, +with a view to enjoy a little rest; it would, however, have been +infinitely better if we had moved forward. Our camp was infested by the +kangaroo fly, which settled upon us in thousands. They appeared to rise +from the ground, and as fast as they were swept off were succeeded by +fresh numbers. It was utterly impossible to avoid their persecution, +penetrating as they did into the very tents. + +The men were obliged to put handkerchiefs over their faces, and stockings +upon their hands; but they bit through every thing. It was to no purpose +that I myself shifted from place to place; they still followed, or were +equally numerous everywhere. To add to our discomfort, the animals were +driven almost to madness, and galloped to and fro in so furious a manner +that I was apprehensive some of them would have been lost. I never +experienced such a day of torment; and only when the sun set, did these +little creatures cease from their attacks. + +SUDDENLY RELIEVED. + +It will be supposed that we did not stay to subject ourselves to another +trial; indeed it was with some degree of horror that the men saw the first +light of morning streak the horizon. They got up immediately, and we moved +down the creek, on a northerly course, without breakfasting as usual. We +found that dense brushes of casuarina lined the creek on both sides, +beyond which, to our left, there was open rising ground, on which +eucalypti, cypresses, and the acacia longifolia, prevailed; whilst to the +east, plains seemed to predominate. + +Although we had left the immediate spot at which the kangaroo flies +(cabarus) seemed to be collected, I did not expect that we should have got +rid of them so completely as we did. None of them were seen during the +day; a proof that they were entirely local. They were about half the size +of a common house fly, had flat brown bodies, and their bite, although +sharp and piercing, left no irritation after it. + +About noon we stopped at the creek side to take some refreshment. The +country bore an improved appearance around us, and the cattle found +abundance of pasture. It was evident that the creek had been numerously +frequented by the natives, although no recent traces of them could be +found. It had a bed of coarse red granite, of the fragments of which the +natives had constructed a weir for the purpose of taking fish. The +appearance of this rock in so isolated a situation, is worthy of the +consideration of geologists. + +DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY. + +The promise of improvement I have noticed, gradually disappeared as we +proceeded on our day's journey, and we at length found ourselves once more +among brushes, and on the edge of plains, over which the rhagodia +prevailed. Nothing could exceed in dreariness the appearance of the tracks +through which we journeyed, on this and the two following days. The creek +on which we depended for a supply of water, gave such alarming indications +of a total failure, that I at one time, had serious thoughts of abandoning +my pursuit of it. We passed hollow after hollow that had successively +dried up, although originally of considerable depth; and, when we at +length found water, it was doubtful how far we could make use of it. +Sometimes in boiling it left a sediment nearly equal to half its body; at +other times it was so bitter as to be quite unpalatable. That on which we +subsisted was scraped up from small puddles, heated by the sun's rays; +and so uncertain were we of finding water at the end of the day's journey, +that we were obliged to carry a supply on one of the bullocks. There was +scarcely a living creature, even of the feathered race, to be seen to +break the stillness of the forest. The native dogs alone wandered about, +though they had scarcely strength to avoid us; and their melancholy howl, +breaking in upon the ear at the dead of the night, only served to impress +more fully on the mind the absolute loneliness of the desert. + +It appeared, from their traces that the natives had lingered on this +ground, on which they had perhaps been born, as long as it continued to +afford them a scanty though precarious subsistence; but that they had at +length been forced from it. Neither fish nor muscles remained in the +creek, nor emus nor kangaroos on the plains. How then could an European +expect to find food in deserts through which the savage wandered in vain? +There is no doubt of the fate that would have overtaken any one of the +party who might have strayed away, and I was happy to find that Norman's +narrow escape had made a due impression on the minds of his comrades. + +SANDY PLAINS; LEAVE THE CREEK. + +We passed some considerable plains, lying to the eastward of the creek, on +parts of which the grass, though growing in tufts, was of luxuriant +growth. They were, however, more generally covered with salsola and +rhagodia, and totally destitute of other vegetation, the soil upon them +being a red sandy loam. The paths across the plains, which varied in +breadth from three to eight miles, were numerous; but they had not been +recently trodden. The creek continued to have a thick brush of casuarina +and acacia near it, to the westward of which there was a rising open +forest track; the timber upon it being chiefly box, cypress, and the +acacia longifolia. It was most probably connected with New Year's Range, +those elevations being about thirty miles distant. It terminated in some +gentle hills which, though covered in places with acacia shrub, were +sufficiently open to afford an extensive view. From their summit Oxley's +Table Land, towards which we had been gradually working our way, was +distinctly visible, distant about twenty miles, and bearing by compass +W. by S. On descending from these hills (called the Pink Hills, from the +colour of a flower upon them) which were scattered over with fragments of +slaty quartz, we traversed a box flat, apparently subject to overflow, +having a barren sandy scrub to its left. I had desired the men to preserve +a W.N.W. direction, on leaving them, supposing that that course would have +kept them near the creek; but, on overtaking the party, I found that they +had wandered completely away from it. The fact was, that the creek had +taken a sudden bend to the eastward of N. and had thus thrown them out. +It was with some difficulty that we regained it before sunset; and we were +at length obliged to stop for the night at a small plain, about a quarter +of a mile short of it, but we had the satisfaction of having excellent +feed for the animals. + +OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Fearful that New Year's Creek would take us too far to the eastward, and +being anxious to keep westward as much as possible, it struck me that we +could not, under existing circumstances, do better than make for Oxley's +Table Land. Water, I knew, we should find in a swamp at it's base, and we +might discover some more encouraging feature than I had observed on my +hasty visit to it. We left the creek, therefore on the 23rd, and once more +took up a westerly course. Passing through a generally open country, we +stopped at noon to rest the animals; and afterwards got on an excellent +grazing forest track, which continued to the brush, through another part +of which I had penetrated to the marsh more to the south. While making our +way through it, we came upon a small pond of water, and must have alarmed +some natives, as there was a fresh made fire close to it. Our journey had +been unusually long, and the cattle had felt the heat so much, that the +moment they saw water they rushed into it; and, as this created some +confusion, I thought it best to stop where we were for the night. + +In the morning, Mr. Hume walked with me to the hill, a distance of about a +mile. It is not high enough to deserve the name of a mountain, although a +beautiful feature in the country, and showing well from any point of view. +We ascended it with an anxiety that may well be imagined, but were wholly +disappointed in our most sanguine expectations. Our chief object, in this +second visit to Oxley's Table Land, had been to examine, more at leisure, +the face of the country around it, and to discover, if possible, some +fixed point on which to move. + +If the rivers of the interior had already exhausted themselves, what had +we to expect from a creek whose diminished appearance where we left it +made us apprehend its speedy termination, and whose banks we traversed +under constant apprehension? In any other country I should have followed +such a water course, in hopes of its ultimately leading to some reservoir; +but here I could encourage no such favourable anticipation. + +The only new object that struck our sight was a remarkable and distant +hill of conical shape, bearing by compass S. 10 E. To the southward and +westward, in the direction of D'Urban's Group, a dense and apparently low +brush extended; but to the N. and N.W., there was a regular alternation of +wood and plain. I left Mr. Hume upon the hill, that he might the more +readily notice any smoke made by the natives; and returned myself to the +camp about one o'clock, to move the party to the swamp. Mr. Hume's +perseverance was of little avail. The region he had been overlooking was, +to all appearance, uninhabited, nor did a single fire indicate that there +was even a solitary wanderer upon its surface. + +EXCURSION TO D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +Our situation, at this time, was extremely embarrassing, and the only +circumstance on which we had to congratulate ourselves was, the improved +condition of our men; for several of the cattle and horses were in a sad +plight. The weather had been so extremely oppressive, that we had found it +impossible to keep them free from eruptions. I proposed to Mr. Hume, +therefore, to give them a few days' rest, and to make an excursion, with +such of them as were serviceable, to D'Urban's Group. We were both of us +unwilling to return to the creek, but we foresaw that a blind reliance +upon fortune, in our next movements, might involve us in inextricable +difficulty. + +On the other hand, there was a very great risk in delay. It was more than +probable, from the continued drought, that our retreat would be cut off +from the want of water, or that we should only be enabled to effect our +retreat with loss of most of the animals. The hope, however, of our +intersecting some stream, or of falling upon a better country, prevailed +over other considerations; and the excursion was, consequently, determined +upon. + +DISTRESS FROM WANT OF WATER. + +We left the camp on the 25th, accompanied by Hopkinson and the tinker; +and, almost immediately after, entered an acacia scrub of the most sterile +description, and one, through which it would have been impossible to have +found a passage for the boat carriage. The soil was almost a pure sand, +and the lower branches of the trees were decayed so generally as to give +the whole an indescribable appearance of desolation. About mid-day, we +crossed a light sandy plain, on which there were some dirty puddles of +water. They were so shallow as to leave the backs of the frogs in them +exposed, and they had, in consequence, been destroyed by solar heat, and +were in a state of putrefaction. Our horses refused to drink, but it was +evident that some natives must have partaken of this sickening beverage +only a few hours before our arrival. Indeed, it was clear that a wandering +family must have slept near this spot, as we observed a fresh made gunneah +(or native hut), and their foot-prints were so fresh along the line we +were pursuing, that we momentarily expected to have overtaken them. It was +late in the evening when we got out of this brush into better and more +open ground, where, in ordinary seasons we should, no doubt, have found +abundance of water. But we now searched in vain for it, and were contented +to be enabled to give our wearied animals better food than they had tasted +for many days, the forest grass, though in tufts, being abundant. + +We brought up for the night at the edge of a scrub, having travelled from +thirty-two to thirty-five miles, judging the distance from the mountains +still to be about twelve. + +BEARINGS FROM OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +In the morning we started at an early hour, and immediately entered the +brush, beneath which we had slept; pursuing a westerly course through it. +After a short ride, we found ourselves upon a plain, that was crowded with +flocks of cockatoos. Here we got a supply of water, such as it was--so +mixed with slime as to hang in strings between the fingers; and, after a +hasty breakfast, we proceeded on our journey, mostly through a barren +sandy scrub that was a perfect burrow from the number of wombats in it, to +within a mile of the hill group, where the country appeared like one +continuous meadow to the very base of them. I never saw anything like the +luxuriance of the grass on this tract of country, waving as it did higher +than our horses' middles as we rode through it. We ascended the S.W. face +of the mountain to an elevation of at least 800 feet above the level of +the plain, and had some difficulty in scaling the masses of rock that +opposed themselves to our progress. But on gaining the summit, we were +amply repaid for our trouble. The view extended far and wide, but we were +again disappointed in the main object that had induced us to undertake the +journey. I took the following bearings by compass. Oxley's Table Land bore +N. 40 E. distant forty-five miles; small and distant hill due E.; conical +peak seen from Oxley's Table Land S. 60 E., very distant; long ridge of +high land, S.E., distant thirty-five miles; high land, S. 30 E., distant +thirty miles; long range, S. 25 W. + +To the westward, as a medium point. the horizon was unbroken, and the eye +wandered over an apparently endless succession of wood and plain. A +brighter green than usual marked the course of the mountain torrents in +several places, but there was no glittering light among the trees, no +smoke to betray a water hole, or to tell that a single inhabitant was +traversing the extensive region we were overlooking. We were obliged to +return to the plain on which we had breakfasted, and to sleep upon it. + +D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +D'Urban's Group is of compact sandstone formation. Its extreme length is +from E.S.E. to W.N.W., and cannot be more than from seven to nine miles, +whilst its breadth is from two to four. The central space forms a large +basin, in which there are stunted pines and eucalyptus scrub, amid huge +fragments of rocks. It rises like an island from the midst of the ocean, +and as I looked upon it from the plains below, I could without any great +stretch of the imagination, picture to myself that it really was such. +Bold and precipitous, it only wanted the sea to lave its base; and I +cannot but think that such must at no very remote period have been the +case, and that the immense flat we had been traversing, is of +comparatively recent formation. + +We reached the camp on the 28th of the month, by nearly the same route; +and were happy to find that, after the few days' rest they had enjoyed, +there was a considerable improvement in the animals. + +Our experience of the nature of the country to the southward, and the +westward, was such as to deter us from risking anything, by taking such a +direction as was most agreeable to our views. Nothing remained to us but +to follow the creek, or to retreat; and as we could only be induced to +adopt the last measure when every other expedient should have failed, we +determined on pursuing our original plan, of tracing New Year's Creek as +far as practicable. + +DESCRIPTION OF OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Oxley's Table Land is situated in lat. 29 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds, +and in E. long. 145 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds, the mean variation +being 6.32 easterly. It consists of two hills that appear to have been +rent asunder by some convulsion of nature, since the passage between them +is narrow and their inner faces are equally perpendicular. The hill which +I have named after the late Surveyor-general, is steep on all sides; but +the other gradually declines from the south, and at length loses itself in +a large plain that extends to the north. It is from four to five miles in +length, and is picturesque in appearance, and lightly wooded. A few +cypresses were growing on Oxley's Table Land; but it had, otherwise, very +little timber upon its summit. Both hills are of sandstone formation, and +there are some hollows upon the last that deserve particular notice. They +have the appearance of having been formed by eddies of water, being deeper +in the centre than at any other part, and contain fragments and slabs of +sandstone of various size and breadth, without a particle of soil or of +sand between them. It is to be observed that the edges of these slabs, +which were perfect parallelograms, were unbroken, and that they were as +clean as if they had only just been turned out of the hand of the mason. +We counted thirteen of these hollows in one spot about twenty-five feet in +diameter, but they are without doubt of periodical formation, since a +single hollow was observed lower than the summit of the hill upon its +south extremity, that had evidently long been exposed to the action of the +atmosphere, and had a general coating of moss over it. + +CONTINUE THE JOURNEY; DOWN NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +We left Oxley's Table Land on the morning of the 31st of January, pursuing +a northern course through the brush and across a large plain, moving +parallel to the smaller hill, and keeping it upon our left. The soil upon +this plain differed in character from that on the plains to the eastward, +and was much freer from sand. We stopped to dine at a spot, whence Oxley's +Table Land bore by compass, S. by W., distant about twelve miles. +Continuing our journey, at 2 p.m. we cleared the plain, and entered a +tract covered with the polygonum junceum, on a soil evidently the deposit +of floods. Box-trees were thinly scattered over it, and among the +polygonum, the crested pigeons were numerous. These general appearances, +together with a dip of country to the N.N.W., made us conclude that we +were approaching the creek, and we accordingly intersected it on a N.N.E. +course, at about three miles' distance from where we had dined. It had, +however, undergone so complete a change, and had increased so much in size +and in the height of its banks, that we were at a loss to recognize it. +Still, with all these favourable symptoms, there was not a drop of water +in it. But small shells lay in heaps in its bed, or were abundantly +scattered over it; and we remarked that they differed from those on the +plains of the Macquarie. A circumstance that surprised us much, was the +re-appearance of the flooded-gum upon its banks, and that too of a large +size. We had not seen any to the westward of the marshes, and we were, +consequently, led to indulge in more sanguine expectation as to our +ultimate success than we had ever ventured to do before. + +The party crossed to the right bank of the creek, and then moved in a +westerly direction along it in search of water. A brush extended to our +right, and some broken stony ground, rather elevated, was visible, to +which Mr. Hume rode; nor did he join me again until after I had halted the +party for the night. + +DISTRESSED FOR WATER. + +My search for water had been unsuccessful, and the sun had set, when I +came upon a broad part of the creek that appeared very favourable for an +encampment, as it was encompassed by high banks, and would afford the men +a greater facility of watching the cattle, that I knew would stray away if +they could. + +My anxiety for them led me to wander down the bed of the creek, when, to +my joy, I found a pond of water within a hundred yards of the tents. It is +impossible for me to describe the relief I felt at this success, or the +gladness it spread among the men. Mr. Hume joined me at dusk, and informed +me that he had made a circuit, and had struck upon the creek about three +miles below us but that, in tracing it up, he had not found a drop of +water until he came to the pond near which we had so providentially +encamped. On the following morning, we held a westerly course over an open +country for about eight miles and a half. The prevailing timber appeared +to he a species of eucalypti, with rough bark, of small size, and +evidently languishing from the want of moisture. The soil over which we +travelled was far from bad, but there was a total absence of water upon +it. At 6 p.m. Oxley's Table Land was distant from us about fifteen miles, +bearing S. 20 E. by compass. + +We had not touched upon the creek from the time we left it in the morning, +having wandered from it in a northerly direction, along a native path that +we intersected, and that seemed to have been recently trodden, since +footsteps were fresh upon it. At sunset, we crossed a broad dry creek that +puzzled us extremely, and were shortly afterwards obliged to stop for the +night upon a plain beyond it. We had, during the afternoon, bent down to +the S.W. in hopes that we should again have struck upon New Year's Creek; +and, under an impression that we could not be far from it, Mr. Hume and I +walked across the plain, to ascertain if it was sufficiently near to be of +any service to us. We came upon a creek, but could not decide whether it +was the one for which we had been searching, or another. + +Its bed was so perfectly even that it was impossible to say to what point +it flowed, more especially as all remains of debris had mouldered away. It +was, however, extremely broad, and evidently, at times, held a furious +torrent. In the centre of it, at one of the angles, we discovered a pole +erected, and at first thought, from the manner in which it was propped up, +that some unfortunate European must have placed it there as a mark to tell +of his wanderings, but we afterwards concluded that it might be some +superstitious rite of the natives, in consequence of the untowardness of +the season, as it seemed almost inconceivable that an European could have +wandered to such a distance from the located districts in safety. + +REACH A LARGE RIVER. + +The creek had flooded-gum growing upon its banks, and, on places +apparently subject to flood, a number of tall straight saplings were +observed by us. We returned to the camp, after a vain search for water, +and were really at a loss what direction next to pursue. The men kept the +cattle pretty well together, and, as we were not delayed by any +preparations for breakfast, they were saddled and loaded at an early hour. +The circumstance of there having been natives in the neighbourhood, of +whom we had seen so few traces of late, assured me that water was at hand, +but in what direction it was impossible to guess. As the path we had +observed was leading northerly, we took up that course, and had not +proceeded more than a mile upon it, when we suddenly found ourselves on +the banks of a noble river. Such it might in truth be called, where water +was scarcely to be found. The party drew up upon a bank that was from +forty to forty-five feet above the level of the stream. The channel of the +river was front seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken +sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans +and other wild fowl. Our surprise and delight may better be imagined than +described. Our difficulties seemed to be at an end, for here was a river +that promised to reward all our exertions, and which appeared every moment +to increase in importance to our imagination. Coming from the N.E.,and +flowing to the S.W., it had a capacity of channel that proved that we 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 trees that +overhung it were of beautiful and gigantic growth. + +DISAPPOINTMENT ON FINDING THE RIVER SALT. + +Its banks were too precipitous to allow of our watering the cattle, but +the men eagerly descended to quench their thirst, which a powerful sun had +contributed to increase; nor shall I ever forget the cry of amazement that +followed their doing so, or the looks of terror and disappointment with +which they called out to inform me that the water was so salt as to be +unfit to drink! This was, indeed, too true: on tasting it, I found it +extremely nauseous, and strongly impregnated with salt, being apparently +a mixture of sea and fresh water. Whence this arose, whether from local +causes, or from a communication with some inland sea, I knew not, but the +discovery was certainly a blow for which I was not prepared. Our hopes +were annihilated at the moment of their apparent realization. The cup of +joy was dashed out of our hands before we had time to raise it to our +lips. Notwithstanding this disappointment, we proceeded down the river, +and halted at about five miles, being influenced by the goodness of the +feed to provide for the cattle as well as circumstances would permit. They +would not drink of the river water, but stood covered in it for many +hours, having their noses alone exposed above the stream. Their condition +gave me great uneasiness. It was evident they could not long hold out +under their excessive thirst, and unless we should procure some fresh +water, it would impossible for us to continue our journey. On a closer +examination, the river appeared to me much below its ordinary level, and +its current was scarcely perceptible. We placed sticks to ascertain if +there was a rise or fall of tide, but could arrive at no satisfactory +conclusion, although there was undoubtedly a current in it. Yet, as I +stood upon its banks at sunset, when not a breath of air existed to break +the stillness of the waters below me, and saw their surface kept in +constant agitation by the leaping of fish, I doubted whether the river +could supply itself so abundantly, and the rather imagined, that it owed +such abundance, which the pelicans seemed to indicate was constant, to +some mediterranean sea or other. Where, however, were the human +inhabitants of this distant and singular region? The signs of a numerous +population were around us, but we had not seen even a solitary wanderer. +The water of the river was not, by any means, so salt as that of the +ocean, but its taste was precisely similar. Could it be that its unnatural +state had driven its inhabitants from its banks? + +One would have imagined that our perplexities would have been sufficient +for one day, but ere night closed, they increased upon us, although our +anxiety, with regard to the cattle, was happily removed. Mr. Hume with his +usual perseverance, walked out when the camp was formed; and, at a little +distance from it, ascended a ridge of pure sand, crowned with cypresses. +From this, he descended to the westward, and, at length, struck upon the +river, where a reef of rocks creased its channel, and formed a dry passage +from one side to the other; but the bend, which the river must have taken, +appeared to him so singular, that he doubted whether it was the same +beside which we had been travelling during the day. Curiosity led him to +cross it, when he found a small pond of fresh water on a tongue of land, +and, immediately afterwards, returned to acquaint me with the welcome +tidings. It was too late to move, but we had, at least, the prospect of a +comfortable breakfast in the morning. + +JUNCTION OF NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +In consequence of the doubts that hung upon Mr. Hume's mind, as to the +course of the river, we arranged that the animals should precede us to the +fresh water; and that we should keep close in upon the stream, to +ascertain that point. After traversing a deep bight, we arrived nearly as +soon as the party, at the appointed rendezvous. The rocks composing the +channel of the river at the crossing place, were of indurated clay. In the +course of an hour, the animals appearing quite refreshed, we proceeded on +our journey, and at about four miles crossed New Year's Creek, at its +junction with the salt river. We passed several parts of the main channel +that were perfectly dry, and were altogether at a loss to account for the +current we undoubtedly had observed in the river when we first came upon +it. At midday D'Urban's Group bore S. 65 E. distant about 32 miles. We +made a little westing in the afternoon. The river continued to maintain +its character and appearance, its lofty banks, and its long still reaches: +while, however, the blue-gum trees upon its banks were of magnificent +size, the soil had but little vegetation upon it, although an alluvial +deposit. + +We passed over vast spaces covered with the polygonum junceum, that bore +all the appearance of the flooded tracks in the neighbourhood of the +marshes, and on which the travelling was equally distressing to the +animals. Indeed, it had been sufficiently evident to us that the waters of +this river were not always confined to its channel, capacious as it was, +but that they inundated a belt of barren land, that varied in width from a +quarter of a mile to a mile, when they were checked by an outer embankment +that prevented them from spreading generally over the country, and upon +the neighbouring plains. At our halting place, the cattle drank sparingly +of the water, but it acted as a violent purgative both on them and the men +who partook of it. + +NATIVE VILLAGE. + +On the 5th, the river led us to the southward and westward. Early in the +day, we passed a group of seventy huts, capable of holding from twelve to +fifteen men each. They appeared to be permanent habitations, and all of +them fronted the same point of the compass. In searching amongst them we +observed two beautifully made nets, of about ninety yards in length. The +one had much larger meshes than the other, and was, most probably, +intended to take kangaroos; but the other was evidently a fishing net. + +In one hut, the floor of which was swept with particular care, a number of +white balls, as of pulverised shells or lime, had been deposited--the +use of which we could not divine. A trench was formed round the hut to +prevent the rain from running under it, and the whole was arranged with +more than ordinary attention. + +TERROR OF THE NATIVES. + +We had not proceeded very far when we came suddenly upon the tribe to +which this village, as it might be called, belonged. + +In breaking through some brush to an open space that was bounded on one +side by the river, we observed three or four natives, seated on a bank at +a considerable distance from us; and directly in the line on which we were +moving. The nature of the ground so completely favoured our approach, that +they did not become aware of it until we were within a few yards of them, +and had ascended a little ridge, which, as we afterwards discovered, ended +in an abrupt precipice upon the river, not more than thirty yards to our +right. The crack of the drayman's whip was the first thing that aroused +their attention. They gazed upon us for a moment, and then started up and +assumed an attitude of horror and amazement; their terror apparently +increasing upon them. We stood perfectly immovable, until at length they +gave a fearful yell, and darted out of sight. + +THEY FIRE THE BUSH. + +Their cry brought about a dozen more natives from the river, whom we had +not before observed, but who now ran after their comrades with surprising +activity, and without once venturing to look behind them. As our position +was a good one, we determined to remain upon it, until we should ascertain +the number and disposition of the natives. We had not been long +stationary, when we heard a crackling noise in the distance, and it soon +became evident that the bush had been fired. It was, however, impossible +that we could receive any injury on the narrow ridge upon which we stood, +so that we waited very patiently to see the end of this affair. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES; DISEASE AMONG THEM. + +In a short time the fire approached pretty near to us, and dense columns +of smoke rose into the air over our heads. One of the natives, who had +been on the bank, now came out of the bush, exactly from the spot into +which he had retreated. He advanced a few paces towards us, and bending +his body so that his hands rested on his knees, he fixed his gaze upon us +for some time; but, seeing that we remained immovable, he began to throw +himself into the most extravagant attitudes, shaking his foot from time to +time. When he found that all his violence had no effect, he turned his +rear to us in a most laughable manner, and absolutely groaned in spirit +when he found that this last insult failed of success. + +He stood perplexed and not knowing what next to do, which gave Mr. Hume an +opportunity to call out to him, and with considerable address he at length +got the savage to approach close up to him; Mr. Hume himself having +advanced a short distance from the animals in the first instance. As soon +as I thought the savage had sufficiently recovered from his alarm, I went +up to him with a tomahawk, the use of which he immediately guessed. We now +observed that the natives who had fled from the river, had been employed +in setting a net. They had placed it in a semicircle, with either end to +the shore, and rude pieces of wood were attached to it to keep the upper +part perpendicular. It was in fact a sein, only that the materials, with +the exception of the net-work, were simpler and rougher than cork or +lead--for which last, we afterwards discovered stones had been +substituted. + +We had on this occasion a remarkable instance of the docility of the +natives of the interior, or of the power they have of subduing their +apprehensions; manifesting the opposite extremes of fear and confidence. +These men whom we had thus surprised, and who, no doubt, imagined that we +were about to destroy them, having apparently never seen nor heard of +white men before, must have taken us for something preternatural; yet from +the extremity of fear that had prompted them to set their woods in flames, +they in a brief space so completely subdued those fears as to approach +the very beings who had so strongly excited their alarm. The savage who +had been the principal actor in the scene, was an elderly man, rather +descending to the vale of years than what might be strictly called aged. +I know not how it was, but I regarded him with peculiar interest. +Mr. Hume's manners had in a great measure contributed to allay his evident +agitation; but, from the moment I approached him, I thought there was a +shade of anxiety upon his brow, and an expression of sorrow over his +features, the cause of which did not originate with us. I could see in a +moment, that his bosom was full even to bursting, and he seemed to claim +at once our sympathy and our protection, although we were ignorant of that +which oppressed him. We had not long been seated together, when some of +his tribe mustered sufficient courage to join him. Both Mr. Hume and I +were desirous of seeing the net drawn, but the old man raised some +objection, by pointing to the heavens and towards the sun. After a little +more solicitation, however, he gave a whistle, and, four or five natives +having obeyed the summons, he directed them to draw the net, but they were +unfortunate, and our wish to ascertain the kind of fish contained in the +river was disappointed. As his tribe gathered round him, the old chief +threw a melancholy glance upon them, and endeavoured, as much as he could, +to explain the cause of that affliction which, as I had rightly judged, +weighed heavily upon him. It appeared, then, that a violent cutaneous +disease raged throughout the tribe, that was sweeping them off in great +numbers. He called several young men to Mr. Hume and myself, who had been +attacked by this singular malady. Nothing could exceed the anxiety of his +explanations, or the mild and soothing tone in which he addressed his +people, and it really pained me that I could not assist him in his +distress. We now discovered the use to which the conical substance that +had been deposited with such unusual care in one of the huts, was applied. +There were few of the natives present who were not more or less marked +with it, and it was no doubt, indicative of mourning. + +DEPARTURE OF THE NATIVES. + +Some of the men, however, were painted with red and yellow ochre, with +which it was evident to me they had besmeared themselves since our +appearance, most likely in preparing for the combat in which they fancied +they would be engaged. We distributed such presents as we had to those +around us, and when we pursued our journey, the majority accompanied us, +nor did they wholly leave us until we had passed the place to which their +women had retired. They might have left us when they pleased, for we +intended them no harm; as it was, however, they struck into the brushes to +join their families, and we pushed on to make up for lost time. + +The travelling near the river had been so bad, not only in consequence of +the nature of the soil and brush, but from the numerous gullies that had +been formed by torrents, as they poured into its channel after heavy rains +and floods, that it was thought advisable to keep at a greater distance +from it. We turned away, therefore, to the plains, and found them of much +firmer surface. They partook, however, of the same general character as +the plains we had traversed more to the eastward. Their soil was a light +sandy loam, and the same succulent plants still continued to prevail upon +them, which we have already noticed as existing upon the other plains. +Both emus and kangaroos were seen, though not in any considerable numbers, +but our dogs were not in a condition to run, and were all but killed by +the extreme heat of the weather. We had fallen on a small pool of water +shortly after we started in the morning, but we could do no more than +refresh ourselves and the animals at it. In the afternoon, we again turned +towards the river, and found it unaltered. Its water was still salt, and +from the increased number of wild fowl and pelicans upon it, as well as +from the general flatness of the country, I certainly thought we were +rapidly approaching some inland sea. It was, however, uncertain how long +we should be enabled to continue on the river. The animals were all of +them extremely weak, and every day increased the probable difficulty of +our return. There was not the least appearance of a break-up of the +drought, the heavens were without a cloud, and the atmosphere was so clear +that the outline of the moon could be distinctly seen, although she was +far in her wane. + +BRINE SPRINGS IN THE RIVER. + +On the 6th, we journeyed again through a barren scrub, although on firmer +ground, and passed numerous groups of huts. At about eight miles from our +last encampment, we came upon the river, where its banks were of +considerable height. In riding along them, Mr. Hume thought he observed a +current running, and be called to inform me of the circumstance. On a +closer examination, we discovered some springs in the very bed of the +river, from which a considerable stream was gushing, and from the +incrustation around them, we had no difficulty in guessing at their +nature: in fact, they were brine springs, and I collected a quantity of +salt from the brink of them. + +DISTRESS FOR WANT OF FRESH WATER. + +After such a discovery, we could not hope to keep our position. No doubt +the current we had observed on first reaching the river, was caused by +springs that had either escaped our notice or were under water. Here was +at length a local cause for its saltness that destroyed at once the +anticipation and hope of our being near its termination, and, +consequently, the ardour with which we should have pressed on to decide so +interesting a point. + +Our retreat would have been a measure of absolute necessity ere this, had +we not found occasional supplies of fresh water, the last pond of which +was now about eighteen miles behind us. + +OUR COURSE ARRESTED. + +Whether we should again find any, was a doubtful question, and I hesitated +to run the risk. The animals were already, from bad food, and from the +effects of the river water, so weak, that they could scarcely carry their +loads, and I was aware, if any of the bullocks once fell, he would never +rise again. Under such circumstances, I thought it better to halt the +party at the edge of the scrub, though the feed was poor, and the water +not drinkable. Our situation required most serious consideration. It was +necessary that we should move either backward or forward in the morning. +Yet we could not adopt either measure with satisfaction to ourselves, +under such unfavorable circumstances. I determined to relieve my own mind +by getting the animals into a place of safety, as soon as possible; and, +as the only effectual way of doing this was to retire upon the nearest +fresh water, I resolved at once to do so. The party turned back on the +morning of the 6th; nor do I think the cattle would ever have reached +their destination had we not found a few buckets of rain water in the +cleft of a rock, to refresh them. Thus it will appear that under our most +trying circumstances, we received aid from Providence, and that the bounty +of Heaven was extended towards us, when we had least reason to expect it. + +Notwithstanding we had been thus forced to a partial retreat, both +Mr. Hume and myself were unwilling to quit the pursuit of the river, in so +unsatisfactory a manner. There was no difference in the appearance of the +country to the westward of it; but a seeming interminable flat stretched +away in that direction. A journey across it was not likely, therefore, to +be attended with any favorable results, since it was improbable that any +other leading feature was within our reach. I proposed, therefore, to take +the most serviceable of the horses with me down the river, that, in the +event of our finding fresh water, we might again push forward. Mr. Hume +requesting to be permitted to accompany me, it was arranged that we should +start on the 8th, thereby giving the animals a day's rest. We had not seen +any natives since our parting with the chief horde; and as we were +stationed at some little distance from the river, I hoped that they would +not visit the camp during my absence. This was the only circumstance that +gave me uneasiness, but the men had generally been behaving so well that I +relied a great deal upon them. + +EXTRAORDINARY SOUND. + +About 3 p.m. on the 7th, Mr. Hume and I were occupied tracing the chart +upon the ground. The day had been remarkably fine, not a cloud was there +in the heavens, nor a breath of air to be felt. On a sudden we heard what +seemed to be the report of a gun fired at the distance of between five and +six miles. It was not the hollow sound of an earthly explosion, or the +sharp cracking noise of falling timber, but in every way resembled a +discharge of a heavy piece of ordnance. On this all were agreed, but no +one was certain whence the sound proceeded. Both Mr. Hume and myself had +been too attentive to our occupation to form a satisfactory opinion; but +we both thought it came from the N.W. I sent one of the men immediately up +a tree, but he could observe nothing unusual. The country around him +appeared to be equally flat on all sides, and to be thickly wooded: +whatever occasioned the report, it made a strong impression on all of us; +and to this day, the singularity of such a sound, in such a situation, +is a matter of mystery to me. + +FURTHER ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE RIVER. + +On the 8th, we commenced our journey down the river, accompanied by two +men, and a pack-horse, carrying our provisions on one side and a bucket of +water on the other. Keeping in general near the stream, but making +occasional turns into the plains, we got to the brush from which the party +had turned back, about 3 p.m. Passing through, we crossed a small plain, +of better soil and vegetation than usual; but it soon gave place to the +sandy loam of the interior; nor did we observe any material alteration, +either in the country or the river, as we rode along. The flooded-gum +trees on the banks of the latter, were of beautiful growth, but in the +brushes dividing the plains, box and other eucalypti, with cypresses and +many minor shrubs, prevailed. We slept on the river side, and calculated +our distance from the camp at about twenty-six or twenty-eight miles. + +The horses would not drink the river water, so that we were obliged to +give them a pint each from our own supply. On the following morning we +continued our journey. The country was generally open to the eastward, and +we had fine views of D'Urban's Group, distant from twenty to twenty-five +miles. About noon, turning towards the river to rest, both ourselves and +the horses, we passed through brush land for about a mile and a half. When +we came upon its banks, we found them composed of a red loam with sandy +superficies. We had, in the course of the day, crossed several creeks, but +in none of them could we find water, although their channels were of great +depth. + +The day had been extremely warm, and from shaking in the barrel our supply +of water had diminished to a little more than a pint; it consequently +became a matter of serious consideration, how far it would he prudent to +proceed farther; for, however capable we were of bearing additional +fatigue, it was evident our animals would soon fail, since they trembled +exceedingly, and had the look of total exhaustion. We calculated that we +were forty miles from the camp, in a S.W. direction, a fearful distance +under our circumstances, since we could not hope to obtain relief for two +days. Independently however, of the state of the animals, our spirits were +damped by the nature of the country, and the change which had taken place +on the soil, upon which it was impossible that water could rest; while the +general appearance of the interior showed how much it had suffered from +drought. On the other hand, although the waters of the river had become +worse to the taste, the river itself had increased in size, and stretched +away to the westward, with all the uniformity of a magnificent canal, and +gave every promise of increasing importance; while the pelicans were in +such numbers upon it as to be quite dazzling to the eye. Considering, +however, that perseverance would only involve us in inextricable +difficulties, and that it would also be useless to risk the horses, since +we had gained a distance to which the bullocks could not have been +brought, I intimated my intention of giving up the further pursuit of the +river, though it was with extreme reluctance that I did so. + +CALLED IT THE "DARLING". + +As soon as we had bathed and finished our scanty meal, I took the bearings +of D'Urban's Group, and found them to be S. 58 E. about thirty-three miles +distant; and as we mounted our horses, I named the river the "Darling," +as a lasting memorial of the respect I bear the governor. + +ABANDON THE ATTEMPT. + +I should be doing injustice to Mr. Hume and my men, if I did not express +my conviction that they were extremely unwilling to yield to +circumstances, and that, had I determined on continuing the journey, they +would have followed me with cheerfulness, whatever the consequences might +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach +the Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck +upon it. + + +We kept near the river as we journeyed homewards, and in striking across a +plain, found an isolated rock of quartz and jasper, just showing itself +partially above the surface of the ground. + +We were anxious to get to the small plain I have mentioned, if possible, +for the sake of the animals, and pushed on rapidly for it. About 4 p.m. we +had reached our sleeping place of the previous evening, and being +overpowered by thirst, we stopped in hopes that by making our tea strong +we might destroy, in some measure, the nauseous taste of the water. The +horses were spancelled and a fire lit. Whilst we were sitting patiently +for the boiling of the tins, Mr. Hume observed at a considerable distance +above us, a large body of natives under some gum trees. They were not near +enough for us to observe them distinctly, but it was evident that they +were watching our motions. We did not take any notice of them for some +time, but at last I thought it better to call out to them, and accordingly +requested Mr. Hume to do so. In a moment the whole of them ran forward and +dashed into the river, having been on the opposite side, with an uproar I +had never witnessed on any former occasion. + +INTERCOURSE WITH NATIVES. + +Mr. Hume thought they intended an attack, and the horses had taken fright +and galloped away. I determined, therefore, to fire at once upon them if +they pressed up the bank on which we were posted. Mr. Hume went with me +to the crest of it, and we rather angrily beckoned to the foremost of the +natives to stop. They mistook our meaning, but laid all their spears in a +heap as they came up. We then sat down on the bank and they immediately +did the same; nor did they stir until we beckoned to them after the horses +had been secured. + +As they conducted themselves so inoffensively, we gave them everything we +had to spare. My gun seemed to excite their curiosity, as they had seen +Mr. Hume shoot a cockatoo with it; they must consequently have been close +to us for the greater part of the day, as the bird was killed in the +morning. It was of a species new to me, being smaller than the common +white cockatoo, and having a large scarlet-and-yellow instead of a +pine-yellow top-knot. + +Having stayed about half an hour with them, we remounted our horses, and +struck away from the river into the plains, while the natives went up its +banks to join their hordes. Those whom we saw were about twenty-seven in +number and the most of them were strangers. + +DISTRESS FROM THIRST. + +It was some time after sunset before we reached the little plain on which +we had arranged to sleep, and when we dismounted we were in a truly +pitiable state. I bad been unable to refrain from drinking copiously at +the river, and now became extremely sick. Mr. Hume had been scarcely more +prudent than myself, but on him the water had a contrary effect, as well +as upon Hopkinson. The tinker was the only man fit for duty, and it was +well for us that such was the case, as the horses made frequent attempts +to stray, and would have left us in a pretty plight had they succeeded. We +reached the camp on the following day a little before sunset, nor was I +more rejoiced to dismount from my wearied horse than to learn that +everything in the camp had been regular during our absence and that the +men had kept on the best terms with the natives who had paid them frequent +visits. + +The bullocks had improved, but were still extremely weak, and as the +horses we had employed on the last journey required a day or two's rest, +it was arranged that we should not break up our camp until the 12th, +beyond which period we could not stop, in consequence of the low state of +our salt provisions, we having barely sufficient to last to Mount Harris, +at the rate of two pounds per week. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES. + +The morning after we returned from our excursion, a large party of +natives, about seventy in number, visited the camp. On this occasion, the +women and children passed behind the tents, but did not venture to stop. +Most of the men had spears, and were unusually inquisitive and forward. +Several of them carried fire-sticks under the influence of the disease I +have already noticed, whilst others were remarked to have violent +cutaneous eruptions all over the body. We were pretty well on the alert; +notwithstanding which, every minor article was seized with a quickness +that would have done credit to a most finished juggler. One of the natives +thus picked up my comb and toothbrush, but as he did not attempt to +conceal them, they were fortunately recovered. After staying with us a +short time the men followed the women. They appeared to be strangers who +had come from a distance. + +CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES. + +The natives of the Darling are a clean-limbed, well-conditioned race, +generally speaking. They seemingly occupy permanent huts, but their tribe +did net bear any proportion to the size or number of their habitations. +It was evident their population had been thinned. The customs of these +distant tribes, as far as we could judge, were similar to those of the +mountain blacks, and they are essentially the same people, although their +language differs. They lacerate their bodies, but do not extract the front +teeth. We saw but few cloaks among them, since the opossum does not +inhabit the interior. Those that were noticed, were made of the red +kangaroo skin. In appearance, these men are stouter in the bust than at +the lower extremities; they have broad noses, sunken eyes, overhanging +eyebrows, and thick lips. The men are much better looking than the women. +Both go perfectly naked, if I except the former, who wear nets over the +loins and across the forehead, and bones through the cartilages of the +nose. Their chief food is fish, of which they have great supplies in the +river; still they have their seasons for hunting their emus and kangaroos. +The nets they use for this purpose, as well as for fishing, are of great +length, and are made upon large frames. These people do not appear to have +warlike habits nor do they take any pride in their arms, which differ +little from those used by the inland tribes, and are assimilated to them +as far as the materials will allow. One powerful man, however, had a +regular trident, for which Mr. Hume offered many things without success. +He plainly intimated to us that he had a use for it, but whether against +an enemy or to secure prey, we could not understand. I was most anxious to +have ascertained if any religious ceremonies obtained among them, but the +difficulty of making them comprehend our meaning was insurmountable; and +to the same cause may be attributed the circumstance of my being unable to +collect any satisfactory vocabulary of their language. They evinced a +strange perversity, or obstinacy rather, in repeating words, although it +was evident that they knew they were meant as questions. The pole we +observed in the creek, on the evening previously to our making the +Darling, was not the only one that fell under our notice; our impression +therefore, that they were fixed by the natives to propitiate some deity, +was confirmed. It would appear that the white pigment was an indication of +mourning. Whether these people have an idea of a superintending Providence +I doubt, but they evidently dread evil agency. On the whole I should say +they are a people, at present, at the very bottom of the scale of +humanity. + +REMARKS ON THE DARLING RIVER. + +We struck the Darling River in lat. 29 degrees 37 minutes S. and in E. +long. 145 degrees 33 minutes, and traced it down for about sixty-six miles +in a direct line to the S.W. If I might hazard an opinion from appearance, +to whatever part of the interior it leads, its source must be far to the +N.E. or N. The capacity of its channel, and the terrific floods that must +sometimes rage in it, would argue that it is influenced by tropical rains, +which alone would cause such floods. It is likely that it seldom arrives +at so reduced a state as that in which we found it, and that, generally +speaking, it has a sufficient depth of water for the purposes of inland +navigation: in such case its future importance cannot be questioned, since +it most probably receives the chief streams falling westerly from the +coast ranges. But, with every anticipation of the benefit that may at some +time or other be derived from this remarkable and central stream, it is +incumbent on me to state that the country, through which it flows, holds +out but little prospect of advantage. Certainly the portion we know of it, +is far from encouraging. The extent of alluvial soil, between the inner +and outer banks of the river, is extremely limited, and, instead of being +covered with sward, is in most places over-run by the polygonum. Beyond +this the plains of the interior stretch away, whose character and soil +must change, ere they can be available to any good purpose. But there is a +singular want of vegetable decay in the interior of New Holland, and that +powerfully argues its recent origin. + +REMARKS ON THE COUNTRY. + +There is no life upon its surface, if I may so express myself; but the +stillness of death reigns in its brushes, and over its plains. It cannot, +however, be doubted that we visited the interior during a most unfavorable +season. Probably in ordinary ones it wears a different appearance, but its +deserts are of great extent, and its productions are of little value. + +Agreeably to our arrangements, we broke up our camp at an early hour on +the morning of the 12th, and proceeded up the river to the junction of +New Year's Creek. We then struck away in an easterly direction from it, +detaching a man to trace the creek up, lest we should pass any water; and +we should certainly have been without it had we not taken this precaution. + +On the following day, we again passed to the eastward, through an open +country, having picturesque views of Oxley's Table Land. We crossed our +track about noon, and struck on the creek at about five miles beyond it, +and we were fortunate enough to procure both water and grass. The timber +upon the plains, between us and the Darling, we found to be a rough gum, +but box prevailed in the neighbourhood of the creek at this part of it. + +On the 14th, we changed our direction more to the southward, but made a +short journey, in consequence of being obliged to make some slight repairs +on the boat carnage. + +REGAIN OUR OLD ROUTE. + +On the 15th, we kept an E.S.E. course, and, crossing the creek at an early +hour, got upon our old track, which we kept. We had the lateral ridge of +the Pink Hills upon our right, and travelled through a good deal of brush. +Four or five natives joined us, and two followed us to the end of our +day's journey. In the course of the evening, they endeavoured to pilfer +whatever was in their reach, but were detected putting a tin into a bush, +and soon took to their heels. This was the first instance we had of open +theft among the natives of the interior. + +We passed Mosquito Brush on the 18th, but found the ponds quite dry, we +were, therefore, under the necessity of pushing on, to shorten the next +day's journey, as we could not expect to get water nearer than the +marshes. At noon, on the 19th, we entered the plain, and once more saw +them spreading in dreariness before us. While the party was crossing to +the first channel, I rode to the left, in order to examine the appearance +of the country in the direction of the wood, and as far as I skirted the +reeds had my impressions confirmed as to their partial extension. I was +obliged, however, to join the men without completing the circuit of the +marshes. They had found the first channel dry, and had passed on to the +other, in which, fortunately, a small quantity of water still remained. +It was, however, so shallow as to expose the backs of the fish in it, and +a number of crows had congregated, and were pecking at them. Wishing to +satisfy my mind as to the distance to which the river extended to the +northward, Mr. Hume rode with me on the following day, to examine the +country in that direction, leaving the men stationary. We found that the +reeds gradually decreased in body, until, at length, they ceased, or gave +place to bulrushes. There were general appearances of inundation, and of +the subsidence of waters, but none that led us to suppose that any channel +existed beyond the flooded lands. + +ALARM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PROVISION PARTY. + +On our return to the camp, we observed dense masses of smoke rising at the +head of the marshes, and immediately under Mount Foster. This excited our +alarm for the safety of the party we hoped to find at Mount Harris, and +obliged us to make forced marches, to relieve it if threatened by the +natives. + +On the 22nd, we crossed the plains of the Macquarie, and surprised a +numerous tribe on the banks of the river; and the difficulty we found in +getting any of them to approach us, their evident timidity, and the +circumstance of one of them having on a jacket, tended to increase our +apprehensions. When two or three came to us, they intimated that white +men either had been or were under Mount Harris, but we were left in +uncertainty and passed a most anxious night. + +The body of reeds was still on fire; and the light embers were carried to +an amazing distance by the wind, falling like a black-shower around us. As +we knew that the natives never made such extensive conflagration, unless +they had some mischievous object in view, our apprehension for the safety +of Riley, with his supplies, was increased. + +At the earliest dawn, we pushed for the hill. In passing that part of the +meadows under Mount Foster, we observed that the grass had also been +consumed, and we scarcely recognized the ground from its altered +appearance. As we approached Mount Harris, we saw recent traces of cattle, +but none were visible on the plains. Under the hill, however, we could +distinctly see that a hut of some kind had been erected, and it is +impossible for me to describe the relief we felt when a soldier came +forward to reconnoitre us. I could no longer doubt the safety of the +party, and this was confirmed by the rest of the men turning out to +welcome us. It appeared that our suspicions with regard to the natives had +not been without foundation, since they attempted to surprise the camp, +and it was supposed the firing of the marshes was done with a view to +collect the distant tribes, to make a second attack; so that our arrival +was most opportune. + +The party I found awaiting our arrival at Mount Harris consisted of one +soldier, Riley, who had the charge of the supplies, and a drayman. They +had found the paper I had fixed against the tree, and also the letters I +had hid, and had forwarded them to Sydney, by another soldier and a +prisoner; which had weakened their party a goad deal. Riley informed me, +that he had been between a month and three weeks at the station, and that +knowing our provisions must have run short he had expected us much earlier +than we had made our appearance. + +My dispatches stated, that additional supplies had been forwarded for my +use, together with horses and bullocks, in the event of my requiring them. +On examination, the former were found to be in excellent order; and, as it +would take some time to carry any changes I might contemplate, or find it +necessary to make, into effect, I determined to give the men who had been +with me a week's rest. + +ENCAMP AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +The camp was made snug; and as the weather had become much cooler I +thought it a good opportunity to slaughter one of the bullocks, in order +to guard against any bad effects of our having been living for some weeks +exclusively on salt provisions. I was also induced to this measure, from a +wish to preserve my supplies as much as possible. + +These matters having been arranged, I had a temporary awning erected near +the river, and was for three or four days busily employed writing an +account of our journey for the Governor's information. + +Having closed my despatches, and answered the numerous friendly letters I +had received, my attention was next turned to the changes that had taken +place at Mount Harris during our absence. The Macquarie, I found, had +wholly ceased to flow, and now consisted of a chain of ponds. Such of the +minor vegetation as had escaped the fires of the natives, had perished +under the extreme heat of the season. The acacia pendula stood leafless +upon the plains, and the polygonum junceum appeared to be the only plant +that had withstood the effects of the drought. Yet, notwithstanding this +general depression of the vegetable kingdom, the animals that had been +brought from Wellington Valley were in the best condition, and were, +indeed, too fat for effective labour; it might, therefore, be reasonably +presumed, that herbage affording such nourishment in so unfavourable a +season, would be of the richest quality, if fresh and vigorous under the +influence of seasonable, and not excessive, rains. + +FIRING OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +The appearance of the country was, however, truly melancholy; there was +not a flower in bloom, nor a green object to be seen. Whether our arrival +had increased their alarm, is uncertain, but the natives continued to fire +the great marshes, and as the element raged amongst them, large bodies of +smoke rose over the horizon like storm clouds, and had the effect of +giving additional dreariness to the scene. I am inclined to think that +they made these conflagrations to procure food, by seizing whatsoever +might issue from the flames, as snakes, birds, or other animals; for they +had taken every fish in the river, and the low state of its waters had +enabled them to procure an abundance of muscles from its bed, which they +had consumed with their characteristic improvidence. They were, +consequently, in a starving condition, and so pitiable were their +indications of it, that I was induced to feed such of them as visited the +camp, notwithstanding their late misconduct; being likewise anxious to +bring about a good understanding, as the best means of ensuring the safety +of the smaller party when we should separate, of which I had reason to be +doubtful. These people had killed two white men not long before my arrival +among them, and as the circumstances attending the slaughter are singular, +I shall relate them. + +SLAUGHTER OF TWO IRISH RUNAWAYS. + +The parties were two Irish runaways, who thought they could make their way +to Timor. They escaped from Wellington Valley with a fortnight's provision +each, and a couple of dogs, and proceeded down the Macquarie. About the +cataract, they fell in with the Mount Harris tribe, and remained with them +for some days, when they determined on pursuing their journey. The blacks, +however, wanted to get possession of their dogs, and a resistance on the +part of the Europeans brought on a quarrel. It appears, that before the +blacks proceeded to extremities, they furnished the Irishmen, who were +unarmed, with weapons, and then told them to defend themselves, but +whether against equal or inferior numbers, I am uninformed. One of them +soon fell, which the other observing, he took his knife out, and cut the +throats of both the dogs before the blacks had time to put him to death. +He was, however, sacrificed; and both the men were eaten by the tribe +generally. I questioned several on the subject, but they preserved the +most sullen silence, neither acknowledging nor denying the fact. + +ARBUTHNOT'S RANGE. + +Mr. Hume had been one day on Mount Harris, and while there, had laid his +compass on a large rock, near to which Mr. Oxley's boat had been burnt. +To his surprise, he found the needle affected; and his bearings were all +wrong. I subsequently went up to ascertain the extent of the error +produced, and found it precisely the same as Mr. Hume noticed. When I +placed the compass on the rock, Mount Foster bore from me N. by W., the +true bearing of the one hill from the other being N.N.W. My placing my +notebook under the compass did not alter the effect, nor did the card move +until I raised the instrument a couple of feet above the stone, when it +first became violently agitated, and then settled correctly; and my +bearings of the highest parts of Arbuthnot's Range, and of its centre, +were as follows: + +Mount Exmouth to the N ...... N. 86 E. +Centre....................... N. 85 E. +Vernon's Peak................ N. 89 E. +Distance 70 miles. + +Having finished my reports and letters, it became necessary to consider +the best point on which to move, and to fix a day for our departure from +Mount Harris. It struck me that having found so important a feature as the +Darling River, the Governor would approve my endeavouring to regain it +more to the southward, in order to trace it down. I, therefore, detached +Mr. Hume to survey the country in that direction, and to ascertain if a +descent upon the Bogen district would be practicable, through which I had +been informed a considerable river forced itself. The report he made on +his return was such as to deter me from that attempt, but he stated that +the country for 30 miles from the Macquarie was well watered, and superior +to any he had passed over during the journey; beyond that distance, it +took up the character of the remote interior, and alternated with plains +and brush, the soil being too sandy to retain water on its surface. He saw +some hills from the extremity of his journey, bearing by compass W.S.W. +We consequently determined to make for the Castlereagh, agreeably to our +instructions. Preparations were made for breaking up the camp, all the +various arrangements in the change of animals were completed, the boat +carriage was exchanged for a dray, and I took Boyle in the place of +Norman, whose timidity in the bush rendered him unfit for service. + +CIRCUIT OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +There is a small hill on the opposite side of the river, and immediately +facing Mount Harris, and to the S.E. of it there is a small lagoon, the +head of a creek, by means of which its superfluous waters are carried off. +This creek runs parallel to the river for about ten miles, and enters the +marshes at the S.E. angle. This I ascertained one day in riding to carry +on my survey of the southern extremity of the marshes, and to join my line +of route by making the circuit of that part of them. I found that the +river was turned to its northerly course by a rising ground of forest +land, which checks its further progress westerly. I proceeded round +the S.W. angle, and then, taking a northerly course, got down to the +bottom of the first great marsh, thus completing the circuit of them. I +did not return to the camp until after 10 p.m., having crossed the river +at day-light, nor did we procure any water from the time we left the +stream to the moment of our recrossing it. + +WALLIS'S PONDS. + +Having completed our various arrangements, and closed our letters, we +struck our tents on the morning of the 7th March; we remained, however, to +witness the departure of Riley's party for Wellington Valley, and then +left the Macquarie on an E.N.E. course for Wallis's Ponds, and made them +at about 14 miles. They undoubtedly empty themselves into the marshes, and +are a continuation of that chain of ponds on which I left the party in +Mr. Hume's charge. About a mile from Mount Harris, we passed a small dry +creek, that evidently lays the country under water in the wet seasons. +There was a blue-gum flat to the eastward of it, which we crossed, and +then entered a brush of acacia pendula and box. The soil upon the plain +was an alluvial deposit; that in the brushes was sandy. From the extremity +of the plain, Mount Harris bore, by compass, S.W. by W.; Mount Foster due +west. The scrub through which we were penetrating, at length became so +dense, that we found it impossible to travel in a direct line through it, +and frequent ridges of cypresses growing closely together, turned us +repeatedly from our course. The country at length became clearer, and we +travelled over open forest of box, casuarina, and cypresses, on a sandy +soil; the first predominating. For about two miles before we made the +creek, the country was not heavily timbered, the acacia pendula +succeeding the larger trees. The ground had a good covering of grass upon +it, and there were few of the salsolaceous plants, so abundant on the +western plains, to be found. The rough-gum abounded near the creek, with a +small tree bearing a hard round nut, and we had the luxury of plenty of +water. + +We remained stationary on the 8th, in hopes that Riley would have met the +soldier who had been sent back to Wellington Valley, and that he would +have forwarded any letters to us, of which he might have been the bearer. +The day, however, passed over without realizing our expectations; and we +started once more for the interior, and cut ourselves off from all +communication with society. + +MORRISSET'S PONDS. + +We made for Morrisset's chain of ponds, and travelled over rich and +extensive plains, divided by plantations of cypress, box, and casuarina, +in the early and latter period of the day. About noon we entered a dense +forest of cypresses, which continued for three miles, when the cypresses +became mixed with casuarina, box, and mountain-gum, a tree we had not +remarked before in so low a situation. We struck upon the creek after a +journey of about 15 miles. It had a sandy bed, and was extremely tortuous +in its course, nor was it until after a considerable search, that we at +length succeeded in finding water, at which a party of natives were +encamped. The moment they saw us, they fled, and left all their utensils, +&c. behind them. Among other things, we found a number of bark troughs, +filled with the gum of the mimosa, and vast quantities of gum made into +cakes upon the ground. From this it would appear these unfortunate +creatures were reduced to the last extremity, and, being unable to procure +any other nourishment, had been obliged to collect this mucilaginous food. + +The plains we traversed, were of uniform equality of surface. Water +evidently lodges and continues on them long after a fall of rain, and in +wet seasons they must, I should imagine, be full of quagmires, and almost +impassable. + +On the 10th, we passed through a country that differed in no material +point from that already described. We stopped at 10 a.m. under some brush, +in the centre of a large plain, from which Arbuthnot's range bore S. 84 E. +distant from 50 to 55 miles, and afterwards traversed or rather crossed, +those extensive tracts described by Mr. Evans as being under water and +covered with reeds, in 1817. They now bore a very different appearance, +being firm and dry. The soil was in general good, and covered with forest +grass and a species of oxalia. We did not observe any reeds, or the signs +of inundation, but, as is invariably the case with plains in the interior, +they were of too even surface, as I have so lately remarked, to admit of +the waters running quickly off them; and no doubt, when they became +saturated, many quagmires are formed, that would very much impede the +movements of an expedition. + +REACH THE CASTLEREAGH RIVER. + +We reached the Castlereagh about 4 p.m., and although its channel could +not have been less than 130 yards in breadth, there was apparently not a +drop of water in it. Its bed consisted of pure sand and reeds; amid the +latter, we found a small pond of 15 yards circumference, after a long +search. There is a considerable dip in the country towards the river, at +about two miles from it; and the intervening brush was full of kangaroo, +which, I fancy, had congregated to a spot where there was abundance of +food for them. The soil covering the space was of the richest quality, +and the timber upon it consisted of box, mountain gum, and the angophora +lanceolata, a tree that is never found except on rich ground. + +WANT OF WATER; CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. + +It appeared that our troubles were to recommence, and that in order to +continue on the Castlereagh, it would be necessary for Mr. Hume and myself +to undertake those fatiguing journeys in search of water that had so +exhausted us already: and after all, it was doubtful how soon we might be +forced back. I had certainly expected that, on our gaining the banks of +the river, we should have had a constant supply of water, but the +circumstance of the Castlereagh having not only ceased to flow, but being +absolutely dry, while it afforded the best and clearest proof of the +severity and continuance of the drought in the interior, at the same time +damped the spirits and ardour of the men. We kept the left bank of the +river as we proceeded down it, and passed two or three larger ponds about +a mile below where we had slept, but there they ceased. The bed of the +river became one of pure sand, nor did there appear to be any chance of +our finding any water in it. I stopped the party at about eight miles, and +desired the men to get their dinners, to give Mr. Hume and myself time to +search for a supply upon the plains. Disappointed to the left, we crossed +the channel of the Castlereagh, and struck over a small plain upon the +right bank, and at the extremity of it, came upon a swamp, from which we +immediately returned for the cattle, and got them unloaded by seven +o'clock. As there was sufficient pasture around us, I proposed to Mr. Hume +on the following day, to leave the party stationary, and to ride down the +river to see how far its present appearances continued. Like the +generality of rivers of the interior, it had, where we struck upon it, +outer banks to confine its waters during floods, and to prevent them from +spreading generally over the country; the space between the two banks +being of the richest soil, and the timber chiefly of the angophora kind. +Flooded-gum overhung the inner banks of the river, or grew upon the many +islands, with casuarina. It became evident, however, that the outer banks +declined in height as we proceeded down the river, nor was it long before +they ceased altogether. As we rode along, we found that the inner ones +were fast decreasing in height also. Riding under a hanging wood of the +angophora, which had ceased for a time, we were induced to break off to +our right, to examine some large flooded-gum trees about a couple of miles +to the N.W. of us. On arriving near them, we were astonished to find that +they concealed a serpentine lagoon that had a belt of reeds round it. +Keeping this lagoon upon our right, we at length came to the head of it, +past which the river sweeps. Crossing the channel of the river, we +continued to ride in an easterly direction to examine the country. In +doing this, we struck on a second branch of the Castlereagh, leading +W. by N. into a plain, which it of course inundates at times, and running +up it, we found its bed at the point of separation, to be considerably +higher than that of the main channel, which still continued of pure +sand--and was stamped all over with the prints of the feet of natives, +kangaroos, emus, and wild dogs, We then turned again to the head of the +lagoon, and took the following bearings of Arbuthnot's range: + +Mount Exmouth .......... E. 90 S. +Centre Range ........... E. 35 E. +Vernon's Peak .......... E. 20 S. + +From the head of the lagoon, the river appeared to enter a reedy hollow, +shaded by a long line of flooded gum trees, and on proceeding to it, we +found the banks ceased here altogether; and that a very considerable plain +extended both to the right and the left, which cannot fail of being +frequently laid under water. + +LAGOONS AND CREEKS OF THE CASTLEREAGH. + +On the following morning we moved the party to the lagoon, and, passing +its head, encamped to the north of it; after which we again rode down the +river in search of water. It continued to hold a straight and northerly +course for about five miles, having a plain on either side. The reeds that +had previously covered the channel then suddenly ceased, and the channel, +contracting in breadth, gained in depth: it became extremely serpentine, +and at length lost all the character and appearance of a river. It had +many back channels, as large as the main one, serving to overflow the +neighbouring country. We succeeded in finding a small pond of water in one +of the former, hardly large enough to supply our necessities, but as it +enabled us to push so much further on, we turned towards the lagoon, +making a circuitous journey to the right, across a large plain, bounded to +the north by low acacia brush and box. We struck upon a creek at the +further extremity of the plain, in which there was a tolerably sized pond. +It appeared from the traces of men, that some natives had been there the +day before; but we did not see any of them. The water was extremely muddy +and unfit for use. The lagoon at which we had encamped, was of less +importance than we had imagined. + +JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER. + +Whilst Mr. Hume led the party down the river, I rode up its northward +bank, to examine it more closely. I found it to be a serpentine sheet of +about three miles in length, gradually decreasing in depth until it +separated into two small creeks. In following one of them up, I observed +that they re-united at the distance of about two miles, and that the +lagoon was filled from the eastward, and not by the river as I had at +first supposed. The waters at the head of the lagoon were putrid, nor was +there a fish in, or a wild fowl upon it. The only bird we saw was a +beautiful eagle, of the osprey kind, with plumage like a sea gull, which +had a nest in the tree over the tents. + +In turning to overtake the party I rode through a great deal of acacia +scrub, and on arriving at the place at which I expected to have overtaken +them, I found they had pushed on. + +The Castlereagh, as I rode down it, diminished in size considerably, and +became quite choked up with rushes and brambles. Rough-gum again made its +appearance, with swamp-oak and a miserable acacia scrub outside. The +country on both sides of the river seemed to be an interminable flat, and +the soil of an inferior description. + +WRETCHED APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. + +I came up with with Mr. Hume about 1 o'clock and we again pushed forward +at 3, and halted for the night without water, the want of which the cattle +did not feel. The river held a general westerly course, and the country in +its neighbourhood became extremely depressed and low. On the following day +we moved forward a distance of not more than nine miles, through a country +on which, at first, the acacia pendula alone was growing on a light +alluvial soil. The river had many back drains, by means of which, in wet +seasons, it inundates the adjacent plains. It was evident, however, that +they had not been flooded for many years; and, notwithstanding that the +country was low, the line of inundation did not appear to be very +extensive, nor were there any reeds growing beyond the immediate banks of +the river. Swamp-oak and rough-gum again prevailed near the stream at our +halting place, and the improvement that had taken place, both in the +country and in the Castlereagh, had induced us to make so short a journey; +for not only was there abundance of the grass for the animals, but large +ponds of water in the river. Some natives had only just preceded us down +it: we came upon their fires that were still smoking; and upon them were +the remains of some fish they had taken, near which they had left a +cumbrous spear. The circumstances cheered us with hopes that an +improvement would take place in the country, and that some new feature +would soon open upon us. In the course of the following day, however, +every favorable change, both in the river and in the country, disappeared. +The latter continued extremely depressed, and in general open, or lightly +covered with acacia pendula; the former dwindled into a mere ditch, choked +up with brambles and reeds, and having only here and there a stagnant pool +of water. We travelled on a N.W. 1/2 W. course for about ten miles, and +again stopped for the night without water. In the course of the afternoon, +we traversed several flats, on which the rough-gum alone was growing. +These flats were evidently subject to flood; and contained an alluvial +soil. + +They became more frequent as we travelled down the river, and the work was +so heavy for the animals, that I was obliged to keep wide of them, in +doing which we struck upon a creek of large size, coming from the N.E. +and, having crossed, we traversed its right bank to its junction with the +Castlereagh, and stopped close to it at a pond of water, though the feed +for the animals was bad. The country to the left of the river, though +somewhat high, was the same, in essential points, as that to the right. + +The Castlereagh seemed to have increased in size below the creek, but +still it had no resemblance to a river. We had not proceeded very far down +its banks, on the 18th, when we crossed a broad footpath leading to it +from the interior. I turned my horse to the left, and struck upon a long +sheet of water, from which I startled a number of pelicans. It was evident +that the natives had recently been in the neighbourhood, but we thought it +probable they might have been a hunting party, who had returned again to +the plains. The whole track we passed over during the day was miserably +poor and bare of vegetation, nor did the appearance of the country to the +N.E. indicate any improvement. We lost the traces of the natives +immediately after crossing their path or beat, and again found the bed of +the river dry, after we had passed the sheet of water to which it led. The +soil was so rotten and yielding, that the team knocked up early; indeed, +it was a matter of surprise to me that they should not have failed before. +The river made somewhat to the westward with little promise of +improvement. The wretched appearance of the country as we penetrated into +it, damped our spirits; we pressed on, however, with difficulty, over +ground that was totally destitute of vegetation. Instead of lofty timber +and a living stream, we wandered along the banks of an insignificant +watercourse, and under trees of stunted size and scanty foliage. We +stopped on the 20th at the angle of a creek, in which there was some dry +grass, in consequence of the animals being almost in a starving state, but +even here they had but little to eat. + +A violent thunder-storm passed over us in the afternoon, but it made no +change in the temperature of the air. The weather, although it had been +hot and sultry, had fallen far short of the intense heat we experienced in +crossing the marshes of the Macquarie, when it was such as to melt the +sugar in the canisters, and to destroy all our dogs; and our nights were +now become agreeably cool. + +A PARTY OF NATIVES. + +We still, however, continued to travel over a dead level, nor was a height +or break visible from the loftiest trees we ascended. A little before we +stopped at the creek, we surprised a party of natives; old men, women, and +children. They were preparing dinners of fish in much larger quantities +than they could have devoured--probably for a part of the tribe that were +absent; but the moment they saw us they fled, and left every thing at our +mercy. On examining the fish, we found them totally different from any in +the Macquarie, and took two of the most perfect to preserve. In the +afternoon one of the men came to inform me that the tribe was coming down +upon us. + +Mr. Hume and I, therefore, went to meet them. They were at this time about +150 yards from the tent, but seeing us advance, they stopped, and forming +two deep, they marched to and fro, to a war song I suppose, crouching with +their spears. We had not, however, any difficulty in communicating with +them, and I shall detail the manner in which this was brought about, in +hopes that it may help to guide others. When the natives saw us advance, +they stopped, and we did the same. Mr. Hume then walked to a tree, and +broke off a short branch. It is singular that this should, even with these +rude people, be a token of peace. As soon as they saw the branch, the +natives laid aside their spears, and two of them advanced about twenty +paces in front of the rest, who sat down. Mr. Hume then went forward and +sat down, when the two natives again advanced and seated themselves close +to him. + +Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every people +is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with patience +and kindness, will seldom fail with the natives of the interior. It is not +to avoid alarming their natural timidity that a gradual approach is so +necessary. They preserve the same ceremony among themselves. These men, +who were eighteen in number, came with us to the tents, and received such +presents as we had for them. They conducted themselves very quietly, and, +after a short time, left us with every token of friendship. + +LARGE CREEK. + +On the 21st we proceeded down the river on a N.N.W. course, and at about +five miles struck upon a very large creek, apparently coming from +the E.N.E. + +Although the Castlereagh had increased in size, this creek was infinitely +larger; it was, however, perfectly dry. Lofty flooded-gum trees were upon +its banks, and it appeared so much superior to the river that I was +induced to halt the party at the junction, in order to examine it more +closely. Mr. Hume, therefore, rode with me up the right bank. We had not +proceeded very far, when some natives called out to us from the opposite +scrub. Thinking that they belonged to the tribe we had left behind us, we +pointed to the junction, and motioned them to go there, but one of the +party continued to follow and call to us for some time. On our return to +the men, we found that the natives had joined them, and they now gave us +to understand that we were going away from water. This had indeed been +apparent to us. The creek was perfectly dry, as far as we traced it up; +and seemed to have been totally deserted by the natives. + +We were about to proceed on our journey, when from twenty to thirty +natives approached us from down the river. We sent two of those who had +been with us to them, and the whole accompanied us for some miles, talking +incessantly to the men, but keeping at a very respectful distance from the +animals. We at length got opposite to their camp, near which there was a +very fine pool of water, and they were earnest in persuading us to stop at +it. We were, however, too anxious to get forward to comply; under the +improved appearance of the river since it had received the creeks from the +eastward, little anticipating what was before us. + +NATIVE ARMOURY. + +The natives did not follow us beyond their own encampment. Within sight of +it, we came upon their armoury, if I may so term it. Numerous spears were +reared against the trees, and heaps of boomerangs were lying on the +ground. The spears were very heavy, and half barbed; and it is singular +that three of them were marked with a broad arrow. We saw the natives +watching us, fearful, I imagine, that we should help ourselves; but I +would not permit any of their weapons to be touched. + +EXAMINATION OF CREEKS NEAR THE CASTLEREAGH. + +Pursuing our journey, we reached another creek, at about five miles, +similar to the last in appearance and size, and we crossed it repeatedly +during the afternoon. We had been induced to keep along a native path in +the hope that it would have led us to the river by a short cut; but it +eventually led us to this creek, and away from the Castlereagh; for, +notwithstanding that we subsequently changed our course to the S.W., we +failed, as we supposed, again to strike upon the latter, and were obliged +to stop for the night on the banks of what appeared to be a third large +dry creek, which we intersected nearly at right angles. + +We travelled through a good deal of brush during the day, nor did the +country change from the miserable and barren character it had assumed for +the last thirty or forty miles. The Castlereagh had so frequently changed, +that both Mr. Hume and myself were puzzled as to the identity of the +creek upon which we had halted. We searched its bed in vain for water, +although it was most capacious. Under an impression that the river was +still to the south, and that we were at a point to which many watercourses +from the high lands tended, I crossed the creek early in the morning, and +held a S.W. course, over an open forest country. At about eight miles, we +came upon a large space over-run by the polygonum junceum, a certain +indication of flooded ground, and of our consequent proximity to some +stream. Accordingly, after pushing through it, we struck upon a small +creek with abundance of water in it. Whether this creek was the +Castlereagh, which it resembled much more than the one we had left in the +morning, was doubtful; but it was a great source of comfort to us to have +so unexpected a supply of water as that which was now at our disposal. +Whatever channel this was, whether a river or a creek, our tracing it down +would lead us in the direction we wished to go, and probably to some +junction. + +The neighbourhood of the creek was well clothed with vegetation, and the +cattle found good feed; but the only trees near it were rough-gum and +casuarinae; the flooded-gum had again disappeared. The soil of the forest +land over which we journeyed was a light sandy loam; and its timber +consisted chiefly of eucalypti, acacia pendula, and the angophora. + +Some natives visited us in the afternoon, and among them, both Mr. Hume +and I recognized one of those we had seen on the Darling. He also knew us +again, but we could not make out from him how far we were from that river. +They stayed with us till sunset, and then went down the creek, leaving +their spears against a tree, for which they said they would return. + +On the 23rd we took up a W.N.W. course, and when we again touched on the +creek it was dry. This was at a distance of about five miles from where we +had slept. As the animals had not recovered from their late privations, I +deemed it better to halt the party and to examine the creek for a few +miles below us, that in case it should prove destitute of water, we might +return to that we had left. Mr. Hume accordingly rode down it for about +three miles, without success; and on his rejoining the men, we returned +with them to our last camp, or to within a short distance of it. Wishing +to examine the creek above our position, I requested Mr. Hume to take two +men with him, and to trace it down in search of water, while I should +proceed in the opposite direction. I went from the camp at an early hour, +and as I wandered along the creek, I passed a regular chain of ponds. The +country on both sides of the creek was evidently subject to flood, but +more extensively to the south than to the north. From the creek, I struck +away to my left, and after penetrating through a belt of swamp-oak and +minor shrubs, got on a small plain, which I crossed N.E. and, to my +annoyance, found it covered with rhagodia and salsolae. As I had not +started with the intention of sleeping, I turned to the S.W. a little +before sunset, and reached the tents between ten and eleven. I found +Mr. Hume awaiting me. He informed me that at about nine miles from +where we had turned back with the party, he had struck upon a junction; +and that as the junction was much larger than the channel he had been +tracing, he thought it better to follow it up for a few miles. He found +that it narrowed in width, and that its banks became steep, with a fine +avenue of flooded-gum trees overhanging them. At four miles, he came upon +another junction, and at four miles more, found himself opposite to the +ground on which we had slept on the previous Saturday. From this point he +retraced the channel, but not finding any water for three miles below the +lower junction, he returned to the camp, with a view of prosecuting a +longer journey on the morrow. Mr. Hume had become impressed with an +opinion, that the junction up which we had slept was no other than the +Castlereagh itself; and that our position was on a creek, probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds, flowing into it. As the cattle wanted a few +days' rest, Mr. Hume and I determined to ride, unattended, along our track +to our camp of the 21st, and then to follow the channel upwards, until we +should arrive at the station of the natives, or until we should have +ridden to such a distance as would set our conjectures at rest. In the +morning, however, instead of running upon our old track, we followed that +of Mr. Hume to the junction, giving up our first intention, with a view to +ascertain if there existed any water which we could, by an effort, gain, +below where Mr. Hume had been. The channel was very broad, with a +considerable fall in its bed, and, in appearance, more resembled the slope +of a lawn than the bed of a river. It had two gum-trees in the centre of +its channel, in one of which the floods had left the trunk of a large +tree. We could discover where it narrowed and its banks rose, but, as we +intended to make a closer examination before we left the neighbourhood, +we continued our journey down the principal channel. The ground exhibited +an abundance of pasture in its immediate neighbourhood, but the distant +country was miserably poor and bare. At about three miles, we came upon +the fresh traces of some natives, which led us to the channel again, from +which we bad wandered unintentionally. In it we found there had been water +very lately, and it appeared that the natives had dug holes at the bottom +to insure a longer supply. These were now exhausted, but still retained +the appearance of moisture. At a mile and a half beyond these, we were led +to some similar holes, by observing a number of birds flying about them. +The water was too muddy for us to drink, but the horses emptied them +successively. We now kept sufficiently near the channel to insure our +seeing any pool that might still remain in it, but rode for about seven +miles before we again saw water, and even here, although it was a spring, +we were obliged to dig holes, and await their filling, before we could get +sufficient for our use. Having dined, we again pursued our journey, and +almost immediately came upon a long narrow ditch, full of water, and lined +by bulrushes. The creek or river had for some time kept the centre of a +deep alluvial valley, in which there was plenty of food for the cattle, +and which, at this place, was apparently broader than anywhere else. The +situation being favourable, we returned to the camp, and reached it late. + +DEPRESSION OF THE MEN. + +I do not know whether I was wrong in my conjecture, but I fancied, about +this time, that the men generally were desponding. Whether it was that the +constant fatigue entailed on myself and Mr. Hume, and that our constant +absence, or the consequent exhaustion it produced, had any effect on their +minds, or that they feared the result of our perseverance, is difficult to +say; but certainly, they all had a depression of spirits, and looked, I +thought, altered in appearance; nor did they evince any satisfaction at +our success--at least, not the satisfaction they would have shown at an +earlier period of our journey. + +Before moving forward, it remained for us to ascertain if the channel from +the junction was the Castlereagh, or only a creek. The intersection of so +many channels in this neighbourhood, most of them so much alike, made it +essentially necessary that we should satisfy ourselves on this point. +Mr. Hume, therefore, accompanied me, as had at first been intended the +morning of our return to the place at which we had slept. We took fresh +horses, but dispensed with any other attendants, and indeed went wholly +unarmed. + +CAMP OF NATIVES. + +After following our old track to its termination, we kept up the right +bank of the channel, and at length arrived at the camp of the natives; +thus satisfying ourselves that we had been journeying on the Castlereagh, +and that we were still following it down. By this ride we ascertained that +there was a distance of five-and-forty miles in its bed without a drop of +water. Few of the natives were in the camp. The women avoided us, but not +as if they were under any apprehension. Crossing at the head of the pool, +we again got on our old track, but seeing two or three men coming towards +us we alighted, and, tying our horses to a tree, went to meet them. One +poor fellow had two ducks in his hand, which he had just taken off the +fire; these he offered to us, and on our declining to accept of them, he +called to a boy, who soon appeared with a large trough of honey, of which +we partook. One of the men had an ulcer in the arm, and asked me what he +should do to heal it; indeed, I believe Fraser had promised him some +ointment, but not having any with me, I signified to him that be should +wash it often, and stooping down, made as if I was taking up water in my +hand. The poor fellow mistook me, and, also stooping down, took up a +handful of dust which he threw over the sore. This gave me the trouble of +explaining matters again, and by pointing to the water, I believe I at +length made him understand me. + +DRY CHANNEL OF THE RIVER. + +These good natured people asked us where we had slept the day we passed, +and when informed of the direction, shook their heads, motioning at the +same time, that we must have been without water. We informed them where +the party was, and asked them to come and see us, but I fancy the distance +was too great, or else we were in the beat of another tribe. On mentioning +these facts to the men, they said that two of the natives had followed us +for some miles, calling out loudly to us, but Mr. Hume and I both being in +front, we did not hear them, although, evidently, they wished to save us +distress. + +Since the result of our excursion proved that the channel, about which I +had been so doubtful, was the Castlereagh, it necessarily followed, that +the creek at which we were encamped was one of those (most probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds,) which we had already crossed nearer its +source, and which Mr. Hume must have struck upon when endeavouring to gain +the Castlereagh from the marshes of the Macquarie. + +A perusal of these sheets will ere this have impressed on the reader's +mind, the peculiarity of that fortune which led us from the Castlereagh to +the creek, at which alone our wants could have been supplied. Had we +wandered down the river, as we undoubtedly should have done had we +recognised it as such, the loss of many of our animals would have been the +inevitable consequence, and very probably a final issue would have been +put to our journey. It is only to those who are placed in situations that +baffle their own exertions or foresight, that the singular guidance of +Providence becomes fully apparent. + +NATIVES PERISHING FROM FAMINE. + +It would appear that the natives were dying fast, not from any disease, +but from the scarcity of food; and, should the drought continue, it seemed +probable they may became extinct. + +The men found the body of a woman covered with leaves near the tents, and +very properly buried it. We made Friday a day of rest for ourselves, as +indeed was necessary; and on the following morning proceeded down the +river, and encamped on a high bank above it, at the base of which, our +cattle both fed and watered. + +At this spot one of the largest gum-trees I had ever seen had fallen, +having died for want of moisture; indeed, the state of the vegetable +kingdom was such as to threaten its total extinction, unless a change of +seasons should take place. + +It may be worthy of remark that, from our first arrival on the banks of +the Castlereagh, to our arrival at the present camp, we never picked up a +stone, or a pebble, in its bed. + +JUNCTION OF THE CASTLEREAGH WITH THE DARLING. + +In the hope that we should fall on some detached pond, we pursued our +journey on the 29th. The Castlereagh gave singular proofs of its violence, +as if its waters, confined in the valley, had a difficulty in escaping +from it. We had not travelled two miles, when in crossing, as we imagined, +one of its bights, we found ourselves checked by a broad river. A single +glimpse of it was sufficient to tell us it was the Darling. At a distance +of more than ninety miles nearer its source, this singular river still +preserved its character, so strikingly, that it was impossible not to have +recognised it in a moment. The same steep banks and lofty timber, the same +deep reaches, alive with fish, were here visible as when we left it. +A hope naturally arose to our minds, that if it was unchanged in other +respects, it might have lost the saltness that rendered its waters unfit +for use; but in this we were disappointed--even its waters continued the +same. As it was impossible for us to cross the Darling, I determined on +falling back upon our last encampment, which was at a most Convenient +distance, and of concerting measures there for our future movements. Prior +to doing so, however, I rode to the junction of the Castlereagh with +the Darling, accompanied by Mr. Hume, a distance of about half a mile. +Upon the point formed by the two streams, there were a number of huts, +and on the opposite bank of the Darling, about twenty natives had +collected. We called out to them, but they would not join us. + +At the junction, the Castlereagh, with whatever impetuosity it rushes from +its confinement, makes not apparently the least impression on the Darling +River. The latter seemed to loll on, totally heedless of such a tributary. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +On our return to the party, we found them surrounded by the natives, who +were looking with an eye of wonder on the cattle and horses. We pointed +out to them the direction in which we were going, and invited them to +visit us; and nothing appeared to astonish them so much as the management +of the team by a single man. We got back to our position early, and again +fixed ourselves upon it. + +It now only remained for us to consider what we should do under +circumstances of certainly more than ordinary perplexity. We had nothing +to hope for from travelling in a southerly direction, while to the E. and +N.E., the state of the country was worse than that by which we had +penetrated to the Darling. It was evident, that the large creeks joining +the Castlereagh in that direction were dry, since the natives not only +intimated this to us, but it was unquestionable that they themselves had +deserted them, and had crowded to such places as still contained a supply +of water. Even in retreating, we could not hope to retrace our steps. +Experience had proved to us, that the dry state of the interior was as +injurious to the movements of an expedition as a too wet season would have +been. Taking everything, therefore, into consideration, I determined on +leaving the party stationary, and on crossing the Darling to the N.W., +and, if any encouraging feature presented itself, to return for the party, +and persevere in an examination of the distant interior. Such, at least, +appeared to me the most judicious plan: indeed, an attempt to have moved +in any other direction would have been fruitless. And, as the result of +this journey would be decisive, and would either fix or determine our +advance or retreat, I was anxious for Mr. Hume's attendance. + +The natives followed to the camp, and in the course of the afternoon, were +joined by their women. The latter however, would not approach nearer than +the top of a little hillock on which they sat. The men did not come round +the tents, but stood in a row at a short distance. At sunset, they gained +a little courage, and wandered about a little more; at length they went +off to the Darling. + +HONESTY OF A NATIVE. + +It was quite dark, when I heard a native call from the hill on which the +women had been, and I desired Hopkinson to take his firelock and ascertain +what the man wanted. He soon after returned, and brought a blanket, which +he said the man had returned to him. The native was alone, and when he +offered the blanket, kept his spear poised in his right hand; but, seeing +that no violence was intended him, he lowered his weapon, and walked away. + +REWARD THE MAN FOR HIS CONDUCT. + +I was extremely pleased at this trait of honesty, and determined to reward +it. On inquiry, I found that the men had availed themselves of the day to +wash their blankets and that one of them had been flung over a bush +hanging over the bank of the river, and it was supposed that one of the +natives must have pulled it down with him. In the morning, the tribe went +away from their encampment before day-light as we judged from the cry of +their dogs, than which nothing could be more melancholy; but about eight, +the men made their appearance on the hill occupied by the women the +evening previously, and seemed to be doubtful whether to approach nearer. +I went out to them, and, with a downward motion of my hand, beckoned for +them to come to me: they mistook the signal, but laid all their spears on +the ground, and it was not until after the sign had been reversed that +they stirred or moved towards me. I than got them in a row, and desired +Hopkinson to single out the man who had given him the blanket. It was, +however, with great difficulty that he recognised him, as the man stood +firm and motionless. At length, after walking two or three times along the +line, he stopped before one man, and put his hand on his shoulder, upon +which the manner of the native testified as to the correctness of his +guess. + +The blanket being produced, I explained to the savage, with Mr. Hume's +assistance, that I was highly pleased with him, and forthwith presented +him with a tomahawk and a clasp-knife. The tribe were perfectly aware of +the reason of my conduct, and all of them seemed highly delighted. + +I was happy in having such an opportunity of showing the natives of the +interior that I came among them with a determination to maintain justice +in my communication with them, and to impress them, at the same time, with +a sense of our love of it in them. That they appreciated my apparent +lenity in not calling for the defaulter, I am sure, and I feel perfectly +conscious that I should have failed in my duty had I acted otherwise than +I did. + +EFFECT OF FIRING A GUN. + +Although the natives had shown so good a disposition, as they were +numerous, I thought it as well, since I was about to leave the camp, to +show them that I had a power they little dreamt of about me. I therefore +called for my gun and fired a ball into a tree. The effect of the report +upon the natives, was truly ridiculous. Some stood and stared at me, +others fell down, and others ran away; and it was with some difficulty we +collected them again. At last, however, we did so, and, leaving them to +pick out the ball, mounted our horses and struck away for the Darling. +We crossed the river a little above where we struck it, and then proceeded +N.W. into the interior. + +EXCURSION ACROSS THE DARLING. + +It is impossible for me to describe the nature of the country over which +we passed, for the first eight miles. We rode through brushes of +polygonum, under rough-gum, without a blade of vegetation, the whole space +being subject to inundation. We then got on small plains of firmer +surface, and red soil, but these soon changed again for the former; and +at 4 p.m. we found ourselves advanced about two miles on a plain that +stretched away before us, and bounded the horizon. It was dismally brown; +a few trees only served to mark the distance. Up one of the highest I sent +Hopkinson, who reported that he could not see the end of it, and that all +around looked blank and desolate. It is a singular fact, that during the +whole day, we had not seen a drop of water or a blade of grass. + +DESOLATING EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT. + +To have stopped where we were, would, therefore, have been impossible; to +have advanced, would probably have been ruin. Had there been one favorable +circumstance to have encouraged me with the hope of success, I would have +proceeded. Had we picked up a stone as indicating our approach to high +land, I would have gone on; or had there been a break in the level of the +country, or even a change in the vegetation. But we had left all traces of +the natives far behind us; and this seemed a desert they never +entered--that not even a bird inhabited. I could not encourage a hope of +success, and, therefore, gave up the point; not from want of means, but a +conviction of the inutility of any further efforts. If there is any blame +to be attached to the measure, it is I who am in fault, but none who had +not like me traversed the interior at such a season, would believe the +state of the country over which I had wandered. During the short interval +I had been out, I had seen rivers cease to flow before me, and sheets of +water disappear; and had it not been for a merciful Providence, should, +ere reaching the Darling, have been overwhelmed by misfortune. + +I am giving no false picture of the reality. So long had the drought +continued, that the vegetable kingdom was almost annihilated, and minor +vegetation had disappeared. In the creeks, weeds had grown and withered, +and grown again; and young saplings were now rising in their beds, +nourished by the moisture that still remained; but the largest forest +trees were drooping, and many were dead. The emus, with outstretched +necks, gasping for breath, searched the channels of the rivers for water, +in vain; and the native dog, so thin that it could hardly walk, seemed to +implore some merciful hand to despatch it. How the natives subsisted it +was difficult to say, but there was no doubt of the scarcity of food +among them. + +We arrived in camp at a late hour, and having nothing to detain us longer, +prepared for our retreat in the morning. The natives had remained with the +party during the greater part of the day, and had only left them a short +time prior to our arrival, + +When examining the creek on which we had been encamped for some days, +Mr. Hume observed a small junction; and as we knew we were almost +due N. of the marshes of the Macquarie, both of us were anxious to +ascertain whence it originated. To return to Mount Harris, by retracing +our steps up the Castlereagh, would have entailed the severest distress +upon us; we the rather preferred proceeding up this creek, and taking our +chance for a supply of water. We therefore crossed Morrisset's chain of +ponds, and encamped in the angle formed by the junction of the two creeks. + +Before we left this position, we were visited by a party of natives, +twelve in number, but not of the Darling tribe. They accompanied us a +short way, and then struck off to the right. At about a mile and a half, +we crossed Mr. Hume's track, leading westerly, which still remained +observable. The creek was, no doubt, the hollow he stated that he crossed +on that excursion, and its appearance certainly justified his opinion of +it. Its bed was choked up with bulrushes or the polygonum, and its banks +were level with the country on either side, or nearly so. We passed over +extremely rich soil the whole day, on a S.W. and by W. course, though the +timber upon it was dwarfish, and principally of the rough-gum kind. + +On the 2nd of April, we stopped in order to make some repairs upon the +dray; the wheels of which had failed us. Clayton put in four new spokes, +and we heated the tyres over again, by which means we got it once more +serviceable. + +WILD MELON. + +The soil in the creek was of the richest quality, and was found to produce +a dwarf melon, having all the habits and character of the cucumber. +The fruit was not larger than a pigeon's egg, but was extremely sweet. +There were not, however, many ripe, although the runners were covered with +flowers, and had an abundance of fruit upon them. In the morning, we sent +the tinker on horseback up the creek, to ascertain how far the next water +was from us, desiring him to keep the creek upon his right, and to follow +his own track back again. He thought fit, however, considering himself +a good bushman, to wander away to his left, and the consequence was, that +he soon lost himself. It would appear that be doubled and passed through +some thick brush at the back of the camp, and at length found himself at +dark on the banks of a considerable creek. In wandering along it, he +luckily struck upon the natives we had last seen, who, good-naturedly, led +him to the track of the dray, which his horse would not afterwards desert, +and the tinker sneaked into the tent about 3 o'clock in the morning, +having failed in his errand, and made himself the butt of the whole party. + +RETURN UP THE CREEK. + +The day succeeding this adventure, we moved up the creek, which was, for +the most part, even with the plain. The country continued the same as that +we had passed over from the junction, being subject to flood, and having +patches of bulrushes and reeds upon it. No change took place in the +timber, but the line of acacia pendula, which forms the line of +inundation, approached neater to us; nor was the mark of flood so high on +the trunks of trees as below. We halted, with abominable water, but +excellent food for the animals in the plains behind us. In continuing our +journey, we found several changes take place in the appearance of the +creek and its neighbourhood. The former diminished in size, and at length +separated into two distinct channels, choked up, for the most part, with +dead bulrushes, but having a few green reeds in patches along it. The +flats on either side became slightly timbered, and blue gum was the +prevailing tree. Crossing one of the channels, we observed every +appearance of our near approach to the marshes, the flats being +intersected by many little water-runs, such as we had noticed at the +bottom of them. About noon we struck upon a body of reeds under the wood +of eucalypti, below the second great morass, and keeping a little to our +right to avoid them, fell shortly afterwards into our old track on the +plain, upon which we continued to move, making the best of our way to the +channel which had supplied our wants on our first return from the Darling. +It was now, however, quite dry, and we were obliged to push on further, +to shorten the journey of the morrow. + +CONNECTION OF MACQUARIE AND DARLING. + +The result of our journey up the creek was particularly satisfactory, both +to myself and Mr. Hume; since it cleared up every doubt that might have +existed regarding the actual termination of the Macquarie, and enabled us +to connect the flow of waters at so interesting and particular a point. +It will be seen by a reference to the chart, that the waters of the +marshes, after trickling through the reeds, form a small creek, which +carries off the superfluous part of them into Morrisset's chain of ponds, +which latter again falls into the Castlereagh, at about eight miles to the +W.N.W. and all three join the Darling in a W. by N. direction, in lat. +30 degrees 52 minutes south and E. lon. 147 degrees 8 minutes at about +90 miles to the N.N.W. of Mount Harris, and about an equal distance to +the E.S.E. of where we struck upon the last-mentioned river. Thus it +is evident that the Darling had considerably neared the eastern ranges, +although it was still more than 150 miles from their base. It was +apparently coming from the N.E., and whether it has its sources in the +mountains behind our distant settlements, or still farther to the +northwards, is a question of curious speculation, although, as I have +already stated, I am of opinion that none but tropical rains could +supply the furious torrent that must sometimes rage in it. + +It would be presumptuous to hazard any opinion as to the nature of the +interior to the westward of that remarkable river. Its course is involved +in equal mystery, and it is a matter of equal doubt whether it makes its +way to the south coast, or ultimately exhausts itself in feeding a +succession of swamps, or falls into a large reservoir in the centre of +the island. + +RETURN TO MOUNT HARRIS. + +We reached Mount Harris on the 7th of the month, and moving leisurely up +the banks of the Macquarie, gained Mr. Palmer's first station on the 14th, +and Wellington Valley on the 21st, having been absent from that settlement +four months and two weeks. The waters of the Macquarie had diminished so +much, that its bed was dry for more than half a mile at a stretch, nor did +we observe the least appearance of a current in it, until after we had +ascended the ranges. The lower tribes were actually starving, and brought +their children to us to implore something to eat. The men attempted to +surprise the camp, but I believe they were urged from absolute necessity +to procure subsistence for themselves, and that they intended robbery +rather than personal violence. + +DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. + +We left the interior in a still more deplorable state than that in which +we found it; but it is more than probable that under other circumstances, +we should have found it impossible to traverse its distant plains, as it +is certain that unless rain fell in less than three weeks, all +communication with the Darling would have been cut off: + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + +RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Whether the discoveries that have been made during this expedition, will +ultimately prove of advantage to the colony of New South Wales, is a +question that time alone can answer. We have in the meanwhile to regret +that no beneficial consequences will immediately follow them. The further +knowledge that has been gained of the interior is but as a gleam of +sunshine over an extensive landscape. A stronger light has fallen upon the +nearer ground, but the distant horizon is still enveloped in clouds. The +veil has only as it were been withdrawn from the marshes of the Macquarie +to be spread over the channel of the Darling. Unsatisfactory, however, as +the discoveries may as yet be considered in a commercial point of view, +the objects for which the expedition had been fitted out were happily +attained. The marsh it had been directed to examine, was traversed on +every side, and the rivers it had been ordered to trace, were followed +down to their terminations to a distance far beyond where they had ceased +to exist as living streams. To many who may cast their eyes over the +accompanying chart, the extent of newly discovered country may appear +trifling; but when they are told, that there is not a mile of that +ground that was not traversed over and over again, either by Mr. Hume or +by myself, that we wandered over upwards of 600 miles more than the main +body of the expedition, on different occasions, in our constant and +anxious search for water, and that we seldom dismounted from our horses, +until long after sunset, they will acknowledge the difficulties with which +we had to contend, and will make a generous allowance for them; for, +however unsuccessful in some respects the expedition may have been, it +accomplished as much, it is to be hoped, as under such trying +circumstances could have been accomplished. It now only remains for me to +sum up the result of my own observations, and to point out to the reader, +how far the actual state of the interior, has been found to correspond +with the opinions that were entertained of it. + +MR. OXLEY'S REMARKS. + +I have already stated, in the introduction to this work, that the general +impression on the minds of those best qualified to judge was, that the +western streams discharged themselves into a central shoal sea. Mr. Oxley +thus expresses himself on the subject:-- + + +"July 3rd. Towards morning the storm abated, and at day-light, we +proceeded on our voyage. The main bed of the river was much contracted, +but very deep; the waters spreading to the depth of a foot or eighteen +inches over the banks, but all running on the same point of bearing. We +met with considerable interruptions from fallen timber, which in places +nearly choked up the channel. After going about twenty miles, we lost the +land and trees; the channel of the river, which lay through reeds, and was +from one to three feet deep, ran northerly.--This continued for three or +four miles farther, when, although there had been no previous change in +the breadth, depth, or rapidity of the stream for several miles, and I was +sanguine in my expectations of soon entering the long-sought-for +Australian sea, it all at once eluded our farther pursuit, by spreading on +every point from N.W. to N.E. among the ocean of reeds which surrounded +us, still running with the same rapidity as before. There was no channel +whatever among those reeds, and the depth varied from three to five feet. +This astonishing change (for I cannot call it a termination of the river) +of course left me no alternative but to endeavour to return to some spot +on which we could effect a landing before dark. I estimated, that during +the day, we had gone about twenty-four miles, on nearly the same point of +bearing as yesterday. To assert, positively, that we were on the margin of +the lake, or sea, into which this great body of water is discharged, might +reasonably be deemed a conclusion, which has nothing but conjecture for +its basis. But if an opinion may be permitted to be hazarded from actual +appearances, mine is decidedly in favour of our being in the immediate +vicinity of an inland sea, or lake, most probably a shoal one, and +gradually filling up by numerous depositions from the high lands, left by +the waters which flow into it. It is most singular, that the high lands on +this continent seem to be confined to the sea-coast, and not to extend to +any distance from it." + +MR. CUNNINGHAM'S REMARKS. + +In a work published at Sydney, containing an account of Mr. Allan +Cunningham's journey towards Moreton Bay, in 1828, the following remarks +occur, from which it is evident Mr. Cunningham entertained Mr. Oxley's +views of the character and nature of the Western interior. Towards the +conclusion of the narrative, the author thus observes:-- + + +"Of the probable character of the distant unexplored interior, into which +it has been ascertained ALL the rivers falling westerly from the dividing +ranges flow, some inference may be drawn from the following data. + +"Viewing, between the parallels of 34 degrees and 27 degrees, a vast area +of depressed interior, subjected in seasons of prolonged rains to partial +inundation, by a dispersion of the several waters that flow upon it from +the eastern mountains whence they originate; and bearing in mind at the +same time, that the declension of the country within the above parallels, +as most decidedly shown by the dip of its several rivers, is uniformly +to the N.N.W. and N.W., it would appear very conclusive, that either a +portion of our distant interior is occupied by a lake of considerable +magnitude, or that the confluence of those large streams, the Macquarie, +Castlereagh, Gwydir, and the Dumaresq, with the many minor interfluent +waters, which doubtless takes place upon those low levels, forms one +or more noble rivers, which may flow across the continent by an almost +imperceptible declivity of country to the north of north-west coasts, on +certain parts of which, recent surveys have discovered to us extensive +openings, by which the largest accumulations of waters might escape to the +sea." + +CHARACTER OF THE RIVERS. + +It is the characteristic of the streams falling westerly from the eastern, +or coast ranges, to maintain a breadth of channel and a rapidity of +current more immediately near their sources, that ill accords with their +diminished size, and the sluggish flow of their waters in the more +depressed interior. In truth, neither the Macquarie nor the Castlereagh +can strictly be considered as permanent rivers. The last particularly is +nothing more than a mountain torrent. The Macquarie, although it at length +ceased to run, kept up the appearance of a river to the very marshes; but +the bed of the Castlereagh might have been crossed in many places without +being noticed, nor did its channel contain so much water as was to be +found on the neighbouring plains. + +There are two circumstances upon which the magnitude, and velocity of a +river, more immediately depend. The first is the abundance of its sources, +the other the dip of its bed. If a stream has constant fountains at its +head, and numerous tributaries joining it in its course, and flows withal +through a country of gradual descent, such a stream will never fail; but +if the supplies do not exceed the evaporation and absorption, to which +every river is subject, if a river dependant on its head alone, falls +rapidly into a level country, without receiving a single addition to its +waters to assist the first impulse acquired in their descent, it must +necessarily cease to flow at one point or other. Such is the case with the +Lachlan, the Macquarie, the Castlereagh, and the Darling. Whence the +latter originates, still remains to be ascertained; but most undoubtedly +its sources have been influenced by the same drought that has exhausted +the fountains of the three first mentioned streams. + +In supporting his opinion of the probable discharge of the interior waters +of Australia upon its north-west coast, Mr. Cunningham thus remarks in the +publication from which I have already made an extract. + + +"To those remarkable parts of the north-west coast above referred to in +the parallel of 16 degrees south, the Macquarie river, which rises in +lat. 33 degrees, and under the meridian of 150 degrees east, would have a +course of 2045 statute miles throughout, while the elevation of its +source, being 3500 feet above the level of the sea as shown by the +barometer, would give its waters an average descent of twenty inches to +the mile, supposing the bed of the river to be an inclined plane. + +"The Gwydir originating in elevated land, lying in 31 degrees south, and +long. 151 degrees east, at a mean height of 3000 feet, would have to flow +2020 miles, its elevated sources giving to each a mean fall of seventeen +inches. + +"Dumaresq's river falling 2970 feet from granite mountains, in 28 1/4 +degrees under the meridian of 152 degrees, would have to pursue its course +for 2969 miles, its average fall being eighteen inches to a mile." + +As I have never been upon the banks either of the Gwydir or the Dumaresq, +I cannot speak of those two rivers; but in estimating the sources of the +Macquarie at 3500 feet above the level of the sea, Mr. Cunningham has lost +sight of, or overlooked the fact, that the fall of its bed in the first +two hundred miles, is more than 2800 feet, since the cataract, which is +midway between Wellington Valley and the marshes, was ascertained by +barometrical admeasurement, to be 680 feet only above the ocean. The +country, therefore, through which the Macquarie would have to flow during +the remainder of its course of 1700 miles, in order to gain the +N.W. coast, would not be a gradually inclined plain, but for the most part +a dead level, and the fact of its failure is a sufficient proof in itself +how short the course of a river so circumstanced must necessarily be. + +MR. OXLEY'S OPINIONS. + +Having conversed frequently with Mr. Oxley on the subject of his +expeditions, I went into the interior prepossessed in favour of his +opinions, nor do I think he could have drawn any other conclusion than +that which he did, from his experience of the terminations of the rivers +whose courses he explored. Had Mr. Oxley advanced forty, or even thirty +miles, farther than he did, to the westward of Mount Harris; nay, had he +proceeded eight miles in the above direction beyond the actual spot from +which he turned back, he would have formed other and very different +opinions of the probable character of the distant interior. But I am aware +that Mr. Oxley performed all that enterprise, and perseverance, and talent +could have performed, and that it would have been impracticable in him to +have attempted to force its marshes in the state in which he found them. +It was from his want of knowledge of their nature and extent, that he +inferred the swampy and inhospitable character of the more remote country, +a state in which subsequent investigation has found it not to be. The +marsh of the Macquarie is nothing more than an ordinary marsh or swamp in +another country. However large a space it covers, it is no more than a +concavity or basin for the reception of the waters of the river itself, +nor has it any influence whatever on the country to the westward of it, +in respect to inundation; the general features of the latter being a +regular alternation of plain and brush. These facts are in themselves +sufficient to give a fresh interest to the interior of the Australian +continent, and to increase its importance. + +CAPT. KING'S OPINIONS. + +With respect to that part of its coast at which the rivers falling from +the eastern mountains, discharge themselves, it is a question of very +great doubt. It seems that Capt. King, in consequence of some +peculiarities in the currents at its N.W. angle, supports Mr. Cunningham's +opinion as to their probable discharge in that quarter. But I fear the +internal structure of the continent is so low, as to preclude the hopes of +any river reaching from one extremity of it to the other. A variety of +local circumstances, as the contraction of a channel, a shoal sea, or +numerous islands, influence currents generally, but more especially round +so extensive a continent as that of which we are treating; nor does it +strike me that any observations made by Capt. King during his survey, can +be held to bear any connection with the eastern ranges, or their western +waters. It may, however, be said, that as the course of the Darling is +still involved in uncertainty, the question remains undecided; but it +appears to me, the discovery of that river has set aside every conjecture +(founded on previous observation) respecting the main features of the +interior lying to the westward of the Blue Mountains. Both Mr. Oxley and +Mr. Cunningham drew their conclusions from the appearances of the country +they severally explored. The ground on which those theories were built, +has been travelled over, and has not been found to realise them, but +subsequent investigation has discovered to us a river, the dip of whose +bed is to the S.W. We have every reason to believe that the sources of +this river must be far to the northward of the most distant northerly +point to which any survey has been made, as we are certain that it is far +beyond the stretch of vision from the loftiest and most westerly of the +barrier ranges; from which circumstance, it is evident that whatever +disposition the streams descending from those ranges to the westward may +show to hold a N.W. course more immediately at the base, the whole of the +interior streams, from the Macquarie to the Dumaresq, are tributaries to +the principal channel which conveys their united waters at right angles, +if not still more opposite to the direction they were supposed to take, +as far as is yet known. + +COURSE OF THE DARLING. + +The Darling River must be considered as the boundary line to all inland +discoveries from the eastward. Any judgment or opinion of the interior to +the westward of that stream, would be extremely premature and uncertain. +There is not a single feature over it to guide or to strengthen either the +one or the other. + +CHARACTER OF THE WESTERN INTERIOR. + +My impression, when travelling the country to the west and N.W. of the +marshes of the Macquarie, was, that I was traversing a country of +comparatively recent formation. The sandy nature of its soil, the great +want of vegetable decay, the salsolaceous character of its plants, the +appearance of its isolated hills and flooded tracts, and its trifling +elevations above the sea, severally contributed to strengthen these +impressions on my mind. My knowledge of the interior is, however, too +limited to justify me in any conclusion with regard to the central parts +of Australia. An ample field is open to enterprise and to ambition, and it +is to be hoped that some more decisive measures will be carried into +effect, both for the sake of the colony and of geography, to fill up the +blank upon the face of the chart of Australia, and remove from us the +reproach of indifference and inaction. + +BARBER'S STATEMENT. + +Since the above pages were written, an expedition was undertaken by +Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, to ascertain the truth of a report +brought in by a runaway convict of the name of Barber, or Clarke, who had +been at large for five years, at different times, among the natives to +the northward of Port Macquarie. This man stated that a large river, +originating in the high lands near Liverpool Plains, and the mountains to +the north of them, pursued a N.W. course to the sea. His story ran thus: +Having learnt from the natives the existence of this river, he determined +to follow it down, in hopes that he might ultimately be enabled to make +his escape from the colony. He accordingly started from Liverpool Plains, +and kept on a river called the Gnamoi, for some time, which took him N.W. +After a few days' journey, he left this river, traversed the country +northwards, and crossed some lofty ranges. Descending to the N.E. he came +to another large river, the Keindur, which again took him N.W. He +travelled 400 miles down it, when he observed a large stream joining it +upon its left bank, which he supposed to be the Gnamoi. The river he was +upon was broad and navigable. It flowed through a level country with a +dead current and muddy water, and spread into frequent lakes. He found +that it ultimately discharged itself into the sea, but was uncertain at +what distance from its sources. He was positive he never travelled to the +SOUTHWARD OF WEST. He ascended a hill near the sea, and observed an island +in the distance, from which, the natives informed him, a race of +light-coloured men came in large canoes for a scented wood; but having +failed in the immediate object of his journey, he was eventually obliged +to return. + +MAJOR MITCHELL'S REPORT. + +The following official report of Major Mitchell will sufficiently point +out the incorrectness of the preceding statement. It is most probable that +Barber merely told that which he had heard from the natives, and that +having a more than ordinary share of cunning, he made up a story upon +their vague and uncertain accounts, in hopes that it would benefit him, +as in truth it did. + + +* * * * * + + +Bullabalakit, on the River Nammoy, +in lat. 30 degrees 38 minutes 21 seconds S., +long. 149 degrees 30 minutes 20 seconds E. +23d December, 1831. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, the progress I have made in exploring the course of the interior +waters to the northward of the Colony, with reference to the letter which +I had the honour to address to Col. Lindesay, on this subject, on the +19th ult. + +On crossing Liverpool Range my object was to proceed northward, so as to +avoid the plains and head the streams which water them, and avoiding also +the mountain ranges on the east. + +I arrived accordingly, by a tolerably straight and level line, at +Walamoul, on Peel's River; this place (a cattle station of Mr. Brown) +being nearly due north from the common pass across Liverpool Range, and +about a mile-and-a-half above the spot where Mr. Oxley crossed this +river. + +PEEL'S RIVER. + +I found the general course of the Peel below Walamoul to be nearly west; +and after tracing this river downwards twenty-two miles (in direct +distance), I crossed it at an excellent ford, named Wallamburra. I then +traversed the extensive plain of Mulluba; and leaving that of Coonil on +the right, extending far to the north-east, we passed through a favourable +interval of what I considered Hardwicke's Range, the general direction of +this range being two points west of north. + +On passing through this gorge, which, from the name of a hill on the south +side, may be named Ydire, I crossed a very extensive tract of flat +country, on which the wood consisted of iron-bark and acacia pendula; this +tract being part of a valley evidently declining to the north-west, which +is bounded on the south by the Liverpool Range, and on the south-west by +the extremities from the same. On the west, at a distance of twenty-two +miles from Hardwicke's Range, there stands a remarkable isolated hill +named Bounalla; and towards the lowest part of the country, and in the +direction in which all the waters tend, there is a rocky peak named +Tangulda. On the north, a low range (named Wowa), branching westerly from +Hardwicke's Range, bounds on that side this extensive basin, which +includes Liverpool Plains. Peel's River is the principal stream, and +receives, in its course, all the waters of these plains below the junction +of Connadilly,--which I take to be York's River, of Oxley. + +THE RIVER NAMMOY. + +The stream is well known to the natives by the name Nammoy; and six miles +below Tangulda, the low extremities from the surrounding ranges close on +the river, and separate this extensive vale from the unexplored country +which extends beyond to an horizon which is unbroken between W.N.W. +and N.N.W. + + +The impracticable appearance of the mountains to the northward, induced me +to proceed thus far to the west; and on examining the country thirty miles +N.E. by N. from Tangulda, I ascended a lofty range extending westward from +the coast chain, and on which the perpendicular sides of masses of +trachyte (a volcanic rock) were opposed to my further progress even with +horses: it was therefore evident that the river supposed to rise about the +latitude of 28 degrees would not be accessible, or at least available to +the Colony, in that direction, and that in the event of the discovery of a +river beyond that range flowing to the northern or north-western shores, +it would become of importance to ascertain whether it was joined by the +Nammoy, the head of this river being so accessible that I have brought my +heavily laden drays to where it is navigable for boats, my present +encampment being on its banks six miles below Tangulda. From this station +I can perceive the western termination of the Trachytic range, and I am +now about to explore the country between it and the Nammoy, and the +further course of this river; and in the event of its continuance in a +favourable direction, I shall fix my depot on its right bank, whence I now +write, and descend the stream in the portable boats. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL + +The Hon. The Colonial Secretary. + + +* * * * * + + +Peel's River, 29th February, 1832. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to inform you, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, that I have reached the left bank of this River with my whole +party on my return from the northern interior, having explored the course +of the river referred to in my letter of 22nd December last, and others +within the 29th parallel of latitude. + +There was so much fallen timber in the Nammoy, and its waters were so low, +that the portable boats could not be used on that river with advantage, +and I proceeded by land in a north-west direction, until convinced by its +course turning more to the westward that this river joined the river +Darling. I therefore quitted its banks with the intention of exploring the +country further northward, by moving round the western extremities of the +mountains mentioned in my former letter, and which I have since +distinguished in my map by the name of the Lindesay Range. These mountains +terminate abruptly on the west, and I entered a fine open country at their +base, from whence plains (or rather open ground of gentle undulation) +extended westward as far as could be seen. On turning these mountains I +directed my course northward, and to the eastward of north, into the +country beyond them, in search of the river KINDUR; and I reached a river +flowing westward, the bed of which was deep, broad, and permanent, but in +which there was not then much water. + +THE RIVER KARAULA. + +The marks of inundation on trees, and on the adjoining high ground, proved +that its floods rose to an extraordinary height; and from the latitude, +and also from the general direction of its course, I considered this to be +the river which Mr. Cunningham named the Gwydir, on crossing it sixty +miles higher, on his route to Moreton Bay. I descended this river, and +explored the country on its left bank for about eighty miles to the +westward, when I found that its general course was somewhat to the +southward of west. This river received no addition from the mountains over +that part of its left bank traversed by me; and the heat being intense, +the stream was at length so reduced that I could step across it. The banks +had become low, and the bed much contracted, being no longer gravelly, but +muddy. I therefore crossed this river and travelled northward, on a +meridian line, until, in the latitude of 29 degrees 2 minutes, I came upon +the largest river I had yet seen. The banks were earthy and broken, the +soil being loose, and the water of a white muddy colour. Trees, washed out +by the roots from the soft soil, filled the bed of this river in many +places. There was abundance of cod-fish of a small size, as well as of the +two other kinds of fish which we had caught in the Peel, the Nammoy, and +the Gwydir. The name of this river, as well as we could make it out from +the natives, was Karaula. Having made fast one tree to top of another tall +tree, I obtained a view of the horizon, which appeared perfectly level, +and I was in hopes that we had at length found a river which would flow to +the northward and avoid the Darling. I accordingly ordered the boat to be +put together, and sent Mr. White with a party some miles down to clear +away any trees in the way. Mr. White came upon a rocky fall, and found +besides the channel so much obstructed by trees, and the course so +tortuous, that I determined to ascertain before embarking upon it, whether +the general course was in the desired direction. Leaving Mr. White with +half the party, I accordingly traced the Karaula downwards, and found that +its course changed to south, a few miles below where I had made it, and +that it was joined by the Gwydir only eight miles below where I had +crossed that river. Immediately below the junction of the Gwydir (which is +in latitude 29 degrees 30 minutes 27 seconds, longitude 148 degrees +13 minutes 20 seconds) the course of the river continues southward of +west, directly towards where Captain Sturt discovered the River Darling; +and I could no longer doubt that this was the same river. I therefore +returned to the party, determined to explore the country further +northward. + +The results of my progress thus far were sufficient, I considered, to +prove that the division of the waters falling towards the northern and +southern shores of Australia is not, as has been supposed, in the +direction of the Liverpool and Warrabangle range, but extends between Cape +Byron on the eastern shore, towards Dick Hartog's Island on the west; the +greater elongation of this country being between these points, and +intermediate between the lines of its northern and southern coasts. The +basin of the streams I have been upon must be bounded on the north by this +dividing ground or water-shed, and although no rise was perceptible in the +northern horizon, the river was traversed by several rocky dykes, over +which it fell southward; their direction being oblique to the course, and +nearly parallel to this division of the waters. I beg leave to state, that +I should not feel certain on this point without having seen more, were it +not evident from Mr. Cunningham's observations, made on crossing this +division on his way to Moreton Bay. Mr. Cunningham, on crossing the head +of this river, nearly in the same latitude, but much nearer its sources, +found the height of its bed above the sea to be 840 feet; at about +forty-five miles further northward the ground rose to upwards of +1700 feet, but immediately beyond, he reached a river flowing north-west, +the height of which was only 1400 feet above the sea. He had thus crossed +this dividing higher ground, between the parallels of 29 degrees +and 28 degrees. It appears, therefore, that all the interior rivers we +know of to the northward of the Morumbidgee, belong to the basin of the +Karaula; this stream flowing southward, and hence the disappearance of the +Macquarie and other lower rivers may be understood, for all along the +banks of the Karaula, the Gwydir, and the Nammoy, the country, though not +swampy, bears marks of frequent inundation; thus the floods occasioned by +these rivers united, cover the low country, and receive the Macquarie so +that no channel marks its further course. + +That a basin may be found to the northward receiving the waters of the +northern part of the coast range in a similar manner is extremely +probable, and that they form a better river, because the angle is more +acute between the high ground, which must bound it on the N.E. and the +watershed on the south. I therefore prepared to cross the Karaula, in +hopes of seeing the head at least of such a river, and to explore the +country two degrees further northward, but moving in a N.W. direction. +My tent was struck, and I had just launched my portable boat for the +purpose of crossing the river, when Mr. Surveyor Finch, whom I had +instructed to bring up a supply of flour, arrived with the distressing +intelligence, that two of his men had been killed by the natives, who had +taken the flour, and were in possession of everything he had brought--all +the cattle, including his horse, being also dispersed or lost. I therefore +determined not to extend my excursion further, as the party were already +on reduced rations, and on the 8th instant I retired from the Karaula, +returning by the marked line, which being cut through thick scrubs in +various places is now open, forming a tolerably direct line of +communication in a N.W. direction from Sydney, to a river, beyond which +the survey may be extended whenever His Excellency the Governor thinks +fit. + +The natives had never troubled my party on our advance; indeed I only saw +them when I came upon them by surprise, and then they always ran off. +Their first visit was received at my camp on the Karaula, during my +absence down that river, when they were very friendly, but much disposed +to steal. Various tribes followed us on coming back, but never with any +show of hostility, although moving in tribes of a hundred or more parallel +to our marked line, or in our rear; it was necessary to be ever on our +guard, and to encamp in strong positions only, arranging the drays for +defence during the night: three men were always under arms, and I have +much pleasure in stating, that throughout the whole excursion, and under +circumstances of hardship and privation, the conduct of the men was very +good. I took an armed party to the scene of pillage, and buried the bodies +of the two men, who appeared to have been treacherously murdered while +asleep by the blacks during the absence of Mr. Finch: no natives were to +be found when I visited the spot, although it appeared from columns of +smoke on hills which overlooked if, that they were watching our movements. + +The party has now arrived within a day's journey of Brown's station, +and I have instructed Assistant-Surveyor White (from whom I have received +great assistance during the whole journey) to conduct it homewards, being +desirous to proceed without delay to Sydney, and to receive the +instructions of His Excellency the Governor. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient Servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, +"&c. &c. &c." + + + + +Chapter VI. + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS + + +Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior of Australia-- +Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady intelligent +subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men requisite,--and of +cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements--Treatment of the +natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second expedition. + + +Having now had considerable experience in the fitting out and management +of expeditions in New South Wales, I cannot refrain from making some few +observations on the subject. And without presuming to lay dawn any fixed +rules, I shall only refer to those by which I have best succeeded, in +hopes that some of my remarks may prove of use to future travellers who +may venture to penetrate into the trackless deserts over so small a +portion of which I wandered. + +DIFFICULTIES OF EXPLORING AUSTRALIA. + +The great difficulty of examining the interior of Australia, is that of +carrying supplies; for increasing the number of individuals composing an +expedition is of no avail, since an additional number of men must +necessarily increase the consumption of food. In order to meet this +difficulty it has been proposed to establish depots upon which an +expedition could fall back to recruit its supplies, and in ordinary cases +this plan might answer; but I am decidedly of opinion that no party could +long remain stationary in the distant interior without some fatal +collision with the natives, which would be attended with the most +deplorable consequences; and I do think, considering all things, that the +experiment is too dangerous to be tried; for when I reached Mount Harris, +on my first retreat from the Darling, I found the party who were awaiting +me, with a supply of provisions, under very great alarm, in consequence of +the hostile proceedings of the Mount Harris tribe. The men had been +obliged to put the camp into a state of defence. The blacks had attempted +to surprise them, and would, had I not returned, have combined in some +general attack. It appears to me that the most judicious plan would be to +send a supply of provisions, with an expedition, to a distant point, under +the charge of a minor party. These provisions could replace those already +expended, and the animals that carried them could be taken back. + +SELECTION OF SUBORDINATES. + +The number of individuals of which the expedition down the banks of the +Macquarie was composed, was fourteen: that is to say, myself, Mr. Hume, +two soldiers, one free man, and seven prisoners of the crown. The latter +behaved, on all occasions, as steadily as it was possible for men to do. +Yet the circumstance of the two soldiers being with me increased my +confidence in the whole, for I was aware that their example would +influence the rest. However well disposed the prisoners of the crown may +be, (as in this instance they certainly were,) the beneficial example of +steady discipline cannot be denied. I should not have considered myself +justified in leaving the camp as I did for a week, and in detaching Mr. +Hume at the same time when at the bottom of the marshes, or in making the +last effort to maintain our position on the banks of the Darling, if I had +not reposed every confidence in the man to whom I entrusted the safety +of the camp during my absence. + +Experience, therefore, of the value of the two soldiers, whom General +Darling was good enough to permit me to take on the strength of the party, +fully bears me out in recommending that one man, at least, of general +responsibility shall be attached to all future expeditions. The success of +an expedition depends so much on the conduct of the persons of whom it is +composed, that too much attention cannot be given to the selection even of +the most subordinate. Men of active intelligent minds, of persevering +habits, and of even temper, should be preferred to mechanics who do not +possess these most requisite qualities. On the other hand, it is +impossible to do without a good carpenter, however defective he may be in +other respects. I was indebted to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of +Wellington Valley, for some excellent men, both on my first and on my +second journey, because he understood the nature of the service for which +they were required, and the characters of those whom he recommended. +But however well selected the party, or the men rather, might be, I still +consider a man of general responsibility necessary for its complete +organisation. I would have him somewhat superior to the rest in his +station in life. Him I would hold answerable for the immediate discipline +of the camp, whilst I was present, and for its safety when absent. The +assistant to the leader I would put entirely out of the question. He +has other and most important duties to perform. I would rate this man +wholly independent of him. + +DANGER OF COLLISION WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to what I have already said with regard to the natives, it +was supposed that they were so little to be apprehended, that when I went +on the first occasion into the interior, I applied for a limited number of +men only, under an impression that with a few men I could carry provisions +equal to a consumption of a greater number, and by this means be enabled +to keep the field for a greater length of time. But I do not think it +would be safe to penetrate into the distant country with fewer than +fifteen men, for although, happily, no rupture has as yet taken place with +the natives, yet, there is no security against their treachery, and it is +very certain that a slight cause might involve an expedition in +inextricable difficulty, and oblige the leader to throw himself on the +defensive, when far away from other resources than those with which he +should have provided himself, and that, perhaps, when navigating a close +and intricate river, with all the dangers and perplexities attendant on +such a situation. It is absolutely necessary to establish nightly guards, +not only for the security of the camp, but of the cattle, and at the same +time to have a force strong enough to maintain an obstinate resistance +against any number of savages, where no mercy is to be expected. It will +be borne in mind, that there is a wide difference between penetrating into +a country in the midst of its population, and landing from ships for the +purpose of communication or traffic. Yet, how few voyages of discovery +have terminated without bloodshed! Boats while landing are covered by +their ships, and have succour within view; but not so parties that go into +unknown tracts. They must depend on their immediate resources and +individual courage alone. + +PACK-OXEN, HORSES, WHEEL-CARRIAGES. + +With regard to the animals, I should recommend an equal number of horses +as of bullocks; since it has been found that the latter, though slow, +travel better over swampy ground than horses, which, on the other hand, +are preferable for expeditious journeys, to which bullocks would never be +equal. One of the colonial pack-saddles weighs fifty pounds complete, and +is preferable to those sent out from England. This, with a load of +250 1bs. is sufficient for any animal, since it enables the men to place a +part of their provisions with the general loads. The difficulty of keeping +the backs of the animals free from injury, more especially where any +blemish has before existed, is exceedingly great. They should undergo an +examination twice a-day, that is, in the morning prior to moving off, +and in the afternoon before they are turned out to feed; and measures +should then be taken to ease them as circumstances require. I never +suffered the saddles to be removed from the backs of the animals under my +charge for twenty minutes after the termination of the journey for the +day, in order to guard against the effects of the sun; and where the least +swelling appeared the saddle was altered and the place dressed. Yet, +notwithstanding all this care and attention, several both of the horses +and bullocks were at one time in a sad condition, during the first +journey,--so much so as almost to paralyse our efforts. It would be +advisable that such animals as are entirely free from blemish should be +chosen for the service of expeditions, for, with proper management they +might he kept in order. The anxiety of mind attendant on a bad state of +the animals is really quite embarrassing, for it not only causes a delay +in the movements, but a derangement in the loads. Other animals are +overburdened, and there is no knowing where the evil will stop. + +In addition to the pack-animals, I would recommend the employment of a +dray or cart under any practicable circumstances. It serves to carry +necessary comforts, gives an expedition greater facility for securing its +collections, and is of inconceivable advantage in many other respects. + +ISSUE OF PROVISIONS. + +Constant and most earnest attention should be paid to the issue of +provisions, on the discreet management of which so much depends, and the +charge of them should be committed to the second in command. The most +important articles are flour, tea, sugar, and tobacco. All should be +husbanded with extreme care, and weighed from time to time. The flour is +best carried in canvass bags, containing 100 pounds each, and should at +the termination of each day's journey, be regularly piled up and covered +with a tarpaulin. Tea, sugar and tobacco lose considerably in weight, so +that it is necessary to estimate for somewhat more than the bare supply. +With regard to the salt meat, the best mode of conveying it appears to be +in small barrels of equal weight with the bags of flour. Salt pork is +better than beef. It should be deprived of all bones and be of the very +best quality. I have heard spirits recommended, but I do not approve their +use. Tea is much more relished by the men; indeed they could not do well +without it. A small quantity of spirits would, however, of course be +necessary in the event of its being required. + +LIVE STOCK. + +Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, an enterprising and long-established settler, who +has pushed his flocks and herds to the banks of the Morumbidgee, was good +enough to present me with eight wethers as I passed his station. It may be +some gratification to Mr. O'Brien to know, that they contributed very +materially to our comforts, and he will, perhaps, accept my +acknowledgements in this place, not only for so liberal a present to +myself, but for his attention and kindness to my men as long as they +remained in his neighbourhood. It was found that the sheep gave but little +additional trouble, requiring only to be penned at night, as much to +secure them from the native dogs as to prevent them from straying away. +They followed the other animals very quietly, and soon became accustomed +to daily movements. They proved a most available stock; no waste attended +their slaughter, and they admitted of a necessary and wholesome change of +fresh food from the general salt diet, on which the men would otherwise +have had to subsist. + +The provisions should, if possible, be issued weekly, and their diminution +should be so regulated as to give an equal relief to the animals. + +For general information i have annexed a list of the supplies I took with +me on my first expedition. It may appear long, but the articles were +packed in a small compass, and their value immaterial. + +As a precautionary measure I should advise, that one of the pack animals +be kept apart for the purpose of carrying water. Two casks of equal weight +are the best for such a purpose. In long and hot marches, the men +experience great relief from having water at hand. + +INTERCOURSE WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to the natives, I hope sufficient has been said of the manner +of communicating with them to prevent the necessity of a repetition here. +The great point is not to alarm their natural timidity: to exercise +patience in your intercourse with them; to treat them kindly; and to watch +them with suspicion, especially at night. Never permit the men to steal +away from the camp, but keep them as compact as possible; and at every +station so arrange your drays and provisions that they may serve as a +defence in case of your being attacked. + +The natives appeared to me to be indifferent to our presents, in most +cases. Tomahawks, knives, pieces of iron, and different coloured ribbons +for the forehead, were most esteemed by them. They will barter and +exchange their fish for articles, and readily acquire confidence. + +I believe I have now touched on all the more important points: on minor +ones no observation I can make will be of use; men must, in many things, +be guided by circumstances. + +* * * * * + +WHALE BOAT EMPLOYED ON THE SECOND EXPEDITION. + +I may here notice that, in my second expedition, as it was anticipated +that I should require adequate provision for water conveyance, at one +stage or other of my journey down the Morumbidgee, I was furnished with a +whale-boat, the dimensions of which are given below. She was built by +Mr. Egan, the master builder of the dock-yard and a native of the colony, +and did great credit to his judgment. She carried two tons and a half of +provisions, independently of a locker, which I appropriated for the +security of the arms, occupying the space between the after-seat and the +stern. She was in the first instance put together loosely, her planks +and timbers marked, and her ring bolts, &c. fitted. She was then taken to +pieces, carefully packed up, and thus conveyed in plank into the interior, +to a distance of four hundred and forty miles, without injury. She was +admirably adapted for the service, and rose as well as could have been +expected over the seas in the lake. It was evident, however, that she +would have been much safer if she had had another plank, for she was +undoubtedly too low. The following were her dimensions:-- + +Breadth across 7th timber aft, 5 ft. 1/2 an inch outside. +Across 12th timber, 5 ft. 11 1/4 in. +Across 17th timber forward, 5 ft. +25 ft. 8 in. in length inside. +Curve of the keel No. 1, from the after side of each apron, 3 ft. 3 3/4in. +No. 2, from head to head of the dead wood, 13 1/2 in. +No. 3, from one end of keel to the other inner side, 3 in. +No. 4, round of keel from the toe of each dead wood, 7/8 1/16th. +The timbers were marked, beginning from the stern to the bow on the +starboard side, and from bow to stern on the larboard. + + + + +APPENDIX No. I. + + + +LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. + + + +By His Excellency Lieutenant General Ralph Darling, Commanding +His Majesty's Forces, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the +Territory of New South Wales, and its dependencies, and +Vice Admiral of the same, &c. &c. &c. + +TO CHARLES STURT, ESQ. CAPTAIN IN THE 39TH REGIMENT OF FOOT. + +Whereas it has been judged expedient to fit out an expedition for the +purpose of exploring the interior of New Holland, and the present dry +season affords a reasonable prospect of an opportunity of ascertaining the +nature and extent of the large marsh or marshes which stopped the progress +of the late John Oxley Esq, Surveyor General, in following the courses of +the rivers Lachlan and Macquarie in the years 1817 and 1818. And whereas I +repose full confidence in your abilities and zeal for conducting such an +expedition, I do hereby constitute and appoint you to command and take +charge of the expedition now preparing for the purpose of exploring the +interior of the country, and for ascertaining, if practicable, the nature +and extent of the marsh or marshes above mentioned. + +In the prosecution of this service, you will be guided generally by the +following instructions. + +1. You will be accompanied on this expedition by Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose +great experience in travelling through the remote parts of the Colony, +cannot fail to be highly useful to you. You will also be attended by two +soldiers and six convicts, of whom one is to understand the shoeing of +horses, one to be a carpenter, one a harness-maker and three stock-men, +and you will be provided with six horses and twelve bullocks. + +2. A small boat has been built here for the use of the expedition, and for +its conveyance, there is provided a light four-wheeled carriage to be +drawn by two bullocks. + +The deputy Commissary General has received orders for supplying the +expedition with provisions of the best quality sufficient for six months' +consumption, together with tents, blankets, clothing, pack-saddles, +utensils, instruments, tools, and necessaries of all kinds of which you +are likely to stand in need. Orders are also given for providing you with +arms and ammunition, with rockets for signals, and an ample supply of +simple medicines--You are to consider it an important duty to attend to +the providing of all these supplies, and to take care that not only every +article is of the best quality that can be procured, but also that no +article be wanting with which you may desire to be provided. + +3. Orders are given for forwarding without delay all your provisions, +stores and supplies of every kind to Wellington Valley, at which place, +you, Mr. Hume, and all your men are to rendezvous as soon as possible. +Mr Maxwell, the superintendent, will furnish you with well-trained +bullocks, and afford you all the assistance you may require in arranging +every thing for your departure from that station. + +4. After you shall have completed all your arrangements, you are to lose +no time in finally departing from Wellington Valley in prosecution of the +immediate objects of the expedition. + +5. You are first to proceed to Mount Harris, where you are to form a +temporary depot, by means of which you will have an opportunity of more +readily communicating with Mr. Maxwell. + +6. You are then to endeavour to determine the fate of the Macquarie River, +by tracing it as far as possible beyond the point to which Mr. Oxley went, +and by pushing westward, you are to ascertain if there be any high lands +in that direction, or if the country be, as it is supposed, an unbroken +level and under water. If you should fail in these objects, you will +traverse the plains lying behind our north-west boundaries, with a view to +skirt any waters by which you may have been checked to the westward; and +if you should succeed in skirting them, you are to explore the country +westward and southward as far as possible, endeavouring to discover the +Macquarie beyond the marsh of Mr. Oxley, and following it to its mouth if +at all practicable. + +7. There is some reason to believe that the over-flowing of the Macquarie +when visited by Mr. Oxley, was occasioned by heavy rains falling in the +mountains to the eastward, and that as you are to visit the same spot at a +different season of the year, you may escape such embarrassment; but +although you should get beyond the point at which Mr. Oxley stopped, it +would not be prudent to risk your own health or that of your men, by +continuing long in a swampy country. Therefore it may be advisable for you +in the first instance to leave the greater part of your men, bullocks, and +baggage, at Mount Harris, and if you should see a probability of your +being able to cross into the interior, you will then return to Mount +Harris for such additional supplies as you may judge necessary. You can +there communicate with Mr. Maxwell respecting any ulterior arrangements +which you may be desirous of making. + +8. The success of the expedition is so desirable an object, that I cannot +too strongly impress upon you the importance of perseverance in +endeavouring to skirt any waters or marshes which may check your course as +long as you have provisions sufficient for your return; but you must be +cautious not to proceed a single day's journey further than where you find +that your provisions will be barely sufficient to enable you to reach the +nearest place at which you can depend upon getting supplies. + +9. If after every endeavour you should find it totally impracticable to get +to the westward, you are still to proceed northward, keeping as westerly a +direction as possible; and when the state of your provisions will oblige +you to retreat, you will be guided by your latitude, as to the place to +which you are to make the best of your way, but you are not to make for +any place on the coast, if Wellington valley should still be nearer. + +10. You must be aware that the success of the expedition will greatly +depend upon the time for which your provisions will hold out, and +therefore you will see the great importance of observing every possible +economy in the expenditure of provisions, and preventing waste of every +kind. + +11. You are to keep a detailed account of your proceedings in a journal, +in which all observations and occurrences of every kind, with all their +circumstances, however minute, are to be carefully noted down. You are to +be particular in describing the general face of all the country through +which you pass, the direction and shape of the mountains, whether detached +or in ranges, together with the bearings and estimated distances of the +several mountains, hills, or eminences from each other. You are likewise +to note the nature of the climate, as to heat, cold, moisture, winds, +rains, &c, and to keep a register of the temperature from Fahrenheit's +thermometer, as observed at two or three periods of each day. The rivers, +with their several branches, their direction, velocity, breadth, and +depth, are carefully to be noted. It is further expected that you will, +as far as may he in your power, attend to the animal, vegetable, and +mineral productions of the country, noting down every thing that may occur +to you, and preserving specimens as far as your means will admit, +especially some of all the ripe seeds which you may discover; when the +preservation of specimens is impossible, drawings or detailed accounts of +them, are very desirable. + +12. You will note the description of the several people whom you may meet, +the extent of the population, their means of subsistence, their genius and +disposition, the nature of their amusements, their diseases and remedies, +their objects of worship, religious ceremonies, and a vocabulary of their +language. + +Lastly. On your return from your journey, you are to cause all the +journals or other written documents belonging to, and curiosities +collected by the several individuals composing the expedition, to be +carefully sealed up with your own seal and kept in that state until you +shall have made your report to me in writing of the result of the +expedition. + +Given at Sydney, this eighteenth day of November, 1828. +By Command of His Excellency the Governor, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + + + +APPENDIX No. II. + + + +LIST OF STORES SUPPLIED FOR THE EXPEDITION. + + +List of Articles delivered from His Majesty's Stores, +in charge of D. A. C. Goodsir, to Captain Sturt, viz.-- + +1 Hack saddle. 9 Harness casks. +1 Bridle. 23 Canvas bags. +2 Tents. 4 Tin cases. +14 Pack saddles. 16 Padlocks. +14 Pair hobbles. 6 Tarpaulens. +24 Sets horse shoes. 10 Haversacks. +2000 Horse nails. 113 Fathom one-inch rope. +113 Fathoms 1 1/2 inch rope. 1 Boat compass. +1 Hammer, (Blacksmith's) 1 Telescope. +1 Paring knife. 1 Spare glass for ditto. +2 Chipping do. 1 Tin case (for charts.) +2 Rasps. 100 Fish-hooks, (large.) +1 Pair pincers. 12 Fishing-lines. +1 Cutter. 10 Knives. +21b. Pack thread. 10 Forks. +24 Needles. 10 Spoons. +1/4lb. Bristles. 2 Frying-pans. +71bs. Leather. 2 Tinder-boxes. +1/2lb. Thread. 1 Tea-kettle, (tin.) +1 Pair of steelyards. 10 Tin dishes. +10 Tin pots. 8 Jackets. +1 Flour seive. 8 Duck frocks. +2 Felling-axes. 8 Shirts. +4 Tomahawks. 16 Trousers. +2 Hammers. 24 Pair shoes. +1 Hand-saw. 16 Blankets. +3 Bill-hooks. 16 Pair stockings. +3 Awls. 2 Bullock collars. +3 Broad hoes. 2 Do. back-bands and pipes. +4 Razors. 2 Leading cruppers. +4 Brushes. 1 Boat with sail and oars. +4 Combs. 1 Do. carriage. +3 Iron pots, (camp kettles.) 1 Canvass boat-cover. +1 Pair scissors. 3 Water breaker. + +COMMISSARIAT OFFICE, SYDNEY, NOV. 10TH, 1828. + +P.S.--l Tarpaulin. + Large Fish-hook. + 1 Tin tea-kettle. + 1 Camp kettle. + Pitch and oil. + Hemp or twine. + + + + +APPENDIX No. III. + + + +SHEEP-FARMING RETURNS, SHOWING THE INCREASE IN FOUR YEARS, +from two Breeding Flocks, consisting of 670 Ewes in Lamb. + + +(A.)--1st JUNE, 1828. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks. Breeding Ewes. Lambs. Total. Remarks. + + 2 yrs. old. 3 yrs. old. Male.-Female. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Lambs. +No. 1 330 148 149 627 Deaths 6. Incr.297 +No. 2 330 154 154 638 4 308 + ---- -- --- + * 1265 10 605 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +* The increase throughout these returns is calculated at from 270 to 290 +Lambs, to 300 Ewes, which is the usual average in N.S.W. + + +ABSTRACT. + +Purchased two Flocks of Ewes, at 84s.............................670 Ewes. +Increase of Lambs.......................................... 605 +Casual Deaths............................................... 10 + 595 + --- +Total as per Return............................................ 1265 + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(B.)--1st JUNE, 1829. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 3-yr. 327 154 154 635 Deaths 3 Incr.308 +2 4-yr. 326 155 155 636 4 310 +3 1-yr. 302 302 1 --- +4 1-yr. 302 18 320 -- 618 + ---- 8 + 1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (A) Total...............................................1265 +Increase by Lambing....................................618 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 636 +Casual Deaths......................................... 8 628 + ---- +Total as per return............................................1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(C.)--1st JUNE, 1830. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 296 133 154 562 Deaths 6 Incr.266 +2 4-yr. 325 150 155 625 2 300 +3 5-yr. 326 160 646 320 +4 2-yr. 302 27 329 --- +5 1-yr. 309 309 886 +6 1-yr. 309 309 --- + ---- 3 Rams died + 2780 12 ditto purchased +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (B) Total............................................ 1893 +Increase by Lambing....................................886 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................12 + --- + 898 +Deaths............................................... 11 887 + ---- +Total as per return......................................... 2780 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(D.)--1st JUNE, 1831. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 304 136 136 576 Deaths 5 Incr.272 +2 3-yr. 293 135 136 564 3 271 +3 5-yr. 324 156 156 636 1 312 +4 6-yr. 320 156 156 632 2 312 + Killed 4 --- +5 3-yr. 300 300 Deaths 2 1167 +6 2-yr. 308 308 1 +7 1-yr 443 443 +8 1-yr 442 442 1 +9 40 40 5 + ---- -- + 3941 20 + Purchased 12 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (C) Total............................................ 2780 +Increase by Lambing...................................1167 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 1185 +Casual deaths 20 ...Killed for use 4 ................. 24 1161 + ---- +Total as per return.......................................... 3941 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(E.)--1st JUNE, 1832. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 344 154 154 652 Deaths 6 Incr.308 +2 3-yr. 344 162 161 667 4 323 +4 3-yr. 342 164 165 671 3 329 +5 6-yr. 320 155 155 630 2 310 +6 7-yr. 300 145 145 590 2 290 +7 4-yr. 300 300 ---- + 1560 +8 3-yr 302 302 2 +9 2-yr 440 440 1 +10 1-yr 583 583 +11 1-yr 584 584 +12 45 45 5 Purch. 10 + ---- ---- ---- --- --- --- ---- + 1650 584 1625 45 780 780 5464 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (D) Total............................................ 3941 +Increase by Lambing...................................1560 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................10 + --- + 1570 +Decrease by casual death .............................. 25 +Decrease by slaughter for use ......................... 22 + --- + 1523 + ---- + Grand Total .............................. 5464 as above +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +MEMORANDUM,--The deaths have been calculated at the lowest rate under the +best management. It may be safer to assume a rate of four or five per +cent. per annum. + + + +Account of Expenditure and Income upon Sheep Stock in Australia, +appended to Returns A. B. C. D. and E. + 1st YEAR, (RETURN A.) JUNE, 1829. + +INCOME. +By 11265 fleeces, average weight 2 1/4 lbs. 284 lbs +wool at 1s. 6d. per lb. 213 9 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 1 Watchman at 20 20 0 O PROFIT. +To Hurdles, &c. 10 0 0 + -------- 90 0 0 + -------- 123 9 0 + + 2nd YEAR, (B.) JUNE, 1830. + + INCOME. +By 1893 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 42591bs. wool at +1s. 6d. 319 8 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 20 40 0 0 +To 1 Watchman 20 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 5 0 0 + --------- + 125 0 0 +To 18 Rams at 10 pounds* 180 0 0 + --------- + 305 0 0 + --------- + 14 8 6 +*The price of rams will probably fall to 5 pounds + + 3rd YEAR, (C.) JUNE, 1831. + + INCOME. +By 2780 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 62551bs. wool at +1s. 6d. 469 2 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 25 25 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 20 60 0 0 +To 2 Watchman 20 40 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 10 0 0 + --------- + 195 0 0 +To 12 Rams at 10 pounds 120 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 + --------- + 154 2 6 + + + + 4th YEAR, (D.) JUNE, 1832. + + INCOME. +By 3941 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 88671bs. wool at +1s. 6d. 665 0 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 25 75 0 0 +To 5 Ditto 20 100 0 0 +To 3 Watchman 20 60 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 20 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 +To 10 Rams at 10 pounds 100 0 0 + --------- + 415 0 0 + --------- + 507 0 0 + ---------- + Net profit by sales of wool in 5 years 1024 0 0 + +1024 0 0 divided by 5 gives 204 8 0 for annual interest on the +original capital of 2814 0 0, (about 7 1/4 percent per annum) +in addition to the accumulation of capital itself, shown by the +valuation of stock. + +These accounts are a year in advance of the sheep returns, in order to +bring them to the time at which the wool would be sold. + + + VALUATION OF SHEEP, JUNE, 1832----(RETURN E.) + +1614 Ewes from 1 to 4 years old at 3 pounds each 4842 0 O + 620 Do. 4 to 7 years old 2 1240 0 0 + 780 Female Lambs 2 1560 0 0 +2405 Wethers and Male Lambs 15s. 1803 0 0 + 45 Rams (original cost, 450l.) 400 0 0 + ---------- + 9845 0 0 + +Note.--About 500 pounds would be added to the Income on the fifth year, +by the sale of wethers of 3 and 4 years old. + +The cost of rams ought, strictly speaking, to be added to capital, and not +deducted from Income; but these returns were made out in their present +form at the request of a gentleman proceeding to the Colony with a limited +capital, and who wished to know how much he might safely invest in sheep. + + + + +APPENDIX No. IV. + + + +LIST OF GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, COLLECTED IN THE DISTANT INTERIOR DURING +THE FIRST EXPEDITION, WITH THEIR LOCALITIES AND THEIR RELATIVE DISTANCES +FROM EACH OTHER. + + +It may be necessary to observe that the height of the Cataract of the +Macquarie River above the sea, was ascertained by barometrical +admeasurement to be 650 feet. The country subsequently traversed is +considerably lower. The specimens refer only to the geological formation +of the distant interior. + +Schorl Rock.--Colour blueish grey, fine grained, extremely hard. Composed +of Tourmaline and Quartz. Forms the bed of the Macquarie at the Cataract, +75 miles to the N.W. of Wellington Valley. + +Decomposed Mica Slate.--Colour white; yields to the knife; adheres +strongly to the tongue. + +Decomposed Feldspar.--Colour pale rose-pink; very fine grained; easily +scratched with the knife; adheres strongly to the tongue. + +Both specimens immediately succeed the Schorl rock at the Cataract, in +large smooth-sided masses. + +This formation may be said to terminate the rocks connected with the +dividing ranges, since it is the last that occurs at their western base. + +A little below the Cataract, the county undergoes a remarkable change, +and becomes extremely depressed. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour dull red, with white spots, or grey with +red spots; very hard, compact, sonorous, magnetic. [See pp. 27 and 115.] +Composition of Mount Harris, a hill called by Mr. Oxley, elevated about +170 feet above the level of the plains. It lies 65 miles to the N.N.W. of +the Cataract, and is about 16 miles distant from the first of the marshes +of the Macquarie. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour grey with red spots, similar to the last. +Was not observed to affect the needle. Formation of Mount Foster. +Mount Foster is more than 200 feet in height, and lies about 5 miles to +the N.N.W. of Mount Harris. From the summit of both, Arbuthnot's range is +visible, bearing nearly due east, distant 70 miles. [See page 28.] + +Quartz Rook varieties--Slaty Quartz varieties.--Composition of the first +elevations to the Westward of the marshes of the Macquarie, called +New Year's Range, a group of five hills. The loftiest about 200 feet in +elevation; distant about 80 miles to the N.W. of Mount Harris. + +Granite.--Colour red, coarse-grained. Composed of Quartz, Feldspar, +and Mica. + + Granite, Porphyritic.--Colour light red. Both occurring in the bed of +New Year's Creek, traversing it obliquely, and are visible for a few +hundred yards only. This granite occurs about 16 miles from the Range in +a N. by E. direction. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of Oxley's Table Land, 500 feet above the +level of the plains. It is broken into two hills, that appear to have been +separated by some convulsion. [See page 81.] It bears N.W. by W. from +New Year's Range, distant 50 miles. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of D'Urban's group. The highest elevation +ascended during the expedition, being nearly 600 feet above the level of +the plain in which it rises. It lies to the S.S.W. of Oxley's Table Land, +distant 40 miles, and the rock of which it is composed is much harder +and closer. + +Breccia.--Colour pale yellow, silicious cement. Composition of some +trifling elevations to the North of New-Year's range, with which it is +doubtful whether they are connected. + +Crystallized Sulphate of Lime.--Found imbedded in the alluvial soil +forming the banks of the Darling river. Occurring in a regular vein. Soft, +yielding to the nail; not acted on by acids.--See Plate. + +Breccia.--Pale ochre colour, silicious cement, extremely hard. Cellular, +and sharp edges to the fractured pebbles. Has apparently undergone fusion. +Occurs in the bed of the Darling in one place only. + +Sandstone Varieties.--Colour dull red and muddy white; appears like burnt +bricks; light, easily frangible; adheres to the tongue; occurs in large +masses in the bed of the Darling; probably in connection with the +rock-salt of the neighbourhood, which, from the number of brine springs +discovered feeding the river, must necessarily exist. + +Variety of the same description of rock. + +Jasper and Quartz.--Showing itself above the surface of a plain, from +which D'Urban's group bore S. 40 E. distant 33 miles. + +It is a remarkable fact, that not a pebble or a stone was picked up during +the progress of the expedition, on any one of the plains; and that after +it again left Mount Harris for the Castlereagh, the only rock-formation +discovered was a small Freestone tract near the Darling river. There was +not a pebble of any kind either in the bed of the Castlereagh, or in the +creeks falling into it. + + + + +APPENDIX No. V. + + + +OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 23RD JANUARY, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to order, that the following +communication, dated the 25th of December last, from Captain Sturt, of the +39th Regiment, who is employed in an exploring expedition into the +interior of the country, be published for general information. + +By his Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +WESTERN MARSHES, 25TH DECEMBER, 1828. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to forward, for the Governor's perusal, a +copy of my journal up to the date of my arrival at Mount Harris. I should +not have directed the messenger to return so soon, had I not subsequently +advanced to Mount Foster, and surveyed the country from that eminence. I +could distinctly see Arbuthnot's Range to the eastward. From that point +the horizon appeared to me unbroken, but the country to the northward and +westward seemed to favour an attempt to penetrate into it. I did not +observe any sheet of water, and the course of the Macquarie was lost in +the woodlands below. + +Mr. Hume ascended the hill at sun-rise, and thought he could see mountains +to the north east, but at such a distance as to make it quite a matter of +uncertainty. Agreeing, however, in the prudence of an immediate descent, +we left our encampment on the morning of the 23rd, under Mount Foster, to +which we had removed from Mount Harris, and pursued a north-north-west +course to the spot on which we rest at present. We passed some fine meadow +land near the river, and were obliged to keep wide of it in consequence of +fissures in the ground. Traversing a large and blasted plain, on which the +sun's rays fell with intense heat, and on which there was but little +vegetation, we skirted the first great morass, and made the river +immediately beyond it. It is of very considerable extent, the channel of +the river passing through it. We are encompassed on every side by high +reeds, which exist in the woods as well as in the plains. Mr. Hume and +myself rode forward yesterday through the second morass, and made the +river on slightly elevated ground, at a distance of about five miles; the +country beyond appeared to favour our object, and we, to-morrow, proceed +with the party to the north-west. The river seems to bend to the +north-east; but in this level country it is impossible to speak with +certainty, or to give any decided opinion of the nature of it, beyond the +flats on which we are travelling. The reeds to the north-east and +northward extend over a circumference of fifty miles; but if Mr. Hume +really saw mountains or rising ground in the former point, the apparent +course of the Macquarie is at once accounted for. The country, however, +seems to dip to the north, though generally speaking it is level, and I am +inclined to think that the state of the atmosphere caused a deception in +this appearance. + +I regret to add, that the effects of the sun on the plain over which we +passed on the 23rd produced a return of inflammation in the eyes of the +men, I have named in my journals, and caused the same in the eyes of +several others of my party. I halted, therefore, to expedite their +recovery. They are doing well now, and we can proceed in the cool of the +morning without any fear of their receiving injury by it. One of the men, +who were to return to Wellington Valley, was attacked slightly with +dysentery, but the medicines I gave him carried it off in the course of a +day or two. I have taken every precaution with regard to the health of the +men, in preparing them for the country into which they are going; and I +have to request that you will inform the governor that the conduct of the +whole party merits my approbation, and that I have no fault to find. The +men from Sydney are not so sharp as those from Wellington Valley, but are +equally well disposed. The animals, both horses and bullocks, are in good +order, and I find the two soldiers of infinite service to me. The boat has +received some damage from exposure to intense heat, but is otherwise +uninjured. We still retain the carriage and have every prospect of +dragging it on with us. + +His Excellency, having been good enough to order a fresh supply of +provisions to Wellington Valley, I have to beg they may be forwarded to +Mount Harris, and that the person in charge thereof be instructed to +remain at that station for one month. We shall, during the interval, have +examined the country to the north-west; and, in case we are forced back, +shall require a supply to enable us to proceed to the northward, in +furtherance of the views I have already had the honor to submit for the +Governor's approval. + +I have the honor to be, Sir, +Your most obedient and humble Servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Captain, 39th Regt. + + +THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER. + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 6TH APRIL, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor is pleased to direct that the following +interesting Report which has been received from Captain Sturt, +39th Regiment, who has been employed for some months past, (as will be +seen on reference to the Government Order, No. 4, published with Captain +Sturt's First Report in the Sydney Gazette, of the 24th of January last) +in exploring the interior, be communicated for the information of the +public. + +It appears that the river Macquarie ceases to exist near the spot where +the expedition under the late Mr. Oxley terminated, which, from the state +of country at the time, being then flooded, could not be ascertained; and +that another river of no inconsiderable magnitude, fed by salt springs, +was discovered by Captain Sturt on the 2nd February last, about 100 miles +to the westward of the Macquarie, running to the southward and westward. + +By His Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 4TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to acquaint you, for the information of His +Excellency the Governor, that I returned to this eminence on Monday, +the 23rd ult. having been driven from the interior, in consequence of the +extreme drought which prevails there. + +I am to state, in reference to my former communication, that agreeably to +what I then reported, I moved, on the 26th December last, lower down the +plains of the Macquarie, but encountered a barrier of reeds, formed by the +marshes of that river, through which we in vain endeavoured to force our +way. I was in consequence obliged to make the nearest part of the river to +my left, and to take such measures as the nature of my situation required. +Here, for the first time, I set the boat afloat, deeming it essential to +trace the river, as I could not move upon its banks, and wishing also to +ascertain where it again issued from the marshes, I requested Mr. Hume to +proceed northerly, with a view to skirt them, and to descend westerly, +wherever he saw an open space. He was fortunate enough to strike upon the +channel about twelve miles north of our position, but was obstructed in +his further progress by another marsh, in consequence of which he returned +to the camp the next day; in the mean time, I had taken the boat, and +proceeded down the Macquarie, my way being at first considerably +obstructed by fallen timber: clearing this obstacle, however, I got into +a deeper channel, with fine broad reaches, and a depth of from twelve to +fifteen feet water. I had a short time previously cleared ail woods and +trees, and was now in the midst of reeds of great height. After proceeding +onwards for about eight miles from the place whence I started, my course +was suddenly and unexpectedly checked; I saw reeds before me, and expected +I was about to turn an angle of the river, but I found that I had got to +the end of the channel, and that the fiver itself had ceased to exist. +Confounded at such a termination to a stream, whose appearance justified +the expectation that it would have led me through the heart of the marsh +to join Mr. Hume, I commenced a most minute examination of the place, and +discovered two creeks, if they deserve the name, branching, the one to the +north-west, and the other to the north-east; after tracing the former a +short distance, I reached its termination, and in order to assure myself +that such was the case, I walked round the head of it by pushing through +the reeds; it being then too dark to continue where I was, I returned to +a place on the river, at which I had rested during a shower, and slept +there. In the morning I again went to the spot to examine the +north-eastern branch, when I was equally disappointed. I then examined the +space between the two creeks, opposite to the main channel of the river, +and where the bank receives the force of the current. Here I saw water in +the reeds, but it was scarcely ankle deep, and was running off to the +north-west quicker than the waters of the river, which had almost an +imperceptible motion, I was therefore at once convinced that it was not +permanent, but had lodged there in the night, during which much rain had +fallen. I next pushed my way through the reeds into the marsh, and at +length clearly perceived that the waters which were perfectly sweet, after +running several courses, flowed off to the north, towards which point +there was an apparent declination or dip. Finding it impossible to +proceed further, I regained the boat, and thence returned to the camp, +under a conviction that I had reached the very spot, at which Mr. Oxley +lost the channel of the river in 1818. + +The next day I moved to the place where Mr. Hume had struck upon the +channel of the river, but was again doubtful in what direction to proceed. + +The marsh, at the commencement of which we now found ourselves, being the +third from Mount Foster, but the second great one, seemed to extend beyond +us to the north for many miles, but varying in breadth. In the evening I +went in the boat up the channel, and found it at first, deep and sullen, +as that of the river above. It soon however, narrowed, and the weeds +formed over its surface, so that I abandoned the boat and walked along a +path up it. I had not gone far when the channel divided; two smaller +channels came, the one from the southern, and the other from the western +parts of the marsh into it. There was an evident declination where they +were, and it was at their junction the river again rallied and formed. +On my return to the camp, Mr. Hume and I went down the river, but found +that about a mile it lost itself, and spread its waters ever the extensive +marsh before it. + +In this extremity, I knew not what movement to make, as Mr. Hume had been +checked in his progress north. I therefore determined to ascertain the +nature of the country to the eastward and to the westward, that I might +move accordingly; I proposed to Mr. Hume, to take a week's provisions, +with two attendants, and go to the north-east, in order again to turn the +marsh, but with the expectation that the angle formed by the junction of +the Castlereagh with the Macquarie would arrest its progress, as the last +was fast approaching the former. + +I myself determined to cross the river, and to skirt the marshes on the +left, and in case they turned off to the north east, as they appeared to +do, it was my intention to pursue a N.W. course into the interior, to +learn the nature of it. With these views I left the camp on the 31st of +December, and did not return until the 5th of January. Having found early +in my journey, from the change of soil and of timber, that I was leaving +the neighbourhood of the Macquarie, I followed a N.W. course, from a more +northerly one, and struck at once across the country, under an impression +that Mr. Hume would have made the river again long before my return. +I found, after travelling between twenty and thirty miles, the country +began to rise; and at the end of my journey, I made a hill of considerable +elevation, from the summit of which I had a view of other high lands; one +to the S.W. being a very fine mountain. As I had not found any water +excepting in two creeks, which I had left far behind me, and as I had got +on a soil which appeared incapable of holding it, I made this the +termination of my journey, having exceeded 100 miles in distance from the +camp, on my return to which I found Mr. Hume still absent. When he joined, +he stated to me, that not making the Castlereagh as soon as he expected, +he had bent down westerly for the Macquarie, and that he ended his journey +at some gentle hills he had made; so that it appeared we must either have +crossed each other's line of route, or that they were very near, and that +want of length must alone have prevented them from crossing; but as such +all assumption led to the conclusion that the Macquarie no longer existed, +I determined to pursue a middle course round the swamps, to ascertain the +point; as in case the river had ended, a westerly course was the one which +my instructions directed me to pursue. + +In the immediate neighbourhood of the marshes we were obliged to sink +wells for water, and it was thus early that we began to feel the want of a +regular supply. + +Having made a creek about four miles from our position by cutting through +the reeds where there was a narrow space, we pursued a westerly course +over a plain, having every appearance of frequent inundation, and for four +or five days held nearly the same direction; in the course of which we +crossed both our tracks on the excursions we had made, which had +intersected each other in a dense oak brush; thus renewing the few doubts, +or rather the doubt we had as to the fate of the Macquarie, whose course +we had been sent to trace. Indeed, had I not felt convinced that that +river had ceased, I should not have moved westward without further +examination, but we had passed through a very narrow part of the marshes, +and round the greater part of them, and had not seen any hollow that could +by any possible exaggeration be construed into or mistaken for the channel +of a river. + +It appears, then, that the Macquarie, flowing as it does for so many +miles, through a bed, and not a declining country, and having little water +in it, except in times of flood, loses its impetus long ere it reaches the +formidable barrier that opposes its progress northwards; the soil in which +the reeds grow being a stiff clay. Its waters consequently spread, until +a slight declivity giving them fresh impulse, they form a channel again, +but soon gaining a level, they lose their force and their motion together, +and spread not only over the second great marsh, but over a vast extent +of the surrounding country, the breadth of ground thus subject to +inundation being more than twenty miles, and its length considerably +greater; around this space there is a gentle rise which confines the +waters, while small hollows in various directions lead them out of the +marshes over the adjacent plains, on which they eventually subside. On my +return from the interior, I examined those parts round which I had not +been, with particular attention, partly in company with Mr. Hume, and this +statement was confirmed by what we saw. Thus, at a distance of about +twenty-five miles from Mount Foster to the N.N.W. the river Macquarie +ceases to exist, in any shape as a river, and at a distance of between +fifty and sixty, the marshes terminate, though the country subject to +inundation from the river is of a very considerable extent, as shown by +the withered bulrushes, wet reeds, and shells, that are scattered over +its surface. + +Having executed the first part of the instructions with which I had been +honoured, I determined on pursuing a west, or north-west coarse into the +interior, to ascertain the nature of it, in fulfilment of the second, but +in doing this I was obliged to follow creeks, and even on their banks had +to carry a supply of water, so uncertain was it that we should meet with +any at the termination of our day's journey, and that what we did find +would be fit to drink. Our course led us over plains immediately bordering +the lower lands of the Macquarie, alternating with swamp oak, acacia +pendula, pine, box, eucalyptus, and many other trees of minor growth, the +soil being inclined to a red loam, while the plains were generally covered +with a black scrub, though in some places they had good grass upon them. +We crossed two creeks before we made the hills Mr. Hume had ascended, and +which he called New Year's Range. Around these hills the country appeared +better--they are gentle, picturesque elevations, and are for the most +part, covered with verdure, and have, I fancy, a whinstone base, the rock +of which they are composed being of various substances. I place New Year's +Range in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes, long. 146 degrees 3 minutes +30 seconds. Our course next lying north-west along a creek, led us to +within twenty miles of the hill that had terminated my excursion, and as I +hoped that a more leisurely survey of the country from its summit would +open something favourable to our view, I struck over for it, though +eventually obliged to return. From it Mr. Hume and I rode to the S.W. +mountain, a distance of about forty miles, without crossing a brook or a +creek, our way leading through dense acacia brushes, and for the most part +over a desert. We saw high lands from this mountain, which exceeds 1,300 +feet in elevation, and is of sandstone formation, and thickly covered with +stunted pine, in eight different points--the bearings of which are as +follows:-- + +Oxley'a Table Land, N. 4O E., distant 40 miles. +Kengall Hill, due E. very distant. +Conical Hill, S. 6O E. +Highland, S.E. distance 30 miles. +Highland, S. 30 E. distance 25 miles. +Long Range, S. 16 E. distance 60 miles. +Long Range, S. 72 W. distance 60 miles. +Distant Range, S. 25 W. supposed. + +It was in vain, however, that we looked for water. The country to the +north-west, was low and unbroken, and alternated with wood and plain. + +The country from New Year's Range to the hill I had made, and which I +called Oxley's Table Land, had been very fair, with good soil in many +places, but with a total want of water, except in the creeks, wherein the +supply was both bad and uncertain; on our second day's journey from the +former, we came to the creek on which we were moving, where it had a +coarse granite bottom. The country around it improved very much in +appearance, and there was abundance of good grass on the surface of it, in +spite of the drought. On the right of this creek, a large plain stretches +parallel to it for many miles, varying in quality of soil. Near Oxley's +Table Land, we passed over open forest, the prevailing timber of which was +box. I have placed Oxley's Table Land in latitude 29 degrees 57 minutes +30 seconds, longitude 45 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds. + +Finding it impracticable to move westward from the hill I again descended +on the creek, whose general course was to the north-west, in which +direction we at length struck upon a river whose appearance raised our +most sanguine expectations. It flowed round an angle from the north-east +to the north-west, and extended in longitude five reaches as far as we +could see. At that place it was about sixty yards broad, with banks of +from thirty to forty feet high, and it had numerous wild fowl and many +pelicans on its bosom, and seemed to be full of fish, while the paths of +the natives on both sides, like well-trodden roads, showed how numerous +they were about it. On tasting its waters, however, we found them +perfectly salt, and useless to us, and as our animals had been without +water the night before, this circumstance distressed us much; our first +day's journey led us past between sixty and seventy huts in one place, and +on our second we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives, having +previously seen some between two creeks before we made New-Year's Range. +At some places the water proved less salt than at others; our animals +drank of it sparingly: we found two small fresh-water holes, which served +us as we passed. After tracing the river for a considerable distance, we +came on brine springs in the bed of it, the banks having been encrusted +with salt from the first; and as the difficulty of getting fresh water was +so great, I here foresaw an end to our wanderings. And as I was resolved +not to involve my party in greater distress, I halted it, on overtaking +the animals, and the next morning turned back to the nearest fresh-water, +at a distance of eighteen miles from us. Unwilling, however, to give up +our pursuit, Mr. Hume and I started with two men on horseback, to trace +the river as far as we could, and to ascertain what course it took; in the +hopes also that we should fall on some creek, or get a more certain supply +of drinkable water. We went a distance to which the bullocks could not +have been brought, and then got on a red sandy soil, which at once +destroyed our hopes; and on tasting the river water we found it salter +than ever, our supply being diminished to two pints. Our animals being +weak and purged, and having proceeded at least forty miles from the camp, +I thought it best to yield to circumstances, and to return, though I trust +I shall be believed when I add, it was with extreme reluctance I did so; +and had I followed the wishes of my party, should still have continued +onwards. Making a part of the river where we had slept, we stayed to +refresh, and in consequence of the heat of the weather were obliged to +drink the water in it, which made us sick. While here, a tribe of blacks +came to us and behaved remarkably well. At night we slept on a plain +without water, and the next day we regained the camp, which had been +visited by the natives during our absence. + +We found the river held a south-west course, and appeared to be making for +the central space between a high land, which I called Dunlop's Range, at +Mr. Hume's request, and a lofty range to the westward. It still continued +its important appearance, having gained in breadth and in the height of +its banks, while there were hundreds of pelicans and wild-fowl on it. +Flowing through a level country with such a channel, it may be presumed +that this river ultimately assumes either a greater character, or that it +adds considerably to the importance of some other stream. It had a clay +bottom, generally speaking, in many places semi-indurated and fast forming +into sandstone, while there was crystallized sulphate of lime running in +veins through the soil which composed the bank. + +This river differs from most in the colony, in having a belt of barren +land of from a quarter of a mile to two miles in breadth in its immediate +neighbourhood, and which is subject to overflow. This belt runs to the +inland plains, where a small elevation checks the further progress of the +flood. There is magnificent blue gum on both sides the river, but the +right bank is evidently the most fertile, and I am mistaken greatly if +there is not a beautiful country north of it. + +Of the country over which we have passed, it is impossible for me to have +formed a correct opinion under its present melancholy circumstances. It +has borne the appearance of barrenness, where in even moderate rain, it +might have shown very differently, though no doubt we passed over much of +both good and bad land; our animals on the whole, have thrived on the food +they have had, which would argue favourably for the herbage. Generally +speaking, I fear the timber is bad--the rough-gum may be used for knees, +and such purposes, and we may have seen wood for the wheelwright and +cabinet-maker, specimens of which I have procured, but none for general or +household purposes. + +The creeks we have traced are different in character from those in the +settled districts, inasmuch as that, like the river, they have a belt of +barren land near then and but little grass--they have all of them been +numerously frequented by the natives, as appeared from the number of +muscle-shells on their banks, but now having scarcely any water in them, +the fish having either been taken, or are dead, and the tribes gone +elsewhere for food, while the badness of the river water has introduced a +cutaneous disease among the natives of that district, which is fast +carrying them off. Our intercourse with these people was incessant from +the time we first met them, and on all occasions they behaved remarkably +well, nor could we have seen less than than two hundred and fifty of them. + +Our return is to be attributable to the want of water alone, and it is +impossible for me to describe the effects of the drought on animal as well +as vegetable nature. The natives are wandering in the desert, and it is +melancholy to reflect on the necessity which obliges them to drink the +stinking and loathsome water they do--birds sit gasping in the trees and +are quite thin--the wild dog prowls about in the day-time unable to avoid +us, and is as lean as he can be in a living state, while minor vegetation +is dead, and the very trees are drooping. I have noticed all these things +in my Journal I shall have the honour of submitting through you, for the +Governor's perusal and information, on my return. Finally, I fear our +expedition will not pave the way to any ultimate benefit; although it has +been the means by which two very doubtful questions,--the course of the +Macquarie, and the nature of the interior, have been solved; for it is +beyond doubt, that the interior for 250 miles beyond its former known +limits to the W.N.W., so far from being a shoal sea, has been ascertained +not only to have considerable elevations upon it, but is in itself a table +land to all intents and purposes, and has scarcely water on its surface to +support its inhabitants. + +I beg you will inform His Excellency the Governor, that I have on all +occasions received the most ready and valuable assistance from Mr, Hume. +His intimate acquaintance with the manners and customs of the natives, +enabled him to enter into intercourse with them, and chiefly contributed +to the peaceable manner in which we have journeyed, while his previous +experience put it in his power to be of real use to me. I cannot but say +he has done an essential service to future travellers, and to the colony +at large, by his conduct on all occasions since he has been with me; nor +should I be doing him justice, if I did not avail myself of the first +opportunity of laying my sentiments before the Governor, through you. I am +happy to add that every individual of the party deserves my warmest +approbation, and that they have, one and all, borne their distresses, +trifling certainly, but still unusual, with cheerfulness, and that they +have at all times been attentive to their duty, and obedient to their +orders. The whole are in good health, and are eager again to start. + +I have the honor to be, +Sir +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 5TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--It having appeared to me, that after discovering such a river as the +one I have described in my letter of yesterday, His Excellency the +Governor would approve of my endeavouring to regain it. There being a +probability that it ultimately joins the Southern Waters, I thought of +turning my steps to the southward and westward; and with a view to learn +the nature of the country, I despatched Mr. Hume in that direction on +Saturday last. He returned in three days, after having gone above forty +miles from the river, and states, that he crossed two creeks, the one +about twenty-five miles, the other about thirty-two distance, evidently +the heads of the creeks we passed westward of the marshes of the +Macquarie. He adds, that, to the second creek the land was excellent, but +that on crossing it, he got onto red soil, on which he travelled some +miles further, until he saw a range of high land, bearing from him S.W.. +by W., when, knowing from the nature of the country around him, and from +the experience of our late journey, that he could not hope to find a +regular supply of water in advance, and that in the present dry state of +the low lands, a movement such as I had contemplated would be +impracticable, he returned home. I do myself the honour, therefore, to +report to you, for His Excellency's information, that I shall proceed on +Saturday next in a N.E. direction towards the Castlereagh, intending to +trace that river down, and afterwards to penetrate as far to the northward +and westward as possible; it being my wish to get into the country north +of the more distant river, where I have expectations that there is an +extensive and valuable track of country, but that in failure of the above, +I shall examine the low country behind our N.W. boundaries, if I can find +a sufficiency of water to enable me to do so. + +I am to inform you that in this neighbourhood the Macquarie has ceased to +flow, and that it is now a chain of shallow ponds. The water is fast +diminishing in it, and unless rain descends in a few weeks it will be +perfectly dry. + +I am also to report, that the natives attempted the camp with the supplies +before my arrival at Mount Harris, but that on the soldier with the party +firing a shot, after they had thrown a stone and other of the weapons, +they fled. It was in consequence of their fires, which I saw at a distance +of forty miles, and which they never make on so extensive a scale, except +as signals when they want to collect, and are inclined to be mischievous, +that I made forced marches up, and I am led to believe my arrival was very +opportune. The natives have visited us since, and I do not think they will +now attempt to molest either party when we separate. + +I have the honour to be, +Sir, +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + + +END OF VOLUME I + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt + diff --git a/old/xpss110.zip b/old/xpss110.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d6c7d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss110.zip diff --git a/old/xpss111.txt b/old/xpss111.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfc7776 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss111.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7753 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt +#1 in our series by Charles Sturt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + + +TWO EXPEDITIONS INTO THE INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA DURING THE YEARS +1828,1829,1830,1831 WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE SOIL, CLIMATE AND GENERAL +RESOURCES OF THE COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. + +IN TWO VOLUMES + +VOLUME I. + + +"For though most men are contented only to see a river as it runs by +them, and talk of the changes in it as they happen; when it is troubled, +or when clear; when it drowns the country in a flood, or forsakes it in a +drought: yet he that would know the nature of the water, and the causes of +those accidents (so as to guess at their continuance or return), must find +out its source, and observe with what strength it rises, what length it +runs, and how many small streams fall in, and feed it to such a height, +as make it either delightful or terrible to the eye, and useful or +dangerous to the country about it."...SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S NETHERLANDS. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HON. +THE EARL OF RIPON, +VISCOUNT GODERICH, +Lord Privy Seal +&c. &c. &c. + + + +MY LORD, + +The completion of this Work affords me the opportunity I have long desired +of thanking your Lordship thus publicly, for the kindness with which you +acceded to my request to be permitted to dedicate it to you. + +The encouragement your Lordship was pleased to give me has served to +stimulate me in the prosecution of a task, which would, I fear, have been +too great for me to have accomplished in my present condition, under any +ordinary views of ambition. Indeed, labouring as I have been for many +months past, under an almost total deprivation of sight, (the effect of +exposure and anxiety of mind in the prosecution of geographical +researches,) I owe it to the casual assistance of some of my friends, that +I am at length enabled to lay these results before your Lordship and the +public. + +While I feel a painful conviction that many errors must necessarily +pervade a work produced under such unfavourable circumstances, it affords +me no small consolation to reflect that Your Lordship has been aware of my +situation, and will be disposed to grant me every reasonable indulgence. + +I have the honor to be, +With the highest respect, +My Lord, +Your Lordship's +Very obedient and humble servant, + +CHARLES STURT +London June, 1833. + + + + +CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE MACQUARIE RIVER, AND INTO THE WESTERN INTERIOR +IN 1828 AND 1829. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach the +Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck upon it. + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +CHAPTER V. + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Concluding Remarks--Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior +of Australia--Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady +intelligent subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men +requisite,--and of cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements-- +Treatment of the natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second +expedition. + + +APPENDIX. + +No. I. Letter of Instructions +No. II. List of Stores supplied for the Expedition +No. III. Sheep-farming Returns +No. IV. List of Geological Specimens +No. V. Official Report to the Colonial Government, (Jan. 1829.) +No. VI. Ditto (April 1829.) + + +ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE FIRST VOLUME +(Not included in this etext) + +Native Burial Place near Budda +Vice Admiral Arthur Phillip +Cataract of the Macquarie +A Selenite +Chrystallized Sulphate of Lime + + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER + + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +PURPOSE OF THIS PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +When I first determined on committing to the press a detailed account of +the two expeditions, which I conducted into the interior of the Australian +continent, pursuant to the orders of Lieutenant General Darling, the late +Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, it was simply with a view of +laying their results before the geographical world, and of correcting the +opinions that prevailed with regard to the unexplored country to the +westward of the Blue Mountains. I did not feel myself equal either to the +task or the responsibility of venturing any remarks on the Colony of New +South Wales itself. I had had little time for inquiry, amidst the various +duties that fell to my lot in the ordinary routine of the service to which +I belonged, when unemployed by the Colonial Government in the prosecution +of inland discoveries. My observations had been in a great measure +confined to those points which curiosity, or a desire of personal +information, had prompted me to investigate. I did not, therefore, venture +to flatter myself that I had collected materials of sufficient importance +on general topics to enable me to write for the information of others. +Since my return to England, however, I have been strenuously urged to give +a short description of the colony before entering upon my personal +narrative; and I have conversed with so many individuals whose ideas of +Australia are totally at variance with its actual state, that I am +encouraged to indulge the hope that my observations, desultory as they +are, may be of some interest to the public. I am strengthened in this hope +by the consideration that some kind friends have enabled me to add much +valuable matter to that which I had myself collected. It is not my +intention, however, to enter at any length on the commercial or +agricultural interests of New South Wales. It may be necessary for me to +touch lightly on those important subjects, but it is my wish to connect +this preliminary chapter, as much as possible with the subjects treated of +in the body of the work, and chiefly to notice the physical structure, the +soil, climate, and productions of the colony, in order to convey to the +reader general information on these points, before I lead him into the +remote interior. + +NAME OF AUSTRALIA. + +It may be worthy of remark that the name "Australia," has of late years +been affixed to that extensive tract of land which Great Britain possesses +in the Southern Seas, and which, having been a discovery of the early +Dutch navigators, was previously termed "New Holland." The change of name +was, I believe, introduced by the celebrated French geographer, Malte +Brun, who, in his division of the globe, gave the appellation of +Austral Asia and Polynesia to the new discovered lands in the southern +ocean; in which division he meant to include the numerous insular groups +scattered over the Pacific. + +IMPRESSIONS OF ITS EARLY VISITORS. + +Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than +every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a +continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude. +Stretching from the 115th to the 153rd degree of east longitude, and from +the 10th to the 37th of south latitude, it averages 2700 miles in length +by 1800 in breadth; and balanced, as it were, upon the tropic of that +hemisphere in which it is situated, it receives the fiery heat of the +equator at one extremity, while it enjoys the refreshing coolness of the +temperate zone at the other. On a first view we should be led to expect +that this extensive tract of land possessed more than ordinary advantages; +that its rivers would be in proportion to its size; and that it would +abound in the richest productions of the inter-tropical and temperate +regions. Such, indeed, was the impression of those who first touched upon +its southern shores, but who remained no longer than to be dazzled by the +splendour and variety of its botanical productions, and to enjoy for a +few days the delightful mildness of its climate. But the very spot which +had appeared to Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks an earthly paradise, was +abandoned by the early settlers as unfit for occupation; nor has the +country generally been fount to realize the sanguine expectations of those +distinguished individuals, so far as it has hitherto been explored. + +CHARACTER OF AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. + +Rivers which have the widest mouths or the most practicable entrances, +are, in Europe or America, usually of impetuous current, or else contain +such a body of water as to bear down all opposition to their free course; +whilst on the other hand, rivers whose force is expended ere they reach +the sea, have almost invariably a bar at their embouchure, or where they +mingle their waters with those of the ocean. This last feature +unfortunately appears to characterize all rivers of Australia, or such of +them at least as are sufficiently known to us. Falling rapidly from the +mountains in which they originate into a level and extremely depressed +country; having weak and inconsiderable sources, and being almost wholly +unaided by tributaries of any kind; they naturally fail before they reach +the coast, and exhaust themselves in marshes or lakes or reach it so +weakened as to be unable to preserve clear or navigable months, or to +remove the sand banks that the tides throw up before them. On the other +hand the productions of this singular region seem to be peculiar to it, +and unlike those of any other part of the world; nor have any indigenous +fruits of any value as yet been found either in its forests or on its +plains. + +He who has never looked on any other than the well-cultured fields of +England, can have little idea of a country that Nature has covered with an +interminable forest. Still less can he estimate the feelings with which +the adventurer approaches a shore that has never (or perhaps only lately) +been trodden by civilized man. + +FIRST VIEW OF PORT JACKSON. + +It was with feelings peculiar to the occasion, that I gazed for the first +time on the bold cliffs at the entrance of Port Jackson, as our vessel +neared them, and speculated on the probable character of the landscape +they hid; and I am free to confess, that I did not anticipate anything +equal to the scene which presented itself both to my sight and my +judgment, as we sailed up the noble and extensive basin we had entered, +towards the seat of government. A single glance was sufficient to tell me +that the hills upon the southern shore of the port, the outlines of which +were broken by houses and spires, must once have been covered with the +same dense and gloomy wood which abounded every where else. The contrast +was indeed very great--the improvement singularly striking. The labour and +patience required, and the difficulties which the first settlers +encountered effecting these improvements, must have been incalculable. But +their success has been complete: it is the very triumph of human skill and +industry over Nature herself. The cornfield and the orchard have +supplanted the wild grass and the brush; a flourishing town stands over +the ruins of the forest; the lowing of herds has succeeded the wild whoop +of the savage; and the stillness of that once desert shore is now broken +by the sound of the bugle and the busy hum of commerce. + +EXTENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND DIVISIONS OF THE COLONY. + +The Colony of New South Wales is situated upon the eastern coast of +Australia; and the districts within which land has been granted to +settlers, extends from the 36th parallel of latitude to the 32nd, that is +say, from the Moroyo River to the south of Sydney on the one hand, and to +the Manning River on the other, including Wellington Valley within its +limits to the westward. Thus it will appear that the boundaries of the +located parts of the colony have been considerably enlarged, and some fine +districts of country included within them. In consequence of its extent +and increasing population, it has been found convenient to divide it into +counties, parishes, and townships; and indeed, every measure of the +Colonial Government of late years, has had for its object to assimilate +its internal arrangements as nearly as possible, to those of the mother +country. Whether we are to attribute the present flourishing state of the +colony to the beneficial influence of that system of government which has +been exercised over it for the last seven years it is not for me to say. +That the prosperity of a country depends, however, in a great measure, +on the wisdom of its legislature, is as undoubted, as that within the +period I have mentioned the colony of N. S. Wales has risen +unprecedentedly in importance and in wealth, and has advanced to a state +of improvement at which it could not have arrived had its energies been +cramped or its interests neglected. + +ITS ADVANCES IN PROSPERITY. + +There is a period in the history of every country, during which it will +appear to have been more prosperous than at any other. I allude not to the +period of great martial achievements, should any such adorn its pages, but +to that in which the enterprise of its merchants was roused into action, +and when all classes of its community seem to have put forth their +strength towards the attainment of wealth and power. + +ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS. + +In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far +advanced. The conduct of its merchants is marked by the boldest +speculations and the most gigantic projects. Their storehouses are built +on the most magnificent scale, and with the best and most substantial +materials. Few persons in England have even a remote idea of its present +flourishing condition, or of the improvements that are daily taking place +both in its commerce and in its agriculture. I am aware that many object +to it as a place of residence, and I can easily enter into their feelings +from the recollection of what my own were before I visited it. I cannot +but remark, however, that I found my prejudices had arisen from a natural +objection to the character of a part of its population; from the +circumstance of its being a penal colony, and from my total ignorance of +its actual state, and not from any substantial or permanent cause. On the +contrary I speedily became convinced of the exaggerated nature of the +reports I had heard in England, on some of the points just adverted to; +nor did any thing fall under my observation during a residence in it of +more than six years to justify the opinion I had been previously led to +entertain of it. I embarked for New South Wales, with strong prejudices +against it: I left it with strong feelings in its favour, and with a deep +feeling of interest in its prosperity. It is a pleasing task to me, +therefore, to write of it thus, and to have it in my power to contribute +to the removal of any erroneous impressions with regard to its condition +at the present moment. + +COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SYDNEY. + +I have already remarked, that I was not prepared for the scene that met my +view when I first saw Sydney. The fact was, I had not pictured to myself; +nor conceived from any thing that I had ever read or heard in England, +that so extensive a town could have been reared in that remote region, in +so brief a period as that which had elapsed since its foundation. It is +not, however, a distant or cursory glance that will give the observer a +just idea of the mercantile importance of this busy capital. In order to +form an accurate estimate of it, he should take a boat and proceed from +Sydney Cove to Darling Harbour. He would then be satisfied, that it is not +upon the first alone that Australian commerce has raised its storehouse +and wharfs, but that the whole extent of the eastern shore of the last +more capacious basin, is equally crowded with warehouses, stores, +dockyards, mills, and wharfs, the appearance and solidity of which would +do credit even to Liverpool. Where, thirty years ago, the people flocked +to the beach to hail an arrival, it is not now unusual to see from thirty +to forty vessels riding at anchor at one time, collected there from every +quarter of the globe. In 1832, one hundred and fifty vessels entered the +harbour of Port Jackson, from foreign parts, the amount of their tonnage +being 31,259 tons. + +The increasing importance of Sydney must in some measure be attributed to +the flourishing condition of the colony itself, to the industry of its +farmers, to the successful enterprise of its merchants, and to particular +local causes. It is foreign to my purpose, however, to enter largely into +an investigation of these important points. To do so would require more +space than I can afford for the purpose, and might justly be considered as +irrelevant in a work of this kind. Without attempting any lengthened +detail, it may be considered sufficient if I endeavour merely to point out +the principal causes of the present prosperity (and, as they may very +probably prove) of the eventual progress of our great southern colony to +power and independence. + +STAPLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. + +The staple of our Australian colonies, but more particularly of New South +Wales, the climate and the soil of which are peculiarly suited to its +production,--is fine wool. There can be no doubt that the growth of this +article has mainly contributed to the prosperity of the above mentioned +colony and of Van Diemen's Land. + +At the close of the last century, wool was imported into England from +Spain and Germany only, and but a few years previously from Spain alone. +Indeed, long after its introduction from the latter country, German wool, +obtained but little consideration in the London market; and in like +manner, it may be presumed that many years will not have elapsed +before the increased importation of wool from our own possessions in +the southern hemisphere, will render us, in respect to this commodity, +independent of every other part of the world. The great improvements +in modern navigation are such, that the expense of sending the fleece +to market from New South Wales is less than from any part of Europe. +The charges for instance on Spanish and German wool, are from +fourpence to fourpence three farthings per pound; whereas the entire +charge, after shipment from New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, does +not exceed threepence three farthings,--and in this the dock and landing +charges, freight, insurance, brokerage, and commission, are included. + +GROWTH OF FINE WOOL. MR. M'ARTHUR'S EXERTIONS. + +As some particulars respecting the introduction of this source of national +wealth into Australia may prove interesting to the public, I have put +together the following details of it, upon the authenticity of which they +may rely. The person who foresaw the advantage to be derived from the +growth of fine wool in New South Wales, and who commenced the culture of +it in that colony, was Mr. John M'Arthur. So far back, I believe, as the +year 1793, not long after the establishment of the first settlement at +Sydney, this gentleman commenced sheep-farming, and about two years +afterwards he obtained a ram and two ewes from Captain Kent, of the royal +navy, who had brought them, with some other stock for the supply of the +settlement, from the Cape of Good Hope, to which place a flock of these +sheep had been originally sent by the Dutch government. Sensible of the +importance of the acquisition, Mr. M'Arthur began to cross his +coarse-fleeced sheep with Merino blood; and, proceeding upon a system, he +effected a considerable improvement in the course of a few years. So +prolific was the mixed breed, that in ten years, a flock which originally +consisted of not more than seventy Bengal sheep, had increased in number +to 4,000 head, although the wethers had been killed as they became fit for +slaughter. It appears, however, that as the sheep approached to greater +purity of blood, their extreme fecundity diminished. + +TO REAR MERINO FLOCKS. + +In 1803, Mr. M'Arthur revisited England; and there happening at the time +to be a committee of manufacturers in London from the clothing districts, +he exhibited before them samples of his wool, which were so much approved, +that the committee represented to their constituents the advantages which +would result from the growth of fine wool, in one of the southern +dependencies of the empire. In consequence of this a memorial was +transmitted to His Majesty's government, and Mr. M'Arthur's plans having +been investigated by a Privy Council, at which he was present, they were +recommended to the government as worthy of its protection. With such +encouragement Mr. M'Arthur purchased two ewes and three rams, from the +Merino flock of His Majesty King George the Third. He embarked with them +on his return to New South Wales in 1806, on board a vessel named by him +"the Argo," in reference to the golden treasure with which she was +freighted. On reaching the colony he removed his sheep to a grant of land +which the Home Government had directed he should receive in the Cow +Pastures. To commemorate the transaction, and to transmit to a grateful +posterity the recollection of the nobleman who then presided over the +colonies, the estate, together with the district in which it is situated, +was honoured by the name of Camden. + +EXPORT OF WOOL TO ENGLAND. + +Since that time the value of New South Wales wool has been constantly on +the increase, and the colony are indebted to Mr. M'Arthur for the +possession of an exportable commodity which has contributed very +materially to its present wealth and importance. Such general attention is +now paid to this interesting branch of rural economy, that the importation +of wool into England from our Australian colonies, amounted, in 1832, to +10,633 bales, or 2,500,000 lbs. It has been sold at as high a price as +10s. per lb.; but the average price of wool of the best flocks vary from +1s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. at the present moment. The number of sheep in New South +Wales alone was calculated in the last census at 536,891 head. The +ordinary profits on this kind of stock may be extracted from the Table +given in the Appendix to the first volume of this work. + +WHALE FISHERY. + +Among the various speculations undertaken by the merchants of Sydney, +there is not one into which they have entered with so much spirit as in +the South Sea Fishery. The local situation of Port Jackson gives them an +advantage over the English and the American merchants, since the distance +of both these from the field of their gains, must necessarily impede them +greatly; whereas the ships that leave Sydney on a whaling excursion, +arrive without loss of time upon their ground, and return either for fresh +supplies or to repair damages with equal facility. The spirit with which +the colonial youth have engaged in this adventurous and hardy service, is +highly to their credit. The profits arising from it may not be (indeed I +have every reason to think are not) so great as might be supposed, or such +as might reasonably be expected; but the extensive scale on which it is +conducted, speaks equally for the energy and perseverance of the parties +concerned, in the prosecution of their commercial enterprises. It has +enabled them to equip a creditable colonial marine, and given great +importance to their mercantile interests in the mother country. + +In the year 1831, the quantity of sperm and black oil, the produce of the +fisheries exported from New South Wales, amounted to 2,307 tons, and was +estimated, together with skins and whalebone, to be worth 107,971 pounds +sterling. The gross amount of all other exports during that year, did not +exceed 107,697 pounds sterling. Of these exports, the following were the +most considerable: + + +Timber 7,410 pounds sterling +Butter and Cheese 2,376 +Mimosa bark 40 +Hides 7,333 +Horses 7,302 +Salt provisions 5,184 +Wool 66,112 + + +The above is exclusive of 61,000 pounds value of British manufactures +re-exported to the various ports and islands in the Southern Seas. + +OTHER EXPORTS. + +In this scale, moreover, tobacco is not mentioned; but that plant is now +raised for the supply of every private establishment, and will assuredly +form an article of export, as soon as its manufacture shall be well +understood. Neither can it be doubted but that the vine and the olive +will, in a short time, be abundantly cultivated; and that a greater +knowledge of the climate and soil of the more northern parts of the +colony, will lead to the introduction of fresh sources of wealth. + +GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. + +Having taken this hasty review of the commercial interests of the colony, +we may now turn to a brief examination of its internal structure and +principal natural features. + +I have already given a cursory sketch of the geographical features of the +whole continent. Of the vast area which its coasts embrace, the east part +alone has been fully explored. + +A range of hills runs along the eastern coast, from north to south, which, +in different quarters, vary in their distance from the sea; at one place +approaching it pretty nearly, at another, receding from it to a distance +of forty miles. It is a singular fact, that there is no pass or break in +these mountains, by which any of the rivers of the interior can escape in +an easterly direction. Their spine is unbroken. The consequence is, that +there is a complete division of the eastern and western waters, and that +streams, the heads of which are close to each other, flow away in opposite +directions; the one to pursue a short course to the sea; the other to fall +into a level and depressed interior, the character of which will be +noticed in its proper place. + +GREAT PROPORTION OF BAD SOIL. + +The proportion of bad soil to that which is good in New South Wales, is +certainly very great: I mean the proportion of inferior soil to such as is +fit for the higher purposes of agriculture. Mr. Dawson, the late +superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company's possessions, has +observed, as a singular fact, that the best soil generally prevails on the +summits of the hills, more especially where they are at all level. He +accounts for so unusual a circumstance by the fact, that elevated +positions are less subject to the effects of fire or floods than their +valleys or flanks, and attributes the general want of vegetable mould over +the colony chiefly to the ravages of the former element, whereby the +growth of underwood, so favourable in other countries to the formation of +soil, is wholly prevented. Undoubtedly this is a principal cause for the +deficiency in question. There is no part of the world in which fires +create such havoc as in New South Wales and indeed in Australia +generally. The climate, on the one hand, which dries up vegetation, and +the wandering habits of the natives on the other, which induce them to +clear the country before them by conflagration, operate equally against +the growth of timber and underwood. + +CAUSE OF THIS. + +But there is another circumstance that appears to have escaped +Mr. Dawson's observation; which is the actual property of the trees +themselves, as to the quantity of vegetable matter they produce in decay. +Being a military man, I cannot be supposed to have devoted much of my time +to agricultural pursuits; but it has been obvious to me, as it must have +been to many others, that in New South Wales, the fall of leaves and the +decay of timber, so far from adding to the richness of its soil, actually +destroy minor vegetation. This fact was brought more home to me in +consequence of its having been my lot to spend some months upon Norfolk +Island, a distant penal settlement attached to the Government of Sydney. +There the abundance of vegetable decay was as remarkable as the want of it +on the Australian Continent. I have frequently sunk up to my knees in a +bed of leaves when walking through its woods; and, often when I placed my +foot on what appeared externally to be the solid trunk of a tree, I have +found it yield to the pressure, in consequence of its decomposition into +absolute rottenness. But such is not the case in New South Wales. There, +no such accumulations of vegetable matter are to be met with; but where +the loftiest tree of the forest falls to the ground, its figure and length +are marked out by the total want of vegetation within a certain distance +of it, and a small elevation of earth, resembling more the refuse or +scoria of burnt bricks than any thing else, is all that ultimately remains +of the immense body which time or accident had prostrated. Thus it would +appear, that it is not less to the character of its woods than to the +ravages of fire that New South Wales owes its general sterility. + +CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GEOLOGY AND VEGETATION. + +Whilst prosecuting my researches in the interior of the colony, I could +not but be struck with the apparent connection between its geology and +vegetation; so strong, indeed, was this connection, that I had little +difficulty, after a short experience, in judging of the rock that formed +the basis of the country over which I was travelling, from the kind of +tree or herbage that flourished in the soil above it. The eucalyptus +pulv., a species of eucalyptus having a glaucus-coloured leaf, of +dwarfish habits and growing mostly in scrub, betrayed the sandstone +formation, wherever it existed, This was the case in many parts of the +County of Cumberland, in some parts of Wombat Brush, at the two passes on +the great south road, over a great extent of country to the N.W. of Yass +Plains, and at Blackheath on the summit of the Blue Mountains. On the +other hand, those open grassy and park-like tracts, of which so much has +been said, characterise the secondary ranges of granite and porphyry. The +trees most usual on these tracts, were the box, an unnamed species of +eucalyptus, and the grass chiefly of that kind, called the oat or forest +grass, which grows in tufts at considerable distances from each other, +and which generally affords good pasturage. On the richer grounds the +angophora lanceolata, and the eucalyptus mammifera more frequently point +out the quality of the soil on which they grow. The first are abundant on +the alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury and the Hunter; the +latter on the limestone formation of Wellington Valley and in the better +portions of Argyle; whilst the cupressus calytris seems to occupy sandy +ridges with the casuarina. It was impossible that these broad features +should have escaped observation: it was naturally inferred from this, that +the trees of New South Wales are gregarious; and in fact they may, in a +great measure, be considered so. The strong line that occasionally +separates different species, and the sudden manner in which several +species are lost at one point, to re-appear at another more distant, +without any visible cause for the break that has taken place, will furnish +a number of interesting facts in the botany of New South Wales. + +It was observed both on the Macquarie river and the Morumbidgee, that the +casuarinae ceased at a particular point. On the Macquarie particularly, +these trees which had often excited our admiration from Wellington Valley +downwards, ceased to occupy its banks below the cataract, nor were they +again noticed until we arrived on the banks of the Castlereagh. The +blue-gum trees, again, were never observed to extend beyond the secondary +embankments of the rivers, occupying that ground alone which was subject +to flood and covered with reeds. These trees waved over the marshes of the +Macquarie, but were not observed to the westward of them for many miles; +yet they re-appeared upon the banks of New-Year's Creek as suddenly as +they had disappeared after we left the marshes, and grew along the line +of the Darling to unusual size. But it is remarkable, that, even in the +midst of the marshes, the blue-gum trees were strictly confined to the +immediate flooded spaces on which the reeds prevailed, or to the very beds +of the water-courses. Where the ground was elevated, or out of the reach +of flood, the box (unnamed) alone occupied it; and, though the branches of +these trees might be interwoven together, the one never left its wet and +reedy bed, the other never descended from its more elevated position. The +same singular distinction marked the acacia pendula, when it ceased to +cover the interior plains of light earth, and was succeeded by another +shrub of the same species. It continued to the banks of New-Year's Creek, +a part of which it thickly lined. To the westward of the creek, another +species of acacia was remarked for the first time. Both shrubs, like the +blue-gum and the box, mixed their branches together, but the creek formed +the line of separation between them. The acacia pendula was not afterwards +seen, but that which had taken its place, as it were, was found to cover +large tracts of country and to form extensive brushes. Many other +peculiarities in the vegetation of the interior are noticed in the body +of this work, but I have thought that these more striking ones deserved +to be particularly remarked upon. + +GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. + +If we strike a line to the N.W. from Sydney to Wellington Valley, we shall +find that little change takes place in the geological features of the +country. The sand-stone of which the first of the barrier ranges is +composed, terminates a little beyond Mount York, and at Cox's River is +succeeded by grey granite. The secondary ranges to the N.W. of Bathurst, +are wholly of that primitive rock; for although there are partial changes +of strata between Bathurst and Moulong Plains, granite is undoubtedly the +rock upon which the whole are based: but at Moulong Plains, a military +station intermediate between Bathurst and Wellington Valley, limestone +appears in the bed of a small clear stream, and with little interruption +continues to some distance below the last-mentioned place. The accidental +discovery of some caves at Moulong Plains, led to the more critical +examination of the whole formation, and cavities of considerable size were +subsequently found in various parts of it, but more particularly in the +neighbourhood of Wellington Valley. The local interest which has of late +years been taken in the prosecution of geological investigations, led many +gentlemen to examine the contents of these caverns; and among the most +forward, Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, must justly be considered, +to whose indefatigable perseverance the scientific world is already so +much indebted. + +The caves into which I penetrated, did not present anything particular to +my observation; they differed little from caves of a similar description +into which I had penetrated in Europe. Large masses of stalactites hung +from their roofs, and a corresponding formation encrusted their floors. +They comprised various chambers or compartments, the most remote of which +terminated at a deep chasm that was full of water. A close examination of +these caves has led to the discovery of some organic remains, bones of +various animals embedded in a light red soil; but I am not aware that the +remains of any extinct species have been found, or that any fossils have +been met with in the limestone itself. There can, however, be little doubt +but that the same causes operated in depositing these mouldering remains +in the caves of Kirkdale and those of Wellington Valley. + +About twenty miles below the junction of the Bell with the Macquarie, +free-stone supersedes the limestone, but as the country falls rapidly from +that point, it soon disappears, and the traveller enters upon a flat +country of successive terraces. A schorl rock, of a blue colour and fine +grain, composed of tourmaline and quartz, forms the bed of the Macquarie +at the Cataract; and, in immediate contact with it, a mass of mica slate +of alternate rose, pink, and white, was observed, which must have been +covered by the waters of the river when Mr. Oxley descended it. + +From the Cataract of the Macquarie, a flat extends to the marshes in which +that river exhausts itself. From the midst of this flat Mount Foster and +Mount Harris rise, both of which are porphyritic: but as I have been +particular in describing these heights in their proper place, any minute +notice of them here may be considered unnecessary. We will rather extend +our enquiries to those parts of the colony upon which we shall not be +called upon to remark in the succeeding pages. + +Returning to the coast, we may mark the geological changes in a line to +the S.W. of Sydney; and as my object is to extend the information of my +readers, I shall notice any particular district on either side of the line +I propose to touch upon, which may be worthy of notice. It would appear +that the first decided break in the sandstone formation which penetrates +into the county of Camden, is at Mittagong Range. It is there traversed by +a dike of whinstone, of which that range is wholly composed. The change of +soil and of vegetation are equally remarkable at this place; the one being +a rich, greasy, chocolate-coloured earth, the other partaking greatly of +the intertropical character. In wandering over them, I noticed the wild +fig and the cherry-tree, growing to a much larger size than I had seen +them in any other part of the colony. Upon their branches, the satin bird, +the gangan, and various kinds of pigeons were feeding. Birds unknown to +the eastward of the Blue Mountains, were numerous in the valleys; and +there was an unusual appearance of freshness and moisture in the +vegetation. + +These signs of improvement, however, vanish the moment Mittagong range is +crossed, and sand-stone again forms the basis of the country to a +considerable distance beyond Bong-bong. At a small farm called the +Ploughed Ground, it is again traversed by a dike of whinstone, and a rich +but isolated spot is thus passed over. With occasional and partial +interruption, however, the sand-stone formation continues to an abrupt +pass, from which the traveller descends to the county of Argyle. This pass +is extremely abrupt, and is covered with glaucus, the low scrub I have +noticed as common to the sand-stone formation. A small but lively stream, +called Paddy's River, runs at the bottom of this pass, and immediately to +the S.W. of it, an open forest country of granite base extends for many +miles, on which the eucalyptus manifera is prevalent, and which affords +the best grazing tracts in Argyle. At Goulburn Plains, however, a vein of +limestone occurs, which is evidently connected with that forming the +ShoalHaven Gully, which is perhaps the most remarkable geological feature +in the colony of New South Wales. It is a deep chasm of about a quarter of +a mile in breadth, and 1200 feet in depth. The country on either side is +perfectly level, so much so that the traveller approaches almost to its +very brink before he is aware of his being near so singular an abyss. A +small rivulet flows through the Gully, and discharges itself into the sea +at ShoalHaven; but this river is hardly perceptible, from the summit of +the cliffs forming the sides of the Gully, which are of the boldest and +most precipitous character. The ground on the summit is full of caves of +great depth, but there has been a difficulty in examining them, in +consequence of the violent wind that rushes up them, and extinguishes +every torch. + +The open and grassy forests of Argyle are terminated by another of those +abrupt sand-stone passes I have just described, and the traveller again +falls considerably from his former level, previously to his entering on +Yass Plains, to which this pass is the only inlet. + +From Yass Plains the view to the S. and S.W. is over a lofty and broken +country: mountains with rounded summits, others with towering peaks, and +others again of lengthened form but sharp spine, characterise the various +rocks of which they are composed. The ranges decline rapidly from east to +west, and while on the one hand the country has all the appearance of +increasing height, on the other it sinks to a dead level; nor on the +distant horizon to the N. W. is there a hill or an inequality to be seen. + +From Yass Plains to the very commencement of the level interior, every +range I crossed presented a new rock-formation; serpentine quartz in +huge white masses, granite, chlorite, micaceous schist, sandstone, +chalcedony, quartz, and red jasper, and conglomerate rocks. + +It was however, out of my power, in so hurried a journey as that which I +performed down the banks of the Morumbidgee River, to examine with the +accuracy I could have wished, either the immediate connection between +these rocks or their gradual change from the one to the other. I was +content to ascertain their actual succession, and to note the general +outlines of the ranges; but the defect of vision under which I labour, +prevents me from laying them before the public. + +CHARACTER OF THE SOIL CONNECTED WITH GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. + +From what has been advanced, however, it will appear that the physical +structure of the southern parts of the colony is as varied, as that of the +western interior is monotonous, and we may now pursue our original +observations on the soil of the colony with greater confidence. + +In endeavouring to account for the poverty of the soil in New South Wales, +and in attributing it in a great degree to the causes already mentioned, +it appears necessary to estimate more specifically the influence which the +geological formation of a country exercises on its soil, and how much the +quality of the latter partakes of the character of the rock on which it +reposes. And although I find it extremely difficult to explain myself as +I should wish to do, in the critical discussion on which I have thus +entered, yet as it is material to the elucidation of an important subject +in the body of the work, I feel it incumbent on me to proceed to the best +of my ability. + +I have said that the soil of a country depends much upon its geological +formation. This appears to be particularly the case in those parts of the +colony with which I am acquainted, or those lying between the parallels of +30 degrees and 35 degrees south. Sandstone, porphyry, and granite, +succeed each other from the coast to a very considerable distance into the +interior, on a N. W. line. The light ferruginous dust that is distributed +over the county of Cumberland, and which annoys the traveller by its +extreme minuteness, to the eastward of the Blue Mountains, is as different +from the coarse gravelly soil on the secondary ranges to the westward of +them, as the barren scrubs and thickly-wooded tracts of the former +district are to the grassy and open forests of the latter. + +As soon as I began to descend to the westward it became necessary to pay +strict and earnest attention to the features of the country through which +I passed, in order to determine more accurately the different appearances +which, as I was led to expect, the rivers would assume. In the course of +my examination I found, first, that the broken country through which I +travelled, was generally covered with a loose, coarse, and sandy soil; +and, secondly, that the ranges were wholly deficient in that peat +formation which fills the valleys, or covers the flat summits of the hills +or mountains, in the northern hemisphere. The peculiar property of this +formation is to retain water like a sponge; and to this property the +regular and constant flow of the rivers descending from such hills, may, +in a great measure, be attributed. In New South Wales on the contrary, the +rains that fall upon the mountains drain rapidly through a coarse and +superficial soil, and pour down their sides without a moment's +interruption. The consequence is that on such occasions the rivers are +subject to great and sudden rises, whereas they have scarcely water enough +to support a current in ordinary seasons. At one time the traveller will +find it impracticable to cross them: at another he may do so with ease; +and only from the remains of debris in the branches of the trees high +above, can he judge of the furious torrent they must occasionally +contain. + +This seeming deviation on the part of Nature from her usual laws will no +longer appear such, if we consider its results for a moment. The very +floods which swell the rivers to overflowing, are followed by the most +beneficent effects; and, rude and violent as the means are by which she +accomplishes her purpose, they form, no doubt, a part of that process by +which she preserves the balance of good and evil. Vast quantities of the +best soil have been thus washed down from the mountains to accumulate in +more accessible places. From frequent depositions, a great extent of +country along the banks of every river and creek has risen high above the +influence of the floods, and constitutes the richest tracts in the colony. +The alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury, and the Hunter, are +striking instances of the truth of these observations; to which the plains +of O'Connell and Bathurst must be added. The only good soil upon the two +latter, is in the immediate neighbourhood of the Macquarie River: but, +even close to its banks, the depositions are of little depth, lying on a +coarse gravelly soil, the decomposition of the nearer ranges. The former +is found to diminish in thickness, according to the concavity of the +valley through which the Macquarie flows, and at length becomes mixed with +the coarser soil. This deposit is alone fit for agricultural purposes; +but it does not necessarily follow that the distant country is unavailable +since it is admitted, that the best grazing tracts are upon the secondary +ranges of granite and porphyry. These ranges generally have the appearance +of open forest, and are covered with several kinds of grasses, among which +the long oat-grass is the most abundant. + +COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND. + +If we except the valley of the Nepean, the banks of the South Creek, the +Pennant Hills near Parramatta, and a few other places, the general soil of +the county of Cumberland, is of the poorest description. It is superficial +in most places, resting either upon a cold clay, or upon sandstone; and +is, as I have already remarked, a ferruginous compound of the finest dust. +Yet there are many places upon its surface, (hollows for instance,) in +which vegetable decay has accumulated, or valleys, into which it has been +washed, that are well adapted for the usual purposes of agriculture, and +would, if the country was more generally cleared, be found to exist to a +much greater extent than is at present imagined. I have frequently +observed the isolated patches of better land, when wandering through the +woods, both on the Parramatta River, and at a greater distance from the +coast. And I cannot but think, that it would be highly advantageous to +those who possess large properties in the County of Cumberland to let +Portions of them. The concentration of people round their capital, +promotes more than anything else the prosperity of a colony, by creating +a reciprocal demand for the produce both of the country and the town, +since the one would necessarily stimulate the energy of the farmer, as the +other would rouse the enterprise of the merchant. The consideration, +however, of such a subject is foreign to my present purpose. + +It must not be supposed, that because I have given a somewhat particular +description of the County of Cumberland, I have done so with a view to +bring it forward as a specimen of the other counties, or to found upon it +a general description of the colony. It is, in fact, poorer in every +respect than any tract of land of similar extent in the interior, and is +still covered with dense forests of heavy timber, excepting when the trees +have been felled by dint of manual labour, and the ground cleared at an +expense that nothing but its proximity to the seat of government could +have justified. But experience has proved, that neither the labour nor the +the expense have been thrown away. Many valuable farms and extensive +gardens chequer the face of the country, from which the proprietors +derive a very efficient income. + +COUNTRY WEST OF BLUE MOUNTAINS. + +To the westward of the Blue Mountains, the country differs in many +respects from that lying between those ranges and the coast; and although, +its aspect varies in different places, three principal features appear +more immediately to characterise it. These are, first, plains of +considerable extent wholly destitute of timber; secondly, open undulating +woodlands; and, thirdly, barren unprofitable tracts. The first almost +invariably occur in the immediate neighbourhood of some river, as the +Plains of Bathurst, which are divided by the Macquarie; Goulburn Plains, +through which the Wallandilly flows; and Yass Plains, which are watered by +a river of the same name. The open forests, through which the horseman may +gallop in perfect safety, seem to prevail over the whole secondary ranges +of granite, and are generally considered as excellent grazing tracts. Such +is the country in Argyleshire on either side of the Lachlan, where that +river crosses the great southern road near Mr. Hume's station; such also +are many parts of Goulburn and the whole extent of country lying between +Underaliga and the Morumbidgee River. The barren tracts, on the other +hand, may be said to occupy the central spaces between all the principal +streams. With regard to the proportion that these different kinds of +country bear to each other, there can be no doubt of the undue +preponderance of the last over the first two; but there are nevertheless +many extensive available tracts in every part of the colony. + +MEANS OF INLAND TRANSPORT. + +The greatest disadvantage under which New South Wales labours, is the want +of means for conveying inland produce to the market, or to the coast. The +Blue Mountains are in this respect a serious bar to the internal +prosperity of the colony. By this time, however, a magnificent +road will have been completed across them to the westward, over parts of +which I travelled in 1831. Indeed the efforts of the colonial government +have been wisely directed, not only to the construction of this road, +which the late Governor, General Darling commenced, but also in +facilitating the communication to the southern districts, by an almost +equally fine road over the Razor Back Range, near the Cow Pastures; so +that as far as it is possible for human efforts to overcome natural +obstacles, the wisdom and foresight of the executive have ere this been +successful. + +DISADVANTAGES OF DISTANT SETTLERS. + +The majority of the settlers in the Bathurst country, and in the more +remote interior, are woolgrowers; and as they send their produce to the +market only once a year, receiving supplies for home consumption, on the +return of their drays or carts from thence, the inconvenience of bad +roads is not so much felt by them. But to an agriculturist a residence to +the westward of the Blue Mountains is decidedly objectionable, unless he +possess the means with which to procure the more immediate necessaries of +life, otherwise than by the sale of his grain or other produce, and can be +satisfied to cultivate his property for home consumption, or for the +casual wants of his neighbours. Under such circumstances, a man with a +small private income would enjoy every rational comfort. But of course, +not only in consequence of the loss of labour, but the chance of accidents +during a long journey, the more the distance is increased from Sydney, as +the only place at which the absolute necessaries of life can be purchased, +the greater becomes the objection to a residence in such a part of the +country; and on this account it is, that although some beautiful locations +both as to extent and richness, are to be found to the westward of +Bathurst, equally on the Bell, the Macquarie and the Lachlan, it is not +probable they will be taken up for many years, or will only be occupied as +distant stock stations. + +CHARACTER OF EASTERN COAST. + +Since, therefore, it appears from what has been advanced, that it is not +to the westward the views of any settlers should he directed, excepting +under particular circumstances, it remains for us to consider what other +parts of the colony hold out, or appear to hold out, greater advantages. +The eye naturally turns to the south on the one hand, and to +Port Macquarie northerly on the other. It is to be remarked that the +eastern shores of Australia partake of the same barren character that +marks the other three. it is generally bounded to a certain extent by a +sandy and sterile tract. There are, however, breaks in so prolonged a +line, as might have been expected, where, from particular local causes, +both the soil and vegetation are of a superior kind. At Illawarra for +instance, the contiguity of the mountains to the coast leaves no room for +the sandy belt we have noticed, but the debris from them reaches to the +very shore. Whether from reflected heat, or from some other peculiarity of +situation, the vegetation of Illawarra is of an intertropical character, +and birds that are strangers to the county of Cumberland frequent its +thickets. There is no part of Australia where the feathered race are more +beautiful, or more diversified. The most splendid pigeon, perhaps, that +the world produces, and the satin bird, with its lovely eye, feed there +upon the berries of the ficus (wild fig,) and other trees: and a numerous +tribe of the accipitrine class soar over its dense and spacious forests. + +PORT MACQUARIE AND FIVE ISLANDS. + +We again see a break in the sandy line of the coast at Broken Bay, at +Newcastle, and still further north at Port Macquarie; at which places the +Hawkesbury, the Hunter, and the Hastings severally debouche. Of Port +Macquarie, as a place of settlement, I entertain a very high opinion, in +consequence of its being situated under a most favourable parallel +latitude. I am convinced it holds out many substantial advantages. One of +the most important of these is the circumstance of its having been much +improved when occupied as a penal settlement. And since the shores of the +colony are how navigated by steam-boats, the facility of water +communication would be proportionably great. + +I believe the Five Islands or Illawarr district is considered peculiarly +eligible for small settlers. The great drawback to this place is the +heavy character of its timber and the closeness of its thickets, which vie +almost with the American woods in those respects. The return, however, is +adequate to the labour required in clearing the ground. Between the Five +Islands and Sydney, a constant intercourse is kept up by numerous small +craft; and a communication with the interior, by branch roads from the +great southern line to the coast, would necessarily be thrown open, if the +more distant parts of it were sufficiently peopled. + +RICH TRACTS IN THE INTERIOR. + +Recent surveys have discovered to us rich and extensive tracts in the +remote interior between Jervis Bay and Bateman's Bay, and southwards upon +the western slope of the dividing range. The account given by Messrs. +Hovel and Hume is sufficient to prove that every valley they crossed was +worthy of notice, and that the several rivers they forded were flanked by +rich and extensive flats. + +The distance of Moneroo Plains, and of the Doomot and Morumbidgee Rivers +from Sydney, alarms the settler, who knows not the value of those +localities; but men whose experience has taught them to set this obstacle +at nought, have long depastured their herds on the banks of the last two. +The fattest cattle that supply the Sydney market are fed upon the rich +flats, and in the grassy valleys of the Morumbidgee; and there are several +beautiful farms upon those of the Doomot. Generally speaking, the persons +who reside in those distant parts, pay little attention to the comfort of +their dwellings, or to the raising of more grain than their establishments +may require; but there can be no doubt this part of the interior ought to +be the granary of New South Wales; its climate and greater humidity being +more favourable than that of Sydney for the production of wheat. + +PERIODICAL DROUGHTS; THE SEASONS AFFECTED BY THE MARSHES. + +The most serious disadvantages under which the colony of New South Wales +labours, is in the drought to which it is periodically subject. Its +climate may be said to be too dry; in other respects it is one of the most +delightful under heaven; and experience of the certainty of the recurrence +of the trying seasons to which I allude, should teach men to provide +against their effects. Those seasons, during which no rain falls, appear, +from the observations of former writers, to occur every ten or twelve +years; and it is somewhat singular that no cause has been assigned for +such periodical visitations. Whether the state of the interior has +anything to do with them, and whether the wet or dry condition of the +marshes at all regulate the seasons, is a question upon which I will not +venture to give my decisive opinion. But most assuredly, when the interior +is dry, the seasons are dry, and VICE VERSA. Indeed, not only is this the +case, but rains, from excessive duration in the first year after a +drought, decrease gradually year after year, until they wholly cease for a +time. It seems not improbable, therefore, that the state of the interior +does, in some measure, regulate the fall of rain upon the eastern ranges, +which appears to decrease in quantity yearly as the marshes become +exhausted, and cease altogether, when they no longer contain any water. A +drought will naturally follow until such time as the air becomes +surcharged with clouds or vapour from the ocean, which being no longer +able to sustain their own weight, descend upon the mountains, and being +conveyed by hundreds of streams into the western lowlands, again fill the +marshes, and cause the recurrence of regular seasons. + +TEMPERATURE OF THE CLIMATE. + +The thermometer ranges during the summer months, that is, from September +to March, from 36 degrees to 106 degrees of Fahrenheit, but the mean +of the temperature during the above period is 70 degrees. The instrument +in the winter months ranges from 27 degrees to 98 degrees, with a mean of +66 degrees. However great the summer heat may appear, it is certain that +the climate of New South Wales has not the relaxing and enfeebling effect +upon the constitution, which renders a residence in India or other parts +of the south so intolerable. Neither are any of the ordinary occupations +of business or of pleasure laid aside at noon, or during the hottest part +of the day. The traveller may cast himself at length under the first tree +that invites him, and repose there as safely as if he were in a palace. +Fearless of damps, and unmolested by noxious insects, his sleep is as +sound as it is refreshing, and he rises with renewed spirits to pursue his +journey. Equally so may the ploughman or the labourer seek repose beside +his team, and allow them to graze quietly around him. The delicious +coolness of the morning and the mild temperature of the evening air, in +that luxurious climate, are beyond the power of description. It appears to +have an influence on the very animals, the horses and the cattle being +particularly docile; and I cannot but think it is is some degree the same +happy effect upon some of the hardened human beings who are sent thither +from the old world. + +FRUITS. + +As I have before observed, it has not yet been discovered whether there +are any indigenous fruits of any value in Australia. In the colony of New +South Wales there certainly are none; yet the climate is peculiarly +adapted for the growth of every European and of many tropical productions. +The orange, the fig, the citron, the pomegranate, the peach, the apple, +the guava, the nectarine, the pear, and the loquette, grow side by side +together. The plantain throws its broad leaves over the water, the vine +encircles the cottages, and the market of Sydney is abundantly supplied +with every culinary vegetable. + +In a climate, therefore, so soft that man scarcely requires a dwelling, +and so enchanting that few have left it but with regret, the spirits must +necessarily be acted upon,--and the heart feel lighter. Such, indeed, I +have myself found to be the case; nor have I ever been happier than when +roving through the woods or wandering along one of the silent and +beautiful bays for which the harbour of Port Jackson is so celebrated. I +went to New South Wales as I have already remarked, highly prejudiced +against it, both from the nature of the service, and the character of the +great body of its inhabitants. My regiment has since quitted its shores, +but I am aware there are few of them who would not gladly return. The +feeling I have in its favour arises not, therefore, from the services in +which I was employed, but from circumstances in the colony itself; and I +yet hope to form one of its community and to join a number of valuable and +warm-hearted friends whom I left in that distant part of the world. + +REMARKS ON EMIGRATION. + +On the subject of emigration, it is not my intention to dwell at any +length. My object in these preliminary remarks has been to give the reader +a general idea of the country, in the interior recesses of which I am +about to lead him. Still, however, it may be useful to offer a few general +observations on a topic which has, of late years, become so interesting to +the British public. + +The main consideration with those who, possessing some capital, propose to +emigrate as the means of improving their condition, is, the society likely +to he found in the land fixed on for their future residence. One of the +first questions I have been asked, when conversing on the subject of +emigration, has consequently related to this important matter. I had only +then to observe in reply, that the civil and military establishments in +New South Wales, form the elements of as good society as it is the lot of +the majority to command in Great Britain. + +The houses of the settlers are not scattered over a greater surface than +the residences of country gentlemen here, and if they cannot vie with them +in size, they most assuredly do in many other more important respects; and +if a substantial cottage of brick or stone has any claim to the rank of a +tenantable mansion, there are few of them which do not posses all the +means of exercising that hospitality for which young communities are +remarkable. + +But to sever the links of kindred, and to abandon the homes of our fathers +after years of happy tranquillity, is a sacrifice the magnitude of which +is unquestionable. The feelings by which men are influenced under such +circumstances have a claim to our respect. Indeed, no class of persons can +have a stronger hold upon our sympathies than those whom unmerited adverse +fortune obliges to seek a home in a distant country. + +Far, therefore, be it from me to dispute a single expression of regret to +which they may give utterance. It must, however, he remembered that the +deepest feelings of anguish are providentially alleviated in time. Our +heaviest misfortunes are frequently repaired by industry and caution. The +sky clears up, as it were: new interests engage the attention, and the +cares of a family or the improvement of a newly acquired property engross +those moments which would otherwise be spent in vain and unprofitable +regrets. + +DESCRIPTION OF IMMIGRANTS; MOST LIKELY TO PROSPER. + +It cannot be doubted that persons such as I have described, whose conduct +has hitherto been regulated by prudence, and whose main object is to +provide for their children, are the most valuable members of every +community, whether young or old. To such men few countries hold out +greater prospects of success than New South Wales; for the more we extend +our enquiries, the more we shall find that the success of the emigrant in +that colony depends upon his prudence and foresight rather than on any +collateral circumstance of climate or soil; and to him who can be +satisfied with the gradual acquirement of competency, it is the land of +promise. Blessed with a climate of unparalleled serenity, and of unusual +freedom from disease, the settler has little external cause of anxiety, +little apprehension of sickness among his family or domestics, and little +else to do than to attend to his own immediate interests. I should wish to +illustrate the observations by two or three instances of their practical +bearing and tendency. + +CASES OF EMIGRANTS; CAUSES OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE. + +It was on my return from my second expedition, that I visited +Lieut. ****** who resides in the southern parts of the colony. The day +after my arrival, he took me round his property, and explained the various +improvements he had made, considering the small means with which he had +commenced. At this part of our conversation, we came within view of his +house, a substantial weather-board cottage. "I trust," said I, turning +to him, "you will excuse the question I am about to ask; for your +frankness emboldens me to propose it, and on your answer much of the +effect of what you have been saying will depend. In effecting these +various improvements, and in the building of that house, have you been +obliged to embarrass yourself, or are they free from incumbrance?"--"Your +question," he said, "is a reasonable one, and I will answer it with the +frankness you are kind enough to ascribe to me. I have ever made it a rule +not to exceed my income. Mrs. ****** bore our first trials with so much +cheerfulness, and contributed so much to my happiness and my prosperity, +that I felt myself bound to build her a good house with the first money +I had to spare." I confess this answer raised my host in my estimation, +and it was a gratifying proof to me of the success that attends industry +and perseverance. + +But let us look at another case. Mr. *** had a property to the N.W. of +Sydney, and having considerable funded means when he arrived in the +colony, he soon put his property into a state of progressive improvement, +and being in truth an excellent practical farmer, it assumed the +appearance of regularity and order. Had Mr. *** stopped at this moment, +he would have been in the enjoyment of affluence and of every rational +comfort. But instead of exercising prudent rules of hospitality, he gave +way to the natural generosity of his disposition, entered into expenses he +could not afford, and was ultimately obliged to part with his estate. Now +it is deeply to be regretted, that one whose energies and abilities +particularly fitted him for the life he had chosen, should have failed +through such conduct; and it is more than probable, that if he had +commenced with smaller means, and had gradually improved his property, his +fate would have been very different. + +I shall leave these cases without any further comment, convinced as I am, +that each of them furnishes matter for serious consideration, and that +they are practical illustrations of the causes of success or failure of +those who emigrate to the colony of New South Wales. And although I do not +mean to affirm, that the majority follow Mr. ***'s example, I must venture +to assert that thoughtlessness--useless expenditure in the first +instance--waste of time and other circumstances, lead to equally ruinous +consequences. + +MORAL OBJECTIONS TO THE COLONY. + +One of the greatest objections which families have to New South Wales, is +their apprehension of the moral effects that are likely to overwhelm them +by bad example, and for which no success in life could compensate. In a +colony constituted like that of New South Wales, the proportion of crime +must of course be great. Yet it falls less under the notice of private +families than one might at first sight have been led to suppose. +Drunkenness, as in the mother country, is the besetting sin; but it is +confined chiefly to the large towns in consequence of the difficulty of +procuring spirits in the country. There are, no doubt, many incorrigible +characters sent to settle in the interior, and it is an evil to have these +men, even for a single day, to break the harmony of a previously well +regulated establishment, or to injure its future prospects by the +influence of evil example. They are men who are sent upon trial, from on +board a newly arrived ship, and they generally terminate their misconduct +either on the roads or at a penal settlement, being thus happily removed +from the mass of the prisoners. Frequently, however, men remain for years +under the same master. They become attached to their occupations, their +hearts become softened by kindness, and they atone as much as they +possibly can for previous error. + +SYSTEM OF IMMIGRATION RECOMMENDED; ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EMIGRATION. + +Still there can be no doubt, but that the evil complained of is +considerable. It is from this reason, and from my personal knowledge of +the southern parts of the colony, that I should rejoice to see its flats +and its valleys filled with an industrious population of a better +description of farmers. A hope might then be reasonably indulged, that the +Home Government would not be backward in recognising, and in acting upon +a principle, the soundness of which has been felt and acknowledged in all +ages, but the chief difficulty of which rests in its judicious +application. I allude to a system of emigration. Sure I am that if it were +well organized, and care were taken to profit by the experience of the +past in similar attempts, it could not fail to be attended with ultimate +success. The evils resulting from a surplus population in an old +community, were never more seriously felt than in Great Britain at the +present moment. Assuming that the amount of surplus population is +2,000,000, the excess of labour and competition thus occasioned by +diminishing profits and wages, creates, it has been said, an indirect tax +to the enormous extent of 20,000,000 pounds per annum. It has appeared +to many experienced persons, that it is in emigration, we should best find +the means of relief from this heavy pressure; particularly if the +individuals encouraged to go out to the colonies were young persons of +both sexes, from the industrious classes of the community. Even if no +more than three couples were induced to emigrate from each parish in +England in ten years, the relief to the springs of industry would be very +great. Besides, the funds necessary for this purpose would revert to the +country by a thousand indirect channels. Persons unacquainted with our +Australian colonies, whether Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales, can +form little idea of the increasing demand for, and consumption in them of +every species of British manufacture. The liberal encouragement given by +government to every practicable scheme of emigration, and the sum advanced +by it towards the expenses of the voyage to the labouring classes, +sufficiently indicate the light in which the subject is viewed by the +legislature; and the fact that no private family taking out servants to +Sydney, has in any one instance been able to retain them, on account of +offers more advantageous from other quarters, shows clearly the great +demand for labour in the colony. If I might judge of the feelings of the +majority of respectable individuals there, from the assurances of the few, +they would willingly defray any parochial expenses attendant on the +voyage, provided the services of such individuals could be secured to them +for a time sufficiently long to remunerate them for such pavement. The +tide of emigration should be directed to Sydney, Van Dieman's Land, or +Western Australia, upon condition of the labourer's receiving a certain +sum in wages, and his daily subsistence from his employer, with an +understanding, however, that he must consider himself bound for two years +to such employer. Surely there are hundreds of our indigent countrymen, +who would gladly seek a land of such plenty, and cast away the natural, +but unavailing regret of leaving home to secure to themselves and their +families, the substantial comforts of life on such easy conditions. + +COMMITTEE FOUND AT SYDNEY. + +It is not, perhaps, generally known that a committee has been formed in +Sydney, to advise settlers as to the best mode of proceeding on arrival +there. Such a plan is one of obvious utility; and if those who may find +themselves at a loss for information would apply to this committee for +advice, rather than to individuals with whom they may become casually +acquainted, they would further their own interests, and in all probability +ensure success. Still there are some broad rules upon which every man +ought to act, which I shall endeavour to point out, and it will give me no +ordinary satisfaction, if I should be the means of directing any one to +the road of prosperity and comfort. + +HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. + +It is to be feared that those who emigrate to New South Wales, generally +anticipate too great facility in their future operations and certainty of +success in conducting them; but they should recollect that competency +cannot be obtained without labour. Every trade--every profession in this +respect, is subject to the same law--the lawyer, the physician, the +tradesman, and the mechanic. This labour is required at our hands, even in +an old community; how much more then is it called for in a new, where the +ingenuity of men is put to trial to secure those means of accomplishing +their ends which here are abundant. Now, it appears to me but consistent, +that he who is obliged to leave his native country from want of means to +hold his station there, can hardly expect to find, or rather to secure, +abundance elsewhere without some exertion. Every man who emigrates should +proceed with a conviction on his mind, that he is about to encounter years +of labour and privation. He will not then be disappointed at partial +reverses, and will be more thankful for unexpected prosperity. I feel +persuaded the tone of mind has a great deal to do with success, because it +influences the conduct of the individual. Supposing, however, that an +emigrant has taken this rational view of his situation, he should +determine on his pursuits, and allow nothing but absolute certainty of +better fortune to turn him aside. Men, however, landing at Sydney, in +their eagerness for information get bewildered, give up their original +plans, adopt new and uncertain speculations, trifle away both their time +and their money, and ultimately ruin themselves. An individual who goes to +New South Wales for the purpose of settling, should not remain in Sydney +a day longer than is necessary for the arrangement of his affairs. Every +shilling spent there is thrown away. The greatest facility is given by the +different departments of the Colonial Government to the settlers; and it +is entirely his own fault if he trifles away his time in search of +information elsewhere than at the fountainhead, or if he trusts to any +other opinion than his own, supposing him experienced as to the quality of +the land he may fix upon. Let him be speedy in his selection, and fix +himself upon his allotment as soon as possible. Instead of overstocking +his farm, or employing more labourers than he can afford to keep, let him +be satisfied with a gradual increase of his stock, and wait patiently till +he can better afford to employ labour; above all, let him avoid +embarrassing himself by the purchase of any superfluous or unnecessary +comfort. I consider that man has already failed, who runs into debt in the +first instance, or who exhausts his means in the purchase of large herds, +from the vain expectation that their increase will clear him. The time was +when those idle speculations were occasionally attended with success, but +such is not now the case. The energies of the agriculturist are directed +to their proper channel, and if the few are unable to make rapid fortunes, +the many have escaped inevitable ruin. No farm in a state of nature can be +expected to yield any return of consequence for the first year. It is +incumbent on a settler to provide for his establishment, or to retain the +means of providing for it as circumstances may require. + +Farming implements are as cheap in Sydney as in England. Horses and cattle +are cheaper. It requires little, therefore, to stock a farm in a +reasonable manner. On the other hand, the climate is so mild that the want +of a house is scarcely felt, and a temporary residence easily constructed. +On the whole I am convinced, that a man who regulates his conduct by +prudence, and who perseveringly follows up his occupations, who behaves +with kindness to those around him, and performs his social and moral +duties with punctuality, will ultimately secure to himself a home that +will make up for the one he has quitted in the land of his fathers, and +place him in as respectable and as happy a situation as that which he +there enjoyed. + + +***** + + +PROGRESS OF INLAND DISCOVERY. + +Having thrown out the foregoing remarks for the information of the general +reader, and of persons who look to Australia with the more earnest views +of selecting a colonial home, I now return to the immediate object of +these volumes; but before entering on the narrative of my own expeditions, +I think it necessary to advert cursorily to the discoveries previously +accomplished. + +The journeys of Mr. Oxley, far into the western interior of Australia, +gave rise to various and conflicting opinions as to the character of the +more central parts of that extensive continent, of which the colony of New +South Wales forms but a small portion. I feel, therefore, called upon +briefly to advert to the conclusions which that able and intelligent +officer drew from his personal observation of the country into which he +penetrated, as an acquaintance with his opinions will not only tend to +throw a clearer light on the following details, but will, also, convey +much necessary information to those of my readers who may not have +perused his journals. It is necessary, however, in order to divest the +subject of all obscureness, to trace, in the first instance, the progress +of inland discovery, in New South Wales, from the first foundation of the +colony to the period when Mr. Oxley's exertions attracted the public +attention. + +In the year 1788, the British Government took formal possession of the +eastern coast of Australia, by the establishment of a penal colony at Port +Jackson. The first settlers, under Governor Phillips, had too many +difficulties to contend with to submit themselves to be thwarted from +pursuits essential to their immediate safety and comfort, by the prospect +of remote and uncertain advantages. It was by perseverance and toil alone +that they first established and ultimately spread themselves over that +part of the territory, which, flanked by the ocean on the one hand, and +embraced as it were by the Nepean River on the other, is now entitled the +County Of Cumberland. For many years, this single district supplied the +wants of the settlers. Upon it they found ample pasture for their herds, +and sufficient employment for themselves. Nor was it until a succession of +untoward seasons, and the rapid increase of their stock pointed out to +them the necessity of seeking for more extensive pasturage, that they +contemplated surmounting that dark and rugged chain of mountains, which, +like the natural ramparts of Spain and Italy, rose high over the nether +forest, and broke the line of the western horizon. + +MR. CALEY'S ATTEMPT. + +A Mr. Caley is said to have been the first who attempted to scale the Blue +Mountains: but he did not long persevere in struggling with difficulties +too great for ordinary resolution to overcome. It appears that he retraced +his steps, after having penetrated about sixteen miles into their dark and +precipitous recesses; and a heap of stones, which the traveller passes +about that distance from Erne Ford, on the road to Bathurst, marks the +extreme point reached by the first expedition to the westward of the +Nepean river. + +LIEUT. LAWSON'S EXPEDITION. + +Shortly after the failure of this expedition, the sad effects of a long +protracted drought called forth a more general spirit of enterprise and +exertion among the settlers; and Mr. Oxley makes honorable mention of the +perseverance and resolution with which Lieut. Lawson, of the 104th +regiment, accompanied by Messrs. Blaxland and Wentworth, conducted an +expedition into the Blue Mountains. Their efforts were successful: and +the objects of their enterprise would have been completely attained, but +for the failure of their provisions at a moment when their view of the +distant interior was such as to convince them that they had overcome the +most formidable obstacles to their advance, and that in their further +progress few impediments would have presented themselves. + +MR. EVANS' DISCOVERIES. + +The success of this undertaking induced Governor Macquarie to further the +prosecution of inland discovery, and of attempts to ascertain the nature +of the country of which Mr. Lawson only obtained a glimpse. An expedition +was accordingly dispatched under Mr. Evans, the Deputy Surveyor-General, +to follow the route taken by the former one, and to penetrate as far as +practicable into the western interior. The result was the discovery of the +Macquarie river, and of Bathurst Plains. The report of Mr. Evans was so +favourable, that orders were immediately issued for the construction of a +line of road across the mountains. When that was completed, the Governor +went in person to fix the site of a future town on Bathurst Plains. From +thence Mr. Evans, who accompanied the Governor on the occasion, was +directed to proceed to the southward and westward, to ascertain the nature +of the country in that direction. He discovered another considerable +river, flowing, like the Macquarie, to the west, to which he gave the name +of the Lachlan. The promising appearance of these two streams, and the +expectation of all parties that they would be found to water rich and +extensive tracts of country, led to the fitting out of a more important +expedition than any which had before been contemplated. + +MR. OXLEY'S DISCOVERIES. + +Mr. Oxley, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, was appointed chief of this +expedition, and was directed to trace the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers, as +far as practicable, with a view to ascertain their capabilities and the +nature of the country they watered. In 1817, Mr. Oxley directed his +attention to the former river, and continued to follow its windings, until +it appeared that its waters were lost in successive marshes and it ceased +to be a river. In the following year he turned towards the Macquarie, and +traced it, in like manner, until he was checked by high reeds that covered +an extensive plain before him, amidst which the channel of the river was +lost. + +From what he observed of the country, on both these occasions, he was led +to infer that beyond the limits of his advance the interior had a uniform +level, and was, for the most part, uninhabitable and under water. Its +features must have been strongly marked to have confirmed such an opinion +in the mind of the late Surveyor-General. It stands recorded on the pages +of his journal, that he travelled over a country of many miles in extent, +after clearing the mountains, which so far from presenting any rise of +ground to the eye, bore unequivocal marks of frequent and extensive +inundation. He traced two rivers of considerable size, and found that, at +a great distance from each other, they apparently terminated in marshes, +and that the country beyond them was low and unbroken. In his progress +eastward, he crossed a third stream (the Castlereagh), about forty-five +miles from the Macquarie, seemingly not inferior to it in size, +originating in the mountains for which he was making, and flowing nearly +parallel to the other rivers into a level country like that which he had +just quitted. + +DISCOVERIES OF MESSRS. MECHAN, HUME, HOVEL AND CUNNINGHAM. + +Mr. Evans, moreover, who accompanied Mr. Oxley on these journeys, and who +had been detached by his principal from Mount Harris, to ascertain the +nature of the country in the line which the expedition was next to pursue, +having crossed the Castlereagh considerably below the place at which the +party afterwards effected a passage, reported that the river was then +running through high reeds. The inference naturally drawn by Mr. Oxley, +was, that it terminated as the Lachlan and the Macquarie had done; and +that their united waters formed an inland sea or basin. It is evident that +Mr. Oxley had this impression on his mind, when he turned towards the +coast; but the wet state of the lowlands prevented him from ascertaining +its correctness or error. Doubt, consequently, still existed as to the +nature of the country he had left behind him; a question in which the best +interests of the colony were apparently involved. Subsequently to these +discoveries, Mr. Surveyor Mechan, accompanied by Mr. Hamilton Hume, a +colonist of considerable experience, explored the country more to the +southward and westward of Sydney, and discovered most of the new country +called Argyle, and also Lake Bathurst. + +Mr. Hume was afterwards associated with a Mr. Hovel, in an excursion to +the south coast, under the auspices of Sir Thomas Brisbane. After a most +persevering and laborious journey, they reached the sea; but it is +uncertain whether they made Port Philips, or Western Port. Mr. Hume, whose +practical experience will yield to that of no man, entertains a conviction +that it was to the former they descended from the neighbouring ranges; but +Mr. Hovel, I believe supports a contrary opinion. In the early stage of +their journey, they passed over York or Yass Plains; and, after crossing +the Morumbidgee, were generally entangled among mountain ranges that +increased in height to the east and south-east. They crossed three +considerable rivers, falling westerly, which they named the Goulburn, the +Hume, and the Ovens; and found a beautiful and well-watered country in the +vicinity of the coast. + +In 1826, Mr. Allan Cunningham, Botanical Collector to his late Majesty, +traversed a considerable portion of the interior to the north of Bathurst, +and, with a laudable zeal, devoted his labours to the acquisition of +general information, as well as to his more immediate professional +pursuits. In 1827, this gentleman again bent his steps towards the +northward, and succeeded in gaining the 28th parallel of latitude; and, +on a subsequent occasion, having taken his departure from Moreton Bay, he +connected his former journey with that settlement, and thus contributed +largely to our knowledge of the mountain country between it and the +capital. Mr. Cunningham, who, independently of his individual excursions, +had not only circumnavigated the Australian Continent with Capt. King, +but had formed also one of the party with Mr. Oxley, in the journeys +before noticed, had adopted this gentleman's opinion with regard to the +swampy and inhospitable character of the distant interior. Its depressed +appearance from the high ground on which Mr. Cunningham subsequently +moved, tended to confirm this opinion, which was moreover daily gaining +strength from the reports of the natives, who became more frequent in +their intercourse with the whites, and who reported that there were large +waters to the westward, on which the natives had canoes, and in which +there were fish of great size. + +It became, therefore, a current opinion, that the western interior of New +Holland comprehended an extensive basin, of which the ocean of reeds which +had proved so formidable to Mr. Oxley, formed most probably the outskirts; +and it was generally thought that an expedition proceeding into the +interior, would encounter marshes of vast extent, which would be extremely +difficult to turn, and no less dangerous to enter. + +It remained to be proved, however, whether these conjectures were founded +in fact. The chief difficulty lay in the character of the country, and in +providing the necessary means to ensure success. Those which were resorted +to will be found in the succeeding chapter. Whether they would have been +found sufficient and applicable had the interior been wholly under water, +is doubtful; and my impression on this point induced me to make more +efficient arrangements on the second expedition. + + + + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER in 1828 and 1829. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful +droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of New South Wales +is periodically subject. It continued during the two following years with +unabated severity. The surface of the earth became so parched up that +minor vegetation ceased upon it. Culinary herbs were raised with +difficulty, and crops failed even in the most favourable situations. +Settlers drove their flocks and herds to distant tracts for pasture and +water, neither remaining for them in the located districts. The interior +suffered equally with the coast, and men, at length, began to despond +under so alarming a visitation. It almost appeared as if the Australian +sky were never again to be traversed by a cloud. + +OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION. + +But, however severe for the colony the seasons had proved, or were likely +to prove, it was borne in mind at this critical moment, that the wet and +swampy state of the interior had alone prevented Mr. Oxley from +penetrating further into it, in 1818. Each successive report from +Wellington Valley, the most distant settlement to the N. W., confirmed the +news of the unusually dry state of the lowlands, and of the exhausted +appearance of the streams falling into them. It was, consequently, hoped +that an expedition, pursuing the line of the Macquarie, would have a +greater chance of success than the late Surveyor General had; and that the +difficulties he had to contend against would be found to be greatly +diminished, if not altogether removed. The immediate fitting out of an +expedition was therefore decided upon, for the express purpose of +ascertaining the nature and extent of that basin into which the Macquarie +was supposed to fall, and whether any connection existed between it and +the streams falling westerly. As I had early taken a great interest in the +geography of New South Wales, the Governor was pleased to appoint me to +the command of this expedition. + +JOURNEY FROM SYDNEY TO EMU PLAINS. + +In the month of September, 1828, I received his Excellency's commands to +prepare for my journey; and by the commencement of November, had organised +my party, and completed the necessary arrangements. On the 9th of that +month, I waited on the Governor, at Parramatta, to receive his definitive +instructions. As the establishments at Sydney had been unable to supply me +with the necessary number of horses and oxen, instructions had been +forwarded to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of Wellington Valley, to +train a certain number for my use; and I was now directed to push for that +settlement without loss of time. I returned to Sydney in the afternoon of +the 9th, and on the 10th took leave of my brother officers, to commence a +journey of very dubious issue; and, in company with my friend, +Staff-surgeon M'Leod, who had obtained permission to accompany me to the +limits of the colony, followed my men along the great western road. We +moved leisurely over the level country, between the coast and the Nepean +River, and availed ourselves of the kind hospitality of those of our +friends whose property lay along that line of road, to secure more +comfortable places of rest than the inns would have afforded. + +We reached Sheane, the residence of Dr. Harris, on the 11th, and were +received by him with the characteristic kindness with which friends or +strangers are ever welcomed by that gentleman, He had accompanied +Mr. Oxley as a volunteer in 1818, and his name was then given to the +mount which formed the extreme point to which the main body of the first +expedition down the banks of the Macquarie penetrated, in a westerly +direction. + +The general appearance of the property of Dr. Harris, showed how much +perseverance and labour had effected towards its improvement. Many acres +of ground bore a promising crop, over which a gloomy forest had once +waved. The Doctor's farming establishment was as complete as his husbandry +seemed to be prosperous; but he did not appear to be satisfied with the +extent of his dwelling, to which he was making considerable additions, +although I should have thought it large enough for all ordinary purposes +of residence or hospitality. The rewards of successful industry were +everywhere visible. + +FROM EMU PLAINS TO WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +On the 13th, we gained Regent's Ville, the more splendid mansion of Sir +John Jamieson, which overlooks the Nepean River, and commands the most +beautiful and extensive views of the Blue Mountains. Crossing the ford on +the 14th, we overtook the men as they were toiling up the first ascent of +those rugged bulwarks, which certainly gave no favourable earnest of the +road before us; and, as we could scarcely hope to reach the level country +to the westward without the occurrence of some accident, I determined to +keep near the drays, that I might be on hand should my presence be +required. We gained O'Connell's plains on the 20th November, and arrived +at Bathurst on the 22nd, with no other damage than the loss of one of the +props supporting the boat which snapped in two as we descended Mount York. +On examination, it was found that the boat had also received a slight +contusion, but it admitted of easy repair. + +I was detained at Bathurst longer than I intended, in consequence of +indisposition, and during my stay there experienced many proofs of the +kind hospitality of the settlers of that promising district: nor was I +ever more impressed with the importance of the service upon which I was +employed, or more anxious as to the issue, than while contemplating the +rapid advance of agriculture upon its plains, and the formidable bar to +its prosperity which I had left behind me, in the dark and gloomy ranges +which I had crossed. + +On the 27th, Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose experience well qualified him for +the task, and who had been associated with me in the expedition, having +joined me, we proceeded on our journey, and reached Wellington Valley +about the end of the month. + +WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +I wished to push into the interior without any delay, or at least, so soon +as we should have completed our arrangements and organized the party; but, +although Mr. Maxwell had paid every attention to the training of the +cattle, he was of opinion that they could not yet be wholly relied upon, +and strongly recommended that they should be kept at practice for another +week. As we could not have left the settlement under the most favourable +circumstances in less than four days, the further delay attendant on this +measure was considered immaterial, and it was, accordingly, determined +upon. Mr. Hume undertook to superintend the training of the animals, and +this left me at leisure to gather such information as would be of use to +us in our progress down the river. + +In his description of Wellington Valley, Mr. Oxley has not done it more +than justice. It is certainly a beautiful and fertile spot, and it was now +abundant in pasturage, notwithstanding the unfavourable season that had +passed over it. + +The settlement stands upon the right bank of the Bell, about two miles +above the junction of that stream with the Macquarie. Its whitewashed +buildings bore outward testimony to the cleanliness and regularity of the +inhabitants; and the respectful conduct of the prisoners under his charge, +showed that Mr. Maxwell had maintained that discipline by which alone he +could have secured respect to himself and success to his exertions, at +such a distance from the seat of government. + +The weather was so exceedingly hot, during our stay, that it was +impossible to take exercise at noon; but in the evening, or at an early +hour in the morning, we were enabled to make short excursions in the +neighbourhood. + +Mr. Maxwell informed me that there were three stations below the +settlement, the first of which, called Gobawlin, belonging to Mr. Wylde, +was not more than five miles from it; the other two, occupied by Mr. +Palmer, were at a greater distance, one being nineteen, the other +thirty-four miles below the junction of the Bell. He was good enough to +send for the stockman (or chief herdsman), in charge of the last, to give +me such information of the nature of the country below him, as he could +furnish from personal knowledge or from the accounts of the natives. + +LOW STATE OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER. + +Mr. Maxwell pointed out to me the spot on which Mr. Oxley's boats had been +built, close upon the bank of the Macquarie; and I could not but reflect +with some degree of apprehension on the singularly diminished state of the +river from what it must then have been to allow a boat to pass down it. +Instead of a broad stream and a rapid current, the stream was confined to +a narrow space in the centre of the channel, and it ran so feebly amidst +frequent shallows that it was often scarcely perceptible. The Bell, also, +which Mr. Oxley describes as dashing and rippling along its pebbly bed, +had ceased to flow, and consisted merely of a chain of ponds. + +On the 3rd of Dec, the stockman from below arrived; but the only +information we gathered from him was the existence of a lake to the left +of the river, about three days' journey below the run of his herds, on the +banks of which he assured us, the native companions, a species of stork, +stood in rows like companies of soldiers. + +He brought up a nest of small paroquets of the most beautiful plumage, as +a present to Mr. Maxwell, and affirmed that they were common about his +part of the river. The peculiarity of the seasons had also brought a +parrot into the valley which had never before visited it. This delicate +bird was noticed by Captain Cook upon the coast, and is called +PSITTACUS NOVAE HOLLANDIAE, or New Holland Parrot, by Mr. Brown. It had +not, however, been subsequently seen until the summer of 1828, when it +made its appearance at Wellington Valley in considerable numbers, together +with a species of merops or mountain bee-eater. + +DEPARTURE FOR THE INTERIOR. + +On the 5th, our preparations being wholly completed, and the loads +arranged, the party was mustered, and was found to consist of myself and +Mr. Hume, two soldiers and eight prisoners of the crown, two of whom were +to return with dispatches. Our animals numbered two riding, and seven +pack, horses, two draft, and eight pack, bullocks, exclusive of two +horses of my own, and two for the men to be sent back. + +BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE. + +The morning of the 7th December, the day upon which we were to leave the +valley, was ushered in by a cloudless sky, and that heated appearance in +the atmosphere which foretells an oppressively sultry day. I therefore put +off the moment of our departure to the evening, and determined to proceed +no further than Gobawlin. I was the more readily induced to order this +short journey because the animals had not been practised to their full +loads, and I thought they might have given some trouble at starting with +an unusual weight. They moved off however very quietly, and as if they had +been accustomed to their work by a long course of training. We took our +departure from the settlement at 3 p.m. and, crossing to the right bank of +the Macquarie, a little above its junction with the Bell, reached Mr +Wylde's station about half-past five. Thus we commenced our journey under +circumstances as favorable as could have been wished. In disengaging +ourselves on the following day from the hills by which Wellington Valley +is encompassed on the westward, with a view to approach Mr. Palmer's first +station, we kept rather wide of the river, and only occasionally touched +on its more projecting angles. The soil at a distance from the stream was +by no means so good as that in its immediate vicinity, nor was the timber +of the same description. On the rich and picturesque grounds near the +river the angophora prevailed with the flooded gum, and the scenery upon +its banks was improved by the casuarinae that overhung them. On the +latter, inferior eucalypti and cypresses were mixed together. The country +was broken and undulating, and the hills stony, notwithstanding which, +they appeared to have an abundance of pasture upon them. Mr. Hume rode +with me to the summit of a limestone elevation, from which I thought it +probable we might have obtained such a view as would have enabled us to +form some idea of the country into which we were about to descend. But in +following the river line, the eye wandered over a dark and unbroken +forest alone. The ranges from which we were fast receding formed an +irregular and beautiful landscape to the southward; and contrasted +strongly with the appearance of the country to the N. W., in which +direction it was rapidly assuming a level. + +We reached Mr. Palmer's at a late hour in the afternoon, in consequence of +a delay we experienced in crossing a gully, and encamped upon a high bank +immediately opposite to the mouth of Molle's rivulet which here joins the +Macquarie from the southward. The cattle had consumed all the food, and +the ground on both sides of the river looked bare and arid. + +No doubt, however, the face of the country in ordinary seasons wears a +very different appearance. Its general elevation continued high; nor did +the Macquarie assume any change of aspect. Mountain debris and rounded +pebbles of various kinds formed its bed, which was much encumbered with +timber. + +DIBILAMBLE. + +We had been unable to persuade any of the natives of Wellington Valley to +accompany us as guides, on our leaving that settlement. Even Mr. Maxwell's +influence failed; for, notwithstanding the promises of several, when they +saw that we were ready to depart, they either feigned sickness or stated +that they were afraid of the more distant natives. The fact is, that they +were too lazy to wander far from their own district, and too fond of +Maxwell's beef to leave it for a precarious bush subsistence. Fortunately +we found several natives with Mr. Palmer's stockmen, who readily undertook +to conduct us by the nearest route to the cataract, which we considered to +be midway between Wellington Valley and Mount Harris. We started under +their guidance for Dibilamble, Mr. Palmer's second station, and reached it +about half-past 4 p.m. The distance between the two is sixteen miles. The +country for some miles differs in no material point from that through +which we had already passed. The same rich tracts of soil near the river +and the same inferiority in the tracks remote from it. Near Dibilamble, +however, the limestone formation terminates, and gives place to barren +stony ridges, upon which the cypress callities is of close and stunted +growth. The ridges themselves were formed of a coarse kind of freestone +in a state of rapid decomposition. The Tabragar (the Erskine of Mr. Oxley) +falls into the Macquarie at Dibilamble. It had long ceased to flow, being +a small mountain torrent whose source, if we judge from the shingly nature +of its bed, cannot be very distant. Our descent was considerable during +the day; the rapids were frequent in the river, but it underwent no change +in its general appearance. Its waters were hard and transparent, and its +banks, in many places, extremely lofty; with a red sandy loam and gravel +under the alluvial deposits. It generally happened that where the bank was +high on the one side it was low and subject to flood, to a limited extent +at least, on the other. Upon these low grounds the blue-gum trees were of +lofty growth, but on the upper levels box prevailed. + +SCENERY NEAR THE RIVER. + +The views upon the river were really beautiful, and varied at every turn; +nor is it possible for any tree to exceed the casuarina in the graceful +manner in which it bends over the stream, or clings to some solitary rock +in its centre. + +It here became necessary for us to cross to the left bank of the river, +not only to avoid its numerous windings, and thus to preserve as much as +possible the direct line to Mount Harris; but also, because the travelling +was much better on the south side. We therefore availed ourselves of a +ford opposite to the ground on which the tents had stood; and then pursued +our journey, in a south-westerly course, over a country of a description +very inferior to that of any we had previously noticed. + +Iron-bark and cypresses generally prevailed along our line of route on a +poor and sandy soil, which improved after we passed Elizabeth Burn, a +small creek mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +TAYLOR'S RIVULET. + +We approached the river again early in the day, and pitched our tent on +the summit of a sloping bank that overlooked one of its long still +reaches. We were protected from the sun by the angophora trees, which +formed a hanging wood around us, and, with its bright green foliage, gave +a cheerfulness to the scene that was altogether unusual. The opposite side +of the river was rather undulated, and the soil appeared to be of the +finest description. The grass, although growing in tufts, afforded +abundance of pasture for the cattle; and, on the whole, this struck me as +a most eligible spot for a station, and I found it occupied as such on the +return of the expedition. We had encamped about a quarter of a mile from +Taylor's Rivulet, which discharges itself into the Macquarie from the +N. E., and is the first stream, upon the right bank, below the Wellington +Valley. + +Immediately after receiving it the river sweeps away to the southward, in +consequence of which it became again necessary for us to cross it. Our +guides, who were intelligent lads, led the cattle to a ford, a little +below the junction of Taylor's Rivulet, at which we effected a passage +with some difficulty; the opposite bank being very steep, and we were +obliged to force our way up a gully for some eighty or a hundred yards +before we could extricate the team. Pursuing our journey, in a N. W. +direction, we soon left the rich and undulating grounds bordering the +river behind us. A poor, level, and open country, succeeded them. The +soil changed to a light red, sandy loam, on which eucalypti, cypresses, +and casuarinae, were intermixed with minor shrubs; of which latter, the +cherry tree (exocarpus cupressiformis) was the most prevalent. + +At about seven miles from the river we passed some barren freestone +ridges, near which Mr. Hume killed the first kangaroo we had seen. At +mid-day we passed a small creek, at which the cattle were watered; and +afterwards continued our journey through a country similar to that over +which we had already made our way. + +As we neared the stream we noticed the acacia pendula for the first +time,--an indication of our approach to the marshes. The weather still +continued extremely hot. Our journey this day was unusually long, and our +cattle suffered so much, and moved so slowly, that it was late when we +struck upon the Macquarie, at a part where its banks were so high that we +had some difficulty in finding a good watering place. + +SURPRISE SOME NATIVES. + +Being considerably in front of the party, with one of our guides, when we +neared the river, I came suddenly upon a family of natives. They were much +terrified, and finding that they could not escape, called vehemently to +some of their companions, who were in the distance. By the time Mr. Hume +came up, they had in some measure recovered their presence of mind, but +availed themselves of the first favourable moment to leave us. I was +particular in not imposing any restraint on these men, in consequence of +which they afterwards mustered sufficient resolution to visit us in our +camp. We now judged that we were about ten miles from the cataract, and +that, according to the accounts of the stockman, we could not be very +distant from the lake he had mentioned. + +NATIVE BURIAL PLACE. + +As I was unwilling to pass any important feature of the country without +enquiry or examination, I requested Mr. Hume to interrogate the strangers +on the subject. They stated that they belonged to the lake tribe, that the +lake was a short day's journey to the eastward, and that they would guide +us to it if we wished. The matter was accordingly arranged. They left us +at dusk, but returned to the camp at the earliest dawn; when we once more +crossed the river, and, after traversing a very level country for about +nine miles, arrived at our destination. We passed over the dried beds of +lagoons, and through coppices of cypresses and acacia pendula, or open +forest, but did not observe any of the barren stony ridges so common to +the N.E. About a mile, or a mile and a half, from the lake we examined a +solitary grave that had recently been constructed. It consisted of an +oblong mound, with three semicircular seats. A walk encompassed the whole, +from which three others branched off for a few yards only, into the +forest. Several cypresses, overhanging the grave, were fancifully carved +on the inner side, and on one the shape of a heart was deeply engraved. + +BUDDAH LAKE. + +We were sadly disappointed in the appearance of the lake, which the +natives call the Buddah. It is a serpentine sheet of fresh water, of +rather more than a mile in length, and from three to four hundred yards in +breadth. Its depth was four fathoms; but it seemed as if it were now five +or six feet below the ordinary level. No stream either runs into it or +flows from it; yet it abounds in fish; from which circumstance I should +imagine that it originally owed its supply to the river during some +extensive inundation. Notwithstanding that we had crossed some rich tracts +of land in our way to it, the neighbourhood of the lake was by no means +fertile. The trees around it were in rapid decay, and the little +vegetation to be seen appeared to derive but little advantage from its +proximity to water. + +EXTREME HEAT OF THE WEATHER. + +We had started at early dawn; and the heat had become intolerable long ere +the sun had gained the meridian. It was rendered still more oppressive +from the want of air in the dense bushes through which we occasionally +moved. At 2 p.m. the thermometer stood at 129 degrees of Fahrenheit, in +the shade; and at 149 degrees in the sun; the difference being exactly 20 +degrees. It is not to be wondered at that the cattle suffered, although +the journey was so short. The sun's rays were too powerful even for the +natives, who kept as much as possible in the shade. In the evening, when +the atmosphere was somewhat cooler, we launched the boat upon the lake, +in order to get some wild fowl and fish; but although we were tolerably +successful with our guns, we did not take anything with our hooks. + +The natives had, in the course of the afternoon, been joined by the rest +of the tribe, and they now numbered about three and twenty. They were +rather distant in their manner, and gazed with apparent astonishment at +the scene that was passing before them. + +If there had been other proof wanting, of the lamentably parched and +exhausted state of the interior, we had on this occasion ample evidence of +it, and of the fearful severity of the drought under which the country was +suffering. As soon as the sun dipped under the horizon, hundreds of birds +came crowding to the border of the lake, to quench the thirst they had +been unable to allay in the forest. Some were gasping, others almost too +weak to avoid us, and all were indifferent to the reports of our guns. + +CATARACT OF THE MACQUARIE. + +On leaving the Buddah, eleven only of the natives accompanied us. We +reached the river again about noon, on a north-half-east course, where it +had a rocky bed, and continued to journey along it, until we reached the +cataract at which we halted. We travelled over soil generally inferior to +that which we had seen on the preceding day, but rich in many places. The +same kind of timber was observed, but the acacia pendula was more +prevalent than any other, although near the river the flooded gum and +Australian apple-tree were of beautiful growth. + +It had appeared to me that the waters of the Macquarie had been +diminishing in volume since our departure from Wellington Valley, and I +had a favourable opportunity of judging as to the correctness of this +conclusion at the cataract, where its channel, at all times much +contracted, was particularly so on the present occasion. So little force +was there in the current, that I began to entertain doubts how long it +would continue, more especially when I reflected on the level character of +the country we had entered, and the fact of the Macquarie not receiving +any tributary between this point and the marshes. I was in consequence +led to infer that result, which, though not immediately, eventually took +place. + +As they were treated with kindness, the natives who accompanied us soon +threw off all reserve, and in the afternoon assembled at the pool below +the fall to take fish. They went very systematically to work, with short +spears in their hands that tapered gradually to a point, and sank at once +under water without splash or noise at a given signal from an elderly man. +In a short time, one or two rose with the fish they had transfixed; the +others remained about a minute under water, and then made their +appearance near the same rock into the crevices of which they had driven +their prey. Seven fine bream were taken, the whole of which they insisted +on giving to our men, although I am not aware that any of themselves had +broken their fast that day. They soon, however, procured a quantity of +muscles, with which they sat down very contentedly at a fire. My +barometrical admeasurement gave the cataract an elevation of 680 feet +above the level of the sea; and my observations placed it in east +longitude 148 degrees 3 minutes and in latitude 31 degrees 50 minutes +south. + +It became an object with us to gain the right bank of the Macquarie as +soon as possible; for it was evident that the country to the southward of +it was much more swampy than it was to the north: but for some distance +below the cataract, we found it impossible to effect our purpose. The +rocks composing the bed of the river at the cataract, which are of trapp +formation, disappeared at about eight miles below it, when the river +immediately assumed another character. Its banks became of equal height, +which had not before been the case, and averaged from fifteen to eighteen +feet. They were composed entirely of alluvial soil, and were higher than +the highest flood-marks. Its waters appeared to be turbid and deep, and +its bed was a mixture of sand and clay. The casuarina, which had so often +been admired by us, entirely disappeared and the channel in many places +became so narrow as to be completely arched over by gum-trees. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +On the 16th, we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives who joined our +train after the very necessary ceremonies of an introduction had passed, +and when added to those who still accompanied us, amounted to fifty-three. +On this occasion I was riding somewhat in front of the party, when I came +upon them. They were very different in appearance from those whom we had +surprised at the river; and from the manner in which I was received, I was +led to infer that they had been informed of our arrival, and had +purposely assembled to meet us. I was saluted by an old man, who had +stationed himself in front of his tribe, and who was their chief. Behind +him the young men stood in a line, and behind them the warriors were +seated on the ground. + +CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES. + +I had a young native with me who had attached himself to our party, and +who, from his extreme good nature and superior intelligence, was +considered by us as a first-rate kind of fellow. He explained who and what +we were, and I was glad to observe that the old chief seemed perfectly +reconciled to my presence, although he cast many an anxious glance at the +long train of animals that were approaching. The warriors, I remarked, +never lifted their eyes from the ground. They were hideously painted with +red and yellow ochre, and had their weapons at their sides, while their +countenances were fixed, sullen, and determined. In order to overcome this +mood, I rode up to them, and, taking a spear from the nearest, gave him +my gun to examine; a mark of confidence that was not lost upon them, for +they immediately relaxed from their gravity, and as soon as my party +arrived, rose up and followed us. That which appeared most to excite their +surprise, was the motion of the wheels of the boat carriage. The young +native whom I have noticed above, acted as interpreter, and, by his +facetious manner, contrived to keep the whole of us in a fit of laughter +as we moved along. He had been named Botheri by some stockman. + + +In consequence of our wish to cross the river, we kept near it, and +experienced considerable delay from the frequent marshes that opposed +themselves to our progress. In one of these we saw a number of ibises and +spoonbills; and the natives succeeded in killing two or three snakes. Our +view to the westward was extremely limited; but to the eastward the +country appeared in some places to expand into plains. + +CROSSING OF THE RIVER. + +After travelling some miles down the banks of the river, finding that they +still retained their steep character, we turned back to a place which Mr. +Hume had observed, and at which he thought we might, with some little +trouble, cross to the opposite side. And, however objectionable the +attempt was, we found ourselves obliged to make it. We descended, +therefore, into the channel of the river, and unloaded the animals and +boat-carriage. In order to facilitate the ascent of the right bank, some +of the men were directed to cut steps up it. I was amused to see the +natives voluntarily assist them; and was surprised when they took up bags +of flour weighing 100 pounds each, and carried them across the river. We +were not long in getting the whole of the stores over. The boat was then +hoisted on the shoulders of the strongest, and deposited on the top of the +opposite bank; and ropes being afterwards attached to the carriage, it was +soon drawn up to a place of safety. The natives worked as hard as our own +people, and that, too, with a cheerfulness for which I was altogether +unprepared, and which is certainly foreign to their natural habits. We +pitched our tents as soon as we had effected the passage of the river; +after which, the men went to bathe, and blacks and whites were mingled +promiscuously in the stream. I did not observe that the former differed in +any respect from the natives who frequent the located districts. They were +generally clean limbed and stout, and some of the young men had pleasing +intelligent countenances. They lacerate their bodies, inflicting deep +wounds to raise the flesh, and extract the front teeth like the Bathurst +tribes; and their weapons are precisely the same. They are certainly a +merry people, and sit up laughing and talking more than half the night. + +BAROMETER BROKEN. + +During the removal of the stores my barometer was unfortunately broken, +and I had often, in the subsequent stages of the journey, occasion to +regret the accident. I apprehend that the corks in the instrument, placed +to steady the tube, are too distant from each other in most cases; and +indeed I fear that barometers as at present constructed, will seldom be +carried with safety in overland expeditions. + +DESERTED BY THE NATIVES. + +Nine only of the natives accompanied us on the morning succeeding the day +in which we crossed the river. Botheri was, however, at the head of them; +and, as we journeyed along, he informed me that he had been promised a +wife on his return from acting as our guide, by the chief of the last +tribe. The excessive heat of the weather obliged us to shorten our +journey, and we encamped about noon in some scrub after having traversed a +level country for about eleven miles. + +Several considerable plains were noticed to our right, stretching east and +west, which were generally rich in point of soil; but we passed through +much brushy land during the day. It was lamentable to see the state of +vegetation upon the plains from want of moisture. Although the country +had assumed a level character, and was more open than on the higher +branches of the Macquarie, the small freestone elevations, backing the +alluvial tracts near the river, still continued upon our right, though +much diminished in height, and at a great distance from the banks. They +seemed to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood, but dwarf-box and the +acacia pendula prevailed along the plains; while flooded-gum alone +occupied the lands in the immediate neighbourhood of the stream, which was +evidently fast diminishing, both in volume and rapidity; its bed, however, +still continuing to be a mixture of sand and clay. + +The cattle found such poor feed around the camp that they strayed away in +search of better during the night. On such an occasion Botheri and his +fraternity would have been of real service; but he had decamped at an +early hour, and had carried off an axe, a tomahawk, and some bacon, +although I had made him several presents. I was not at all surprised at +this piece of roguery, since cunning is the natural attribute of a savage; +but I was provoked at their running away at a moment when I so much +required their assistance. + +Left to ourselves, I found Mr. Hume of the most essential service in +tracking the animals, and to his perseverance we were indebted for their +speedy recovery, They had managed to find tolerable feed near a serpentine +sheet of water, which Mr. Hume thought it would be advisable to examine. +We directed our course to it as soon as the cattle were loaded, moving +through bush, and found it to be a very considerable creek that receives a +part of the superfluous waters of the Macquarie, and distributes them, +most probably, over the level country to the north. It was much wider than +the river, being from fifty to sixty yards across, and is resorted to by +the natives, who procure muscles from its bed in great abundance. We were +obliged to traverse its eastern bank to its junction with the river, at +which it fortunately happened to be dry. We had, however, to cut roads +down both its banks before we could cross it; and, consequently, made but +a short day's journey. The soil passed over was inferior to the generality +of soil near the river, but we encamped on a tongue of land on which both +the flooded-gum and the grass were of luxuriant height. We found a +quantity of a substance like pipe-clay in the bed of the river, similar to +that mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +GREAT HEAT. + +The heat, which had been excessive at Wellington Valley, increased upon us +as we advanced into the interior. The thermometer was seldom under 114 +degrees at noon, and rose still higher at 2 p.m. We had no dews at night, +and consequently the range of the instrument was trifling in the +twenty-four hours. The country looked bare and scorched, and the plains +over which we journeyed had large fissures traversing them, so that the +earth may literally be said to have gasped for moisture. The country, +which above the cataract had borne the character of open forest, excepting +on the immediate banks of the river, where its undulations and openness +gave it a park-like appearance, or where the barren stony ridges prevailed +below that point, generally exhibited alternately plain and brush, the +soil on both of which was good. On the former, crested pigeons were +numerous, several of which were shot. We had likewise procured some of the +rose-coloured and grey parrots, mentioned by Mr. Oxley, and a small +paroquet of beautiful plumage; but there was less of variety in the +feathered race than I expected to find, and most of the other birds we had +seen were recognised by me as similar to specimens I had procured from +Melville Island, and were, therefore, most probably birds of passage. + +ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE RIVER. + +As we neared Mount Harris, the Macquarie became more sluggish in its flow, +and fell off so much as scarcely to deserve the name of a river. In +breadth, it averaged from thirty-five to forty-five yards, and in the +height of its banks, from fifteen to eighteen. Mr. Hume had succeeded in +taking some fish at one of the stock stations; but if I except those +speared by the natives, we had since been altogether unsuccessful with the +hook, a circumstance which I attribute to the lowness of the river itself. + +About thirty miles from the cataract the country declines to the north as +a medium point, and again changes somewhat in its general appearance. To +the S. and S.W. it appeared level and wooded, while to the N. the plains +became more frequent, but smaller, and travelling over them was extremely +dangerous, in consequence of the large fissures by which they were +traversed. The only trees to be observed were dwarf-box and the acacia +pendula, both of stunted growth, although flooded-gum still prevailed upon +the river. + +On the 20th we travelled on a N.W. course, and in the early part of the +day passed over tolerably good soil. It was succeeded by a barren scrub, +through which we penetrated in the direction of Welcome Rock, a point we +had seen from one of the Plains and had mistaken for Mount Harris. + +ARRIVAL AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +On a nearer approach, however, we observed our error, and corrected it by +turning more to the left; and we ultimately encamped about a mile to the +W.S.W. of the latter eminence. On issuing from the scrub we found +ourselves among reeds and coarse water-grass; and, from the appearance of +the country, we were led to conclude that we had arrived at a part of the +interior more than ordinarily subject to overflow. + +As soon as the camp was fixed, Mr. Hume and I rode to Mount Harris, over +ground subject to flood and covered for the most part by the polygonum, +being too anxious to defer our examination of its neighbourhood even for a +few hours. + +VESTIGES OF MR. OXLEY'S ENCAMPMENT. + +Nearly ten years had elapsed since Mr. Oxley pitched his tents under the +smallest of the two hills into which Mount Harris is broken. There was no +difficulty in hitting upon his position. The trenches that had been cut +round the tents were still perfect, and the marks of the fire-places +distinguishable; while the trees in the neighbourhood had been felled, +and round about them the staves of some casks and a few tent-pegs were +scattered. Mr. Oxley had selected a place at some distance from the river, +in consequence of its then swollen state. I looked upon it from the same +ground, and could not discern the waters in its channel; so much had they +fallen below their ordinary level. He saw the river when it was +overflowing its banks; on the present occasion it had scarcely sufficient +water to support a current. On the summit of the greater eminence, which +we ascended, there remained the half-burnt planks of a boat, some clenched +and rusty nails, and an old trunk; but my search for the bottle Mr. Oxley +had left was unsuccessful. + +A reflection naturally arose to my mind on examining these decaying +vestiges of a former expedition, whether I should be more fortunate than +the leader of it, and how far I should be enabled to penetrate beyond the +point which had conquered his perseverance. Only a week before I left +Sydney I had followed Mr. Oxley to the tomb. A man of uncommon quickness, +and of great ability, the task of following up his discoveries was not +less enviable than arduous; but, arrived at that point at which his +journey may be said to have terminated and mine only to commence, I knew +not how soon I should be obliged, like him, to retreat from the marshes +and exhalations of so depressed a country. My eye instinctively turned to +the North-West, and the view extended over an apparently endless forest. +I could trace the river line of trees by their superior height; but saw no +appearance of reeds, save the few that grew on the banks of the stream. + +Mount Foster, somewhat higher than Mount Harris, on the opposite side of +the river, alone broke the line of the horizon to the North N.W. at a +distance of five miles. From that point all round the compass, the low +lands spread, like a dark sea, before me; except where a large plain +stretching from E. to W., and lying to the S.E. broke their monotony; +and if there was nothing discouraging, there certainly was nothing +cheering, in the prospect. + +ILLNESS OF TWO OF THE MEN. + +On our return to the camp, I was vexed to find two of the men, Henwood and +Williams, with increased inflammation of the eyes, of which they had +previously been complaining, and I thought it advisable to bleed the +latter. + +In consequence of the indisposition of these men, we remained stationary +on the 21st, which enabled me to pay a second visit to Mount Harris. On +ascending the smaller hill, I was surprised to find similar vestiges on +its summit to those I had noticed on the larger one; in addition to which, +the rollers still continued on the side of the hill, which had been used +to get the boat up it. [Mr. Oxley had two boats; one of which he dragged +to the top of each of these hills, and left them turned bottom upwards, +buryinq a bottle under the head of the larger boat, which was conveyed to +the more distant hill.] + +Mount Harris is of basaltic formation, but I could not observe any +columnar regularity in it, although large blocks are exposed above the +ground. The rock is extremely hard and sonorous. + +MOUNT FOSTER AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. + +We moved leisurely towards Mount Foster, on the 22nd, and arrived opposite +to it a little before sunset. The country between the two is mostly open, +or covered only with the acacia pendula and dwarf-box. The soil, although +an alluvial deposit, is not of the best; nor was vegetation either fresh +or close upon it. As soon as the party stopped, I crossed the river, and +lost no time in ascending the hill, being anxious to ascertain if any +fresh object was visible from its summit, I thought that from an eminence +so much above the level of the surrounding objects, I might obtain a view +of the marshes, or of water; but I was wholly disappointed. The view was +certainly extensive, but it was otherwise unsatisfactory. Again to the +N.W. the lowlands spread in darkness before me; there were some +considerable plains beyond the near wood; but the country at the foot of +the hill appeared open and promising. Although the river line was lost in +the distance, it was as truly pointed out by the fires of the natives, +which rose in upright columns into the sky, as if it had been marked by +the trees upon its banks. + +To the eastward, Arbuthnot's range rose high above the line of the +horizon, bearing nearly due East, distant seventy miles. The following +sketch of its outlines will convey a better idea of its appearance from +Mount Foster than any written description. + +[small sketch here--not shown in etext] + +I stayed on the mount until after sunset, but I could not make out any +space that at all resembled the formidable barrier I knew we were so +rapidly approaching. I saw nothing to check our advance, and I therefore +returned to the camp, to advise with Mr. Hume upon the subject. Not having +been with me on Mount Foster, he took the opportunity to ascend it on the +following morning; and on his return concurred with me in opinion, that +there was no apparent obstacle to our moving onwards. As the men were +considerably better, I had the less hesitation in closing with the +marshes. We left our position, intending to travel slowly, and to halt +early. + +The first part of our journey was over rich flats, timbered sufficiently +to afford a shade, on which the grass was luxuriant; but we were obliged +to seek more open ground, in consequence of the frequent stumbling of the +cattle. + +We issued, at length, upon a plain, the view across which was as dreary as +can be imagined; in many places without a tree, save a few old stumps +left by the natives when they fired the timber, some of which were still +smoking in different parts of it. Observing some lofty trees at the +extremity of the plain, we moved towards them, under an impression that +they indicated the river line. But on this exposed spot the sun's rays +fell with intense power upon us, and the dust was so minute and +penetrating, that I soon regretted having left the shady banks of the +river. + +About 2.p.m. we neared the trees for which we had been making, over ground +evidently formed by alluvial deposition, and were astonished to find that +reeds alone were growing under the trees as far as the eye could +penetrate. It appeared that we were still some distance from the river, +and it was very doubtful how far we might be from water, for which the +men were anxiously calling. I therefore halted, and sent Fraser into the +reeds towards some dead trees, on which a number of spoonbills were +sitting. He found that there was a small lake in the centre of the reeds, +the resort of numerous wild fowl; but although the men were enabled to +quench their thirst, we found it impossible to water the animals. We were +obliged, therefore, to continue our course along the edge of the reeds; +which in a short time appeared in large masses in front of us, stretching +into a vast plain upon our right; and it became evident that the whole +neighbourhood was subject to extensive inundation. + +ENCAMP AMIDST REEDS. + +I was fearful that the reeds would have checked us; but there was a +passage between the patches, through which we managed to force our way +into a deep bight, and fortunately gained the river at the bottom of it +much sooner than we expected. We were obliged to clear away a space for +the tents; and thus, although there had been no such appearance from Mount +Foster, we found ourselves in less than seven hours after leaving it, +encamped pretty far in that marsh for which we had so anxiously looked +from its summit, and now trusting to circumstances for safety, upon +ground on which, in any ordinary state of the river, it would have been +dangerous to have ventured. Indeed, as it was, our situation was +sufficiently critical, and would not admit of hesitation on my part. + +NATURE OF THE COUNTRY. + +After the cattle had been turned out, Mr. Hume and I again mounted our +horses, and proceeded to the westward, with a view to examine the nature +of the country before us, and to ascertain if it was still practicable to +move along the river side. For, although it was evident that we had +arrived at what might strictly be called the marshes of the Macquarie, I +still thought we might be at some distance from the place where Mr. Oxley +terminated his journey. + +There was no indication in the river to encourage an idea that it would +speedily terminate; nor, although we were on ground subject to extensive +inundation, could we be said to have reached the heart of the marshes, as +the reeds still continued in detached bodies only. We forced a path +through various portions of them, and passed over ground wholly subject to +flood, to a distance of about six miles. We then crossed a small rise of +ground, sufficiently high to have afforded a retreat, had necessity +obliged us to seek for one; and we shortly afterwards descended on the +river, unaltered in its appearance, and rather increased than diminished +in size. A vast plain extended to the N.W., the extremity of which we +could not discern; though a thick forest formed its northern boundary. + +It was evident that this plain had been frequently under water, but it was +difficult to judge from the marks on the trees to what height the floods +had risen. The soil was an alluvial deposit, superficially sandy; and many +shells were scattered over its surface. To the south, the country appeared +close and low; nor do I think we could have approached the river from that +side, by reason of the huge belts of reeds that appeared to extend as far +as the the eye could reach. + +MEN ATTACKED WITH OPHTHALMIA. + +The approach of night obliged us to return to the camp. On our arrival, +we found that the state of Henwood and Williams would prevent our stirring +for a day or two. Not only had they a return of inflammation, but several +other of the men complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, which +were dreadfully blood-shot and weak. I was in some measure prepared for a +relapse in Henwood, as the exposure which he necessarily underwent on the +plain was sufficient to produce that effect; but I now became apprehensive +that the affection would run through the party. + +Considering our situation in its different bearings, it struck me that the +men who were to return to Wellington Valley with an account our our +proceedings for the Governor's information, had been brought as far as +prudence warranted. There was no fear of their going astray, as long as +they had the river to guide them; but in the open country which we were to +all appearance approaching, or amidst fields of reeds, they might wander +from the track, and irrecoverably lose themselves. I determined, +therefore, not to risk their safety, but to prepare my dispatches for +Sydney, and I hoped most anxiously, that ere they were closed, all +symptoms of disease would have terminated. + +In the course of the day, however, Spencer, who was to return with Riley +to Wellington Valley, became seriously indisposed, and I feared that he +was attacked with dysentery. Indeed, I should have attributed his illness +to our situation, but I did not notice any unusual moisture in the +atmosphere, nor did any fogs rise from the river. I therefore the rather +attributed it to exposure and change of diet, and treated him accordingly. +To my satisfaction, when I visited the men late in the evening, I found a +general improvement in the whole of them. Spencer was considerably +relieved, and those of the party who had inflammation of the eyes no +longer felt that painful irritation of which they had before complained. +I determined, therefore, unless untoward circumstances should prevent it, +to send Riley and his companion homewards, and to move the party without +loss of time. + +We had not seen any natives for many days, but a few passed the camp on +the opposite side of the river on the evening of the 25th. They would not, +however, come to us; but fled into the interior in great apparent alarm. + +DEPARTURE OF TWO MEN FOR WELLINGTON. + +On the morning of the 26th, the men were sufficiently recovered to pursue +their journey. Riley and Spencer left us at an early hour; and about +7 a.m. we pursued a N.N.W. course along the great plain I have noticed, +starting numberless quails, and many wild turkeys, by the way. Leaving +that part of the river on which Mr. Hume and I had touched considerably to +the left, we made for the point of a wood, projecting from the river line +of trees into the plain. The ground under us was an alluvial deposit, and +bore all the marks of frequent inundation. + +The soil was yielding, blistered, and uneven; and the claws of cray-fish, +together with numerous small shells, were every where collected in the +hollows made by the subsiding of the waters, between broad belts of reeds +and scrubs of polygonum. + +CONSULTATION. + +On gaining the point of the wood, we found an absolute check put to our +further progress. We had been moving directly on the great body of the +marsh, and from the wood it spread in boundless extent before us. It was +evidently lower than the ground on which we stood; we had therefore, a +complete view over the whole expanse; and there was a dreariness and +desolation pervading the scene that strengthened as we gazed upon it. +Under existing circumstances, it only remained for us either to skirt +the reeds to the northward, or to turn in again upon the river; and as I +considered it important to ascertain the direction of the Macquarie at so +critical and interesting a point, I thought it better to adopt the latter +measure. We, accordingly, made for the river, and pitched our tents, as at +the last station, in the midst of reeds. + +There were two points at this time, upon which I was extremely anxious. +The first was as to the course of the river; the second, as to the extent +of the marshes by which we had been checked, and the practicability of the +country to the northward. + +In advising with Mr. Hume, I proposed launching the boat, as the surest +means of ascertaining the former, and he, on his part, most readily +volunteered to examine the marshes, in any direction I should point out. +It was therefore, arranged, that I should take two men, and a week's +provision with me in the boat down the river; and that he should proceed +with a like number of men on an excursion to the northward. + +After having given directions as to the regulations of camp during our +absence, we separated, on the morning of the 26th for the first time, in +furtherance of the objects each had in view. + +BOAT EXCURSION. + +In pulling down the river, I found that its channel was at first extremely +tortuous and irregular, but that it held a general N.W. course, and bore +much the same appearance as it had done since our descent from Mount +Foster. + +We had a laborious task in lifting the boat over the trunks of trees that +had fallen into the channel of the river or that had been left by the +floods, and at length we stove her in upon a sunken log. The injury she +received was too serious not to require immediate repair; and we, +therefore, patched her up with a tin plate. This accident occasioned some +delay, and the morning was consumed without our having made any +considerable progress. At length, however, we got into a more open +channel. + +The river suddenly increased in breadth to thirty-five or forty-five +yards, with a depth of from twelve to twenty feet of water. Its banks +shelved perpendicularly down, and were almost on a level with the surface +of the stream; and the flood mark was not more than two feet high on the +reeds by which they were lined. We had hitherto passed under the shade of +the flooded gum, which still continued on the immediate banks of the +river; but, the farther we advanced, the more did we find these trees in a +state of decay, until at length they ceased, or were only rarely met with. + +TERMINATION OF THE RIVER. + +About 2 p.m. I brought up under a solitary tree, in consequence of heavy +rain: this was upon the left bank. In the afternoon, however, we again +pushed forward, and soon lost sight of every other object amidst reeds of +great height. The channel of the river continued as broad and as deep as +ever, but the flood mark did not show more than a foot above the banks, +which were now almost on a level with the water; and the current was so +sluggish as to be scarcely perceptible. These general appearances +continued for about three miles, when our course was suddenly, and most +unexpectedly, checked. The channel, which had promised so well, without +any change in its breadth or depth, ceased altogether; and whilst we were +yet lost in astonishment at so abrupt a termination of it, the boat +grounded. It only remained for us to examine the banks, which we did with +particular attention. Two creeks were then discovered, so small as +scarcely to deserve the name, and which would, under ordinary +circumstances, have been overlooked. The one branched off to the +north--the other to the west. We were obliged to get out of the boat to +push up the former, the leeches sticking in numbers to our legs. The creek +continued for about thirty yards, when it was terminated; and, in order +fully to satisfy myself of the fact, I walked round the head of it by +pushing through the reeds. Night coming on, we returned to the tree at +which we had stopped during the rain, and slept under it. The men cut away +the reeds, or we should not have had room to move. At 2 a.m. it commenced +raining, with a heavy storm of thunder and lightning; the boat was +consequently hauled ashore, and turned over to afford us a temporary +shelter. The lightning was extremely vivid, and frequently played upon +the ground, near the firelocks, for more than a quarter of a minute at a +time. + +It is singular, that Mr. Oxley should, under similar circumstances, have +experienced an equally stormy night, and most probably within a few yards +of the place on which I had posted myself. Notwithstanding that the +elements were raging around me, as if to warn me of the danger of my +situation, my mind turned solely on the singular failure of the river. I +could not but encourage hopes that this second channel that remained to +be explored would lead us into an open space again; and as soon as the +morning dawned we pursued our way to it. In passing some dead trees upon +the right bank, I stopped to ascend one, that, from an elevation, I might +survey the marsh, but I found it impossible to trace the river through it. +The country to the westward was covered with reeds, apparently to the +distance of seven miles; to the N.W. to a still greater distance; and to +the north they bounded the horizon. + +The whole expanse was level and unbroken, but here and there the reeds +were higher and darker than at other places, as if they grew near constant +moisture; but I could see no appearance of water in any body, or of high +lands beyond the distant forest. + +As soon as we arrived at the end of the main channel, we again got out of +the boat, and in pushing up the smaller one, soon found ourselves under a +dark arch of reeds. It did not, however, continue more than twenty yards +when it ceased, and I walked round the head of it as I had done round that +of the other. We then examined the space between the creeks, where the +bank receives the force of the current, which I did not doubt had formed +them by the separation of its eddies. Observing water among the reeds, I +pushed through them with infinite labour to a considerable distance. The +soil proved to be a stiff clay; the reeds were closely embodied, and from +ten to twelve feet high; the waters were in some places ankle deep, and in +others scarcely covered the surface. They were flowing in different +points, with greater speed than those of the river, which at once +convinced me that they were not permanent, but must have lodged in the +night during which so much rain had fallen. They ultimately appeared to +flow to the northward, but I found it impossible to follow them, and it +was not without difficulty that, after having wandered about at every +point of the compass, I again reached the boat. + +CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE RIVER. + +The care with which I had noted every change that took place in the +Macquarie, from Wellington Valley downwards, enabled me, in some measure, +to account for its present features. I was led to conclude that the waters +of the river being so small in body, excepting in times of flood, and +flowing for so many miles through a level country without receiving any +tributary to support their first impulse, became too sluggish, long ere +they reached the marshes, to cleave through so formidable a barrier; and +consequently spread over the surrounding country--whether again to take +up the character of a river, we had still to determine. Unless, however, +a decline of country should favour its assuming its original shape, it was +evident that the Macquarie would not be found to exist beyond this marsh, +of the nature and extent of which we were still ignorant. The loss of my +barometer was at this time severely felt by me, since I could only guess +at our probable height above the ocean; and I found that my only course +was to endeavour to force my way to the northward, to ascertain, if I +could, from the bottom of the marshes; then penetrate in a westerly +direction beyond them, in order to commence my survey of the S.W. +interior. I was aware of Mr. Hume's perseverance, and determined, +therefore, to wait the result of his report ere I again moved the camp, to +which we returned late in the afternoon of the second day of our +departure. We found it unsufferably hot and suffocating in the reeds, and +were tormented by myriads of mosquitoes, but the waters were perfectly +sweet to the taste, nor did the slightest smell, as of stagnation, proceed +from them. I may add that the birds, whose sanctuary we had invaded, as +the bittern and various tribes of the galinule, together with the frogs, +made incessant noises around us, There were, however, but few water-fowl +on the river; which was an additional proof to me that we were not near +any very extensive lake. + +MR. HUME'S REPORT. + +Mr. Hume had returned before me to the camp, and had succeeded in finding +a serpentine sheet of water, about twelve miles to the northward; which he +did not doubt to be the channel of the river. He had pushed on after this +success, in the hope of gaining a further knowledge of the country; but +another still more extensive marsh checked him, and obliged him to retrace +his steps. He was no less surprised at the account I gave of the +termination of the river, than I was at its so speedily re-forming, and it +was determined to lose no time in the further examination of so singular a +region. + +FALSE CHANNEL; PERPLEXITIES. + +On the morning of the 28th therefore we broke up the camp, and proceeded +to the northward, under Mr. Hume's guidance, moving over ground wholly +subject to flood, and extensively covered with reeds; the great body of +the marsh lying upon our left. After passing the angle of a wood, upon our +right, from which Mount Foster was distant about fourteen miles, we got +upon a small plain, on which there was a new species of tortuous box. This +plain was clear of reeds, and the soil upon it was very rich. Crossing in +a westerly direction we arrived at the channel found by Mr. Hume, who must +naturally have concluded that it was a continuation of the river. The boat +was immediately prepared, and I went up it in order to ascertain the +nature of its formation. For two miles it preserved a pretty general width +of from twenty to thirty yards; but at that distance began to narrow, and +at length it became quite shallow and covered with weeds. We were +ultimately obliged to abandon the boat, and to walk along a native path. +The country to the westward was more open than I had expected. About a +quarter of a mile from where we had left the boat, the channel separated +into two branches; to which I perceived it owed its formation, coming, as +they evidently did, direct from the heart of the marsh. The wood through +which I had entered it on the first occasion bore south of me, to which +one of the branches inclined; as the other did to the S.W. An almost +imperceptible rise of ground was before me, which, by giving an impetus to +the waters of the marsh, accounted to me for the formation of the main +channel. It was too late, on my return to the camp, to prosecute any +further examination of it downwards; but in the morning, Mr. Hume +accompanied me in the boat, to ascertain to what point it led; and we +found that at about a mile it began to diminish in breadth, until at +length it was completely lost in a second expanse of reeds. We passed a +singular scaffolding erected by the natives, on the side of the channel, +to take fish; and also found a weir at the termination of it for the like +purpose so that it was evident the natives occasionally ventured into +the marshes. + +There was a small wood to our left which Mr. Hume endeavoured to gain, but +he failed in the attempt. He did, however, reach a tree that was +sufficiently high to give him a full view of the marsh, which appeared to +extend in every direction, but more particularly to the north, for many +miles. We were, however, at fault, and I really felt at a loss what step +to take. I should have been led to believe from the extreme flatness of +the country, that the Macquarie would never assume its natural shape, but +from the direction of the marshes I could not but indulge a hope that it +would meet the Castlereagh, and that their united waters might form a +stream of some importance. Under this impression I determined on again +sending Mr. Hume to the N.E. in order to ascertain the nature of the +country in that direction. + +EXCURSION TO THE NORTH-WEST. + +The weather was excessively hot, and as my men were but slowly recovering, +I was anxious while those who were in health continued active, to give the +others a few days of rest. I proposed, therefore, to cross the river, and +to make an excursion into the interior, during the probable time of +Mr. Hume's absence; since if, as I imagined, the Macquarie had taken a +permanent northerly course, I should not have an opportunity of examining +the distant western country. Mr. Hume's experience rendered it unnecessary +for me to give him other than general directions. + +A PLAIN ON FIRE. + +On the last day of the year we left the camp, each accompanied by two men. +I had the evening previously ordered the horses I intended taking with me +across the channel, and at an early hour of the morning I followed them. +Getting on a plain, immediately after I had disengaged myself from the +reeds on the opposite side of the river, which was full of holes and +exceedingly treacherous for the animals, I pushed on for a part of the +wood Mr. Hume had endeavoured to gain from the boat, with the intention of +keeping near the marsh. On entering it, I found myself in a thick brush of +eucalypti, casuarinae and minor trees; the soil under them being mixed +with sand. I kept a N.N.W. course through it, and at the distance of +three miles from its commencement, ascended a tree, to ascertain if I was +near the marshes; when I found that I was fast receding from them. I +concluded, therefore, that my conjecture as to their direction was right, +and altered my course to N.W., a direction in which I had observed a dense +smoke arising, which I supposed had been made by some natives near water. +At the termination of the brush I crossed a barren sandy plain, and from +it saw the smoke ascending at a few miles' distance from me. Passing +through a wood, at the extremity of the plain, I found myself at the +outskirts of an open space of great extent, almost wholly enveloped in +flames. The fire was running with incredible rapidity through the rhagodia +shrubs with which it was covered. Passing quickly over it, I continued my +journey to the N.W. over barren plains of red sandy loam of even surface, +and bushes of cypresses skirted by acacia pendula. It was not until after +sunset that we struck upon a creek, in which the water was excellent; and +we halted on its banks for the night, calculating our distance at +twenty-nine miles from the camp. The creek was of considerable size, +leading northerly. Several huts were observed by us, and from the heaps of +muscle-shells that were scattered about, there could be no doubt of its +being much frequented by the natives. The grass being fairly burnt up, our +animals found but little to eat, but they had a tolerable journey. and did +not attempt to wander in search of better food. I shot a snipe near the +creek, much resembling the painted snipe of India; but I had not the means +with me of preserving it. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +Continuing our journey on the following morning, we at first kept on the +banks of the creek, and at about a quarter of a mile from where we had +slept, came upon a numerous tribe of natives. A young girl sitting by the +fire was the first to observe us as we were slowly approaching her. She +was so excessively alarmed, that she had not the power to run away; but +threw herself on the ground and screamed violently. We now observed a +number of huts, out of which the natives issued, little dreaming of the +spectacle they were to behold. But the moment they saw us, they started +back; their huts were in a moment in flames, and each with a fire-brand +ran to and fro with hideous yells, thrusting them into every bush they +passed. I walked my horse quietly towards an old man who stood more +forward than the rest, as if he intended to devote himself for the +preservation of his tribe. I had intended speaking to him, but on a nearer +approach I remarked that he trembled so violently that it was impossible +to expect that I could obtain any information from him, and as I had not +time for explanations, I left him to form his own conjectures as to what +we were, and continued to move towards a thick brush, into which they did +not venture to follow us. + +CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY. + +After a ride of about eighteen miles, through a country of alternate plain +and brush, we struck upon a second creek leading like the first to the +northward. The water in it was very bitter and muddy, and it was much +inferior in appearance to that at which we had slept. After stopping for +half-an-hour upon its banks, to rest our animals, we again pushed forward. +We had not as yet risen any perceptible height above the level of the +marshes, but had left the country subject to overflow for a considerable +space behind us. The brushes through which we had passed were too sandy to +retain water long, but the plains were of such an even surface, that they +could not but continue wet for a considerable period after any fall of +rain. They were covered with salsolaceous plants, without a blade of +grass; and their soil was generally a red sandy loam. There were +occasional patches that appeared moist, in which the calystemma was +abundant, and these patches must, I should imagine, form quagmires in the +wet season. + +On leaving the last-mentioned creek, we found a gently rising country +before us; and about three or four miles from it we crossed some stony +ridges, covered with a new species of acacia so thickly as to prevent our +obtaining any view from them. As the sun declined, we got into open forest +ground; and travelled forwards in momentary expectation, from appearances, +of coming in sight of water; but we were obliged to pull up at sunset on +the outskirts of a larger plain without having our expectation realized. +The day had been extremely warm, and our animals were as thirsty as +ourselves. Hope never forsakes the human breast; and thence it was that, +after we had secured the horses, we began to wander round our lonely +bivouac. It was almost dark, when one of my men came to inform me that he +had found a small puddle of water, to which be had been led by a pigeon. + +It was, indeed, small enough, probably the remains of a passing shower; it +was, however, sufficient for our necessities, and I thanked Providence for +its bounty to us. We were now about sixty miles from the Macquarie, in a +N.W. by W. direction, and the country had proved so extremely +discouraging, that I intimated to my men my intention of retracing my +steps, should I not discover any change in it before noon on the morrow. +A dense brush of acacia succeeded to the plain on which we had slept, +which we entered, and shortly afterwards found ourselves in an open space, +of oblong shape, at the extremity of which there was a shallow lake. The +brush completely encircled it, and a few huts were upon its banks. About +10 p.m. we got into an open forest track of better appearance than any +over which we had recently travelled. + +ISOLATED HILL. + +There was a visible change in the country, and the soil, although red, was +extremely rich and free from sand. A short time afterwards we rose to the +summit of a round hill, from which we obtained an extensive view on most +points of the compass. We had imperceptibly risen considerably above the +general level of the interior. + +VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT. + +Beneath us, to the westward, I observed a broad and thinly wooded valley; +and W. by S., distant apparently about twenty miles, an isolated mountain, +whose sides seemed almost perpendicular, broke the otherwise even line of +the horizon; but the country in every other direction looked as if it was +darkly wooded. Anticipating that I should find a stream in the valley, I +did not for a moment hesitate in striking down into it. Disappointed, +however, in this expectation, I continued onwards to the mountain, which I +reached just before the sun set. Indeed, he was barely visible when I +gained its summit; but my eyes, from exposure to his glare, became so +weak, my face was so blistered, and my lips cracked in so many places, +that I was unable to look towards the west, and was actually obliged to +sit down behind a rock until he had set. + +Perhaps no time is so favourable for a view along the horizon as the +sunset hour; and here, at an elevation of from five to six hundred feet +above the plain, the visible line of it could not have been less than from +thirty-five to forty-five miles. The hill upon which I stood was broken +into two points; the one was a bold rocky elevation; the other had its +rear face also perpendicular, but gradually declined to the north, and at +a distance of from four to five miles was lost in an extensive and open +plain in that direction. In the S.E. quarter, two wooded hills were +visible, which before had appeared to be nothing more than swells in the +general level of the country. A small hill, similar to the above, bore +N.E. by compass; and again, to the west, a more considerable mountain than +that I had ascended, and evidently much higher, reflected the last beams +of the sun as he sunk behind them. I looked, however, in vain for water. +I could not trace either the windings of a stream, or the course of a +mountain torrent; and, as we had passed a swamp about a mile from the +hill, we descended to it for the night, during which we were grievously +tormented by the mosquitoes. + +RESULTS OF THE EXCURSION. + +I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been +sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the +track before me was still less inviting. Nothing but a dense forest, and a +level country, existed between me and the distant hill. I had learnt, by +experience, that it was impossible to form any opinion of the probable +features of so singular a region as that in which I was wandering, from +previous appearances, or to expect the same result, as in other countries, +from similar causes. In a geographical point of view, my journey had been +more successful, and had enabled me to put to rest for ever a question of +much previous doubt. Of whatever extent the marshes of the Macquarie might +be, it was evident they were not connected with those of the Lachlan. I +had gained knowledge of more than 100 miles of the western interior, and +had ascertained that no sea, indeed that little water, existed on its +surface; and that, although it is generally flat, it still has elevations +of considerable magnitude upon it. + +Although I had passed over much barren ground, I had likewise noticed soil +that was far from poor, and the vegetation upon which in ordinary seasons +would, I am convinced, have borne a very different aspect. + +Yet, upon the whole, the space I traversed is unlikely to become the haunt +of civilized man, or will only become so in isolated spots, as a chain of +connection to a more fertile country; if such a country exist to the +westward. + +The hill which thus became the extreme of my journey, is of sandstone +formation, and is bold and precipitous. Its summit is level and lightly +timbered. As a tribute of respect to the late Surveyor-General, I called +it Oxley's Table Land, and I named the distant hills D'Urban's Group, +after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, in compliance with a previous request of my +friend Lieut. De la Condamine, that I would so name any prominent feature +of the interior that I might happen to come upon. + +RETURN TO THE CAMP. + +In returning to the camp, I made a circuit to the N.E., and reached the +Macquarie late on the evening of the 5th of January; having been absent +six days, during which we could not have ridden less than 200 miles. Yet +the horses were not so fatigued as it was natural to expect they would +have been. + +My servant informed me that a party of natives had visited the camp on the +3rd, but that they retired precipitately on seeing the animals. I +regretted to find the men but little better than when I left them. Several +still complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, and of great +weakness of sight. Attributing their continued indisposition in some +measure to our situation, I was anxious to have moved from it; but as Mr. +Hume was still absent, I could not decide upon the measure. He made his +appearance, however, on the 6th, having ridden the greater part of the day +through rain, which commenced to fall in the morning. Soon after his +arrival, Dawber, my overseer of animals, who had accompanied him, was +taken suddenly ill. During the night he became much worse, with shivering +and spasms, and on the following morning he was extremely weak and +feverish. To add to my anxiety, Mr. Hume also complained of indisposition. +His state of health made me the more anxious to quit a position which I +fancied unwholesome, and in which, if there was no apparent, there was +certainly some secret, exciting cause; and as Mr. Hume reported having +crossed a chain of ponds about four miles to the eastward, and out of the +immediate precincts of the marshes, I ordered the tents to be struck, and +placing Dawber on my horse, we all moved quietly over to them. + +MR. HUME'S EXCURSION. + +The result of Mr. Hume's journey perplexed me exceedingly. He stated, that +on setting out from the Macquarie his intention was to have proceeded to +the N.E., to ascertain how far the reeds existed in that direction, and, +if at all practicable, to reach the Castlereagh; but in case of failure, +to regain the Macquarie by a westerly course. At first he travelled nearly +four miles east, to clear the marshes, when he came on the chain of ponds +to which we had removed. + +He travelled over good soil for two miles after crossing this chain of +ponds, but afterwards got on a red sandy loam, and found it difficult to +proceed, by reason of the thickness of the brush, and the swampy state of +the ground in consequence of the late rain. + +The timber in the brushes was of various kinds, and he saw numerous +kangaroos and emus. On issuing from this brush, he crossed a creek, +leading northerly, the banks of which were from ten to twelve feet high. +Whatever the body of water usually in it is, it now only afforded a few +shallow puddles. Mr. Hume travelled through brushes until he came upon a +third creek, similar to the one he had left behind him, at which he halted +for the night. The water in it was bad, and the feed for the animals +extremely poor. The brush lined the creek thickly, and consisted chiefly +of acacia pendula and box. The country preserved an uniform level, nor did +Mr. Hume, from the highest trees, observe any break on the horizon. + +On the 2nd of January, Mr. Hume kept more northerly, being unable to +penetrate the brushes he encountered. At two miles he crossed a creek +leading to the N.W., between which and the place at which he had slept, he +passed a native burial ground, containing eight graves. The earth was +piled up in a conical shape, but the trees were not carved over as he had +seen them in most other places. + +The country became more open after he had passed the last mentioned creek, +which he again struck upon at the distance of eight miles, and as it was +then leading to the N.N.E. he followed it down for eighteen or twenty +miles, and crossed it frequently during the day. The creek was dry in most +places, and where he stopped for the night the water was bad, and the +cattle feed indifferent. + +Mr. Hume saw many huts, but none of them had been recently occupied, +although large quantities of muscle-shells were scattered about. He +computed that he had travelled about thirty miles, in a N.N.W. +direction, and the whole of the land he passed over was, generally +speaking, bad, nor did it appear to be subject to overflow. + +On the 3rd, Mr. Hume proceeded down the creek on which he had slept, on a +northern course, under an impression that it would have joined the +Castlereagh, but it took a N.W. direction after he had ridden about four +miles, and then turned again to the eastward of north. In consequence of +this, he left it, and proceeded to the westward, being of opinion that the +river just mentioned must have taken a more northerly course than Mr. +Oxley supposed it to have done. + +A short time after Mr. Hume turned towards the Macquarie, the country +assumed a more pleasing appearance. He soon cleared the brushes, and at +two miles came upon a chain of ponds, again running northerly in times of +flood. Shortly after crossing these, he found himself on an extensive +plain, apparently subject to overflow. The timber on it was chiefly of +the blue-gum kind, and the ground was covered with shells. He then thought +he was approaching the Macquarie, and proceeded due west across the flat +for about two miles. At the extremity of it there was a hollow, which he +searched in vain for water. Ascending about thirty feet, he entered a +thick brush of box and acacia pendula, which continued for fourteen miles, +when it terminated abruptly, and extensive plains of good soil commenced, +stretching from N. to S. as far as the eye could reach, on which there +were many kangaroos. Continuing to journey over them, he reached a creek +at 5 p.m. on which the wild fowl were numerous, running nearly north and +south, and he rested on its banks for the night. The timber consisted both +of blue and rough gum, and the soil was a light earth. + +Mr. Hume expected in the course of the day to have reached the Macquarie, +but on arriving at the creek, he began to doubt whether it any longer +existed, or whether it had not taken a more westerly direction. On the +following morning, therefore, he crossed the creek, and travelled +W.S.W., for about two miles over good plains; then through light brushes +of swamp-oak, cypress, box, and acacia pendula, for about twelve miles, to +another creek leading northerly. He shortly afterwards ascended a range of +hills stretching W.N.W. to which he gave the name of New Year's Range. +From these hills, he had an extensive view, although not upon the highest +part, but the only break he could see in the horizon was caused by some +hills bearing by compass W. by S. distant about twenty-five miles. There +was, however, an appearance as of high land to the northward, although Mr. +Hume thought it might have been an atmospheric deception. From the range +he looked in vain for the Macquarie, or other waters, and, as his +provisions were nearly consumed, he was obliged to give up all further +pursuit, and to retrace his steps. He fell in with two parties of natives, +which, taken collectively, amounted to thirty-five in number, but had no +communication with them. + +It was evident, from the above account, that supposing a line to have been +drawn from the camp northerly, Mr. Hume must have travelled considerably +to the westward of it, and as I had run on a N.W. course from the marshes, +it necessarily followed that our lines of route must have intersected each +other, or that want of extension could alone have prevented them from +having done so; but that, under any circumstances, they could not have +been very far apart. This was too important a point to be left undecided, +as upon it the question of the Macquarie's termination seemed to depend. + +Both Mr. Hume and myself were of opinion, that a medium course would be +the most satisfactory for us to pursue, to decide this point; and it +appeared that we could not do better than, by availing ourselves of the +creek on which we were, and skirting the reeds, to take the first +opportunity of dashing through them in a westerly direction. + +DOUBTS OF THE FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE RIVER. + +I entertained great doubts as to the longer existence of the river, and as +I foresaw that, in the event of its having terminated we should strike at +once into the heart of the interior, I became anxious for the arrival of +supplies at Mount Harris; and although I could hardly expect that they had +yet reached it, I determined to proceed thither. Mr. Hume was too unwell +for me to think of imposing additional fatigue upon him; I left him, +therefore, to conduct the party, by easy stages, to the northward, until +such time as I should overtake them. Even in one day there was a visible +improvement in the men, and Dawber's attack seemed to be rather the +effects of cold than of any thing else. A death, however, under our +circumstances, would have been so truly deplorable an event, that the +least illness was sufficient to create alarm. + +I can hardly say that I was disappointed on my arrival at Mount Harris, to +find its neighbourhood silent and deserted. I remained, however, under it +for the greater part of the next day, and, prior to leaving it, placed a +sheet of paper with written instructions against a tree, though almost +without a hope that it would remain untouched. + +PERPLEXING SITUATION. + +A little after sun-set we reached the first small marsh, at which we +slept; and on the following morning I crossed the plains of the Macquarie, +and joined the party at about fifteen miles from the creek at which I had +left it. I found it in a condition that was as unlooked for by Mr. Hume as +it was unexpected by me, and really in a most perplexing situation. + +On the day I left him, Mr. Hume only advanced about two miles, in +consequence of some derangement in the loads. Having crossed the creek, +he, the next morning, proceeded down its right bank, until it entered the +marshes and was lost. He then continued to move on the outskirts of the +latter, and having performed a journey or about eight miles, was anxious +to have stopped, but there was no water at hand. The men, however, were so +fatigued, in consequence of previous illness, that he felt it necessary to +halt after travelling about eleven miles. + +No water could be procured even here, notwithstanding that Mr. Hume, who +was quite unfit for great exertion, underwent considerable bodily fatigue +in his anxiety to find some. He was, therefore, obliged to move early on +the following morning, but neither men nor animals were in a condition to +travel; and he had scarcely made three miles' progress, when he stopped +and endeavoured to obtain a supply or water by digging pits among the +reeds. From these he had drawn sufficient for the wants of the people when +I arrived. Some rain had fallen on the 6th and 7th of the month, or it is +more than probable the expedient to which he resorted would have failed of +success. Mr. Hume, I was sorry to observe, looked very unwell; but nothing +could prevent him from further endeavours to extricate the party from its +present embarrassment. + +JOURNEY CONTINUED. + +As soon as I had taken a little refreshment, therefore, I mounted a fresh +horse; and he accompanied me across a small plain, immediately in front of +the camp, which was subject to overflow and covered with polygonum, having +a considerable extent of reeds to its right. + +From the plain we entered a wood of blue-gum, in which reeds, grass, and +brush formed a thick coppice. We at length passed into an open space, +surrounded on every side by weeds in dense bodies. The great marsh bore +south of us, and was clear and open, but behind us the blue-gum trees +formed a thick wood above the weeds. + +About two hundred yards from the outskirts of the marsh there was a line +of saplings that had perished, and round about them a number of the tern +tribe (sea swallow) were flying, one of which Mr. Hume had followed a +considerable way into the reeds the evening before, in the hope that it +would have led him to water. The circumstance of their being in such +numbers led us to penetrate towards them, when we found a serpentine sheet +of water of some length, over which they were playing. We had scarcely +time to examine it before night closed in upon us, and it was after nine +when we returned to the tents. + +From the general appearance of the country to the northward, and from the +circumstance of our having got to the bottom of the great marsh, which but +a few days before had threatened to be so formidable, I thought it +probable that the reeds would not again prove so extensive as they had +been, and I determined, if I could do so, to push through them in a +westerly direction from our position. + +SECOND GREAT MARSH. + +The pits yielded us so abundant a supply during the night, that in the +morning we found it unnecessary to take the animals to water at the +channel we had succeeded in finding the evening before; but pursuing a +westerly course we passed it, and struck deep into the reeds. At mid-day +we were hemmed in by them on every side, and had crossed over numerous +channels, by means of which the waters of the marshes are equally and +generally distributed over the space subject to their influence. Coming to +a second sheet of water, narrower, but longer, as well as we could judge, +than the first, we stopped to dine at it; and, while the men were resting +themselves, Mr. Hume rode with me in a westerly direction, to ascertain +what obstacles we still had to contend with. Forcing our way through +bodies of reeds, we at length got on a plain, stretching from S.E. to +N.W., bounded on the right by a wood of blue-gum, under which the reeds +still extended, and on the left by a wood in which they did not appear to +exist. Certain that there was no serious obstacle in our way, we returned +to the men; and as soon as they had finished their meal, led them over the +plain in a N.W. by W. direction. It was covered with shells, and was full +of holes from the effects of flood. + +CONCLUSIONS IN REGARD TO THE MACQUARIE. + +As we were journeying over it, I requested Mr. Hume to ride into the wood +upon our left, to ascertain if it concealed any channel. On his return he +informed me that he descended from the plain into a hollow, the bottom of +which was covered with small shells and bulrushes. He observed a new +species of eucalypti, on the trunks of which the water-mark was three feet +high. After crossing this hollow, which was about a quarter of a mile in +breadth, he gained an open forest of box, having good grass under it; and, +judging from the appearance of the country that no other channel could +exist beyond him, and that he had ascertained sufficient for the object I +had in view, he turned back to the plain. We stopped for the night under a +wood of box, where the grass, which had been burnt down, was then +springing up most beautifully green, and was relished exceedingly by the +animals. + +It was in consequence of our not having crossed any channel, while +penetrating through the reeds, that could by any possible exaggeration +have been laid down as the bed of the river, that I detached Mr. Hume; and +the account he brought me at once confirmed my opinion in regard to the +Macquarie, and I thenceforth gave up every hope of ever seeing it in its +characteristic shape again. + +Independently however of all circumstantial evidence, it was clear that +the river had not re-formed at a distance of twenty-five miles to the +north of us, since Mr. Hume had gone to the westward of that point, at +about the same distance on his late journey, without having observed the +least appearance of reeds or of a river. He had, indeed, noticed a hollow, +which occasionally contained water, but he saw nothing like the bed of a +permanent stream. I became convinced, also, from observation of the +country through which we had passed, that the sources of the Macquarie +could not be of such magnitude as to give a constant flow to it as a +river, and at the same time to supply with water the vast concavity into +which it falls. In very heavy rains only could the marshes and adjacent +lands be laid wholly under water, since the evaporation alone would be +equal to the supply. + +The great plains stretching for so many miles to the westward of Mount +Harris, even where they were clear of reeds, were covered with shells and +the claws of cray-fish and their soil, although an alluvial deposit, was +superficially sandy. They bore the appearance not only of frequent +inundation, but of the floods having eventually subsided upon them. This +was particularly observable at the bottom of the marshes. We did not find +any accumulation of rubbish to indicate a rush of water to any one point; +but numerous minor channels existed to distribute the floods equally and +generally over every part of the area subject to them, and the marks of +inundation and subsidence were everywhere the same. The plain we had last +crossed, was, in like manner, covered with shells, so that we could not +yet be said to be out of the influence of the marshes; besides which we +had not crossed the hollow noticed by Mr. Hume, which it was clear we +should do, sooner or later. + +SITUATION OF THE PARTY. + +To have remained in our position would have been impossible, as there was +no water either for ourselves or the animals; to have descended into the +reeds again, for the purpose of carrying on a minute survey, would, under +existing circumstances, have been imprudent. Our provisions were running +short, and if a knowledge of the distant interior was to be gained, we had +no time to lose. It was determined, therefore, to defer our further +examination of the marshes to the period of our return; and to pursue such +a course as would soonest and most effectually enable us to determine the +character of the western interior. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +We left our position at the head of the plain early on the 13th of +January, and, ere the sun dipped, had entered a very different country +from that in which we had been labouring for the last three weeks. We had, +as yet, passed over little other than an alluvial soil, but found that it +changed to a red loam in the brushes immediately backing the camp. An open +forest track succeeded this, over which the vegetation had an unusual +freshness, indicating that the waters had not long subsided from its +surface. We shortly afterwards crossed a hollow, similar to that Mr. Hume +had described, in which bulrushes had taken the place of reeds. +Flooded-gum trees, of large size, were also growing in it, but on either +side box alone prevailed, under which the forest grass grew to a +considerable height. We crossed the hollow two or three times, and as +often remarked the line of separation between those trees. The last time +we crossed it the country rose a few feet, and we journeyed for the +remainder of the day, at one time over good plains, at another through +brushes, until we found water and feed, at which we stopped for the night, +after having travelling about thirteen miles on a W. by N. course. The +mosquitoes were so extremely troublesome at this place that we called it +Mosquito Brush. At this time my men were improving rapidly, and Mr. Hume +complained less, and looked better. I hoped, therefore, that our progress +would be rapid into the interior. + +CREEK LEADING NORTHERLY; PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. + +On the 14th we took up a westerly course, and in the first instance +traversed a plain of great extent; the soil of which was for the most part +a red sandy loam, but having patches of light earth upon it. The former +was covered with plants of the chenopedia kind; the latter had evidently +been quagmires, and bore even then the appearance of moisture. At about +seven miles from Mosquito Brush we struck upon a creek of excellent water, +upon which the wild fowl were numerous. Some natives was seen, but they +were only women, and seemed so alarmed that I purposely avoided them. As +the creek was leading northerly, we traced it down on that course for +about seven miles, and then halted upon its banks, which were composed of +a light tenacious earth. Brushes of casuarina existed near it, but a +tortuous box was the prevailing tree, which, excepting for the knees of +small vessels, could not have been applied to any use, while the +flooded-gum had entirely disappeared. Some ducks were shot in the +afternoon, which proved a great treat, as we had been living for some time +on salt provisions. Our animals fared worse than ourselves, as the bed of +the creek was occupied by coarse rushes, and but little vegetation was +elsewhere to be seen. I here killed a beautiful snake, of about four feet +in length, and of a bright yellow colour: I had not, however, the means of +preserving it. Fraser collected numerous botanical specimens, and among +them two kinds of caparis. Indeed a great alteration had taken place in +the minor shrubs, and few of those now prevalent had been observed to the +eastward of the marshes. + +From the creek, which both I and Mr. Hume must have crossed on our +respective journeys, we held a westerly course for about fifteen miles, +through a country of alternate plain and brush, the latter predominating, +and in its general character differing but little from that we had +traversed the day previous. + +The acacia pendula still continued to exist on the plains backed by dark +rows of cypresses (Cupressus callitris). In the brushes, box and +casuarina (Casuarina tortuosa), with several other kinds of eucalypti, +prevailed; but none of them were sufficiently large to be of use. The +plains were so extremely level that a meridian altitude could have been +taken without any material error; and I doubt much whether it would have +been possible to have traversed them had the season been wet. + +HUNTING PARTY OF NATIVES. + +As we were travelling through a forest we surprised a hunting party of +natives. Mr. Hume and I were considerably in front of our party at the +time, and he only had his gun with him. We had been moving along so +quietly that we were not for some time observed by them. Three were seated +on the ground, under a tree, and two others were busily employed on one of +the lower branches cutting out honey. As soon as they saw us, four of them +ran away; but the fifth, who wore a cap of emu feathers, stood for a +moment looking at us, and then very deliberately dropped out of the tree +to the ground. I then advanced towards him, but before I got round a bush +that intervened, he had darted away. I was fearful that he was gone to +collect his tribe, and, under this impression, rode quickly back for my +gun to support Mr. Hume. On my arrival I found the native was before me. +He stood about twenty paces from Mr. Hume, who was endeavouring to explain +what he was; but seeing me approach he immediately poised his spear at +him, as being the nearest. Mr. Hume then unslung his carbine, and +presented it; but, as it was evident my re-appearance had startled the +savage, I pulled up; and he immediately lowered his weapon. His coolness +and courage surprised me, and increased my desire to communicate with him. +He had evidently taken both man and horse for one animal, and as long as +Mr. Hume kept his seat, the native remained upon his guard; but when he +saw him dismount, after the first astonishment had subsided, he stuck his +spear into the ground, and walked fearlessly up to him. We easily made him +comprehend that we were in search of water; when he pointed to the west, +as indicating that we should supply our wants there. He gave his +information in a frank and manly way, without the least embarrassment, +and when the party passed, he stepped back to avoid the animals, without +the smallest confusion. I am sure he was a very brave man; and I left him +with the most favourable impressions, and not without hope that he would +follow us. + +From a more open forest, we entered a dense scrub, the soil in which was +of a bright-red colour and extremely sandy, and the timber of various +kinds. A leafless species of stenochylus aphylta, which, from the +resemblance, I at first thought one of the polygonum tribe, was very +abundant in the open spaces, and the young cypresses were occasionally so +close as to turn us from the direction in which we had been moving. In the +scrub we crossed Mr. Hume's tract, and, from the appearance of the ground, +I was led to believe mine could not be very distant. + +FATE OF THE MACQUARIE. + +We struck upon a creek late in the afternoon, at which we stopped; New +Year's Range bearing nearly due west at about four miles' distance. Had we +struck upon my track, the question about which we were so anxious would +still have been undecided; but the circumstance of our having crossed Mr. +Hume's, which, from its direction, could not be mistaken, convinced me of +the fate of the Macquarie, and I felt assured that, whatever channels it +might have for the distribution of its waters, to the north of our line of +route, the equality of surface of the interior would never permit it +again to form a river; and that it only required an examination of the +lower parts of the marshes to confirm the theory of the ultimate +evaporation and absorption of its waters, instead of their contributing to +the permanence of an inland sea, as Mr. Oxley had supposed. + +NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +On the 17th of January we encamped under New Year's Range, which is the +first elevation in the interior of Eastern Australia to the westward of +Mount Harris. Yet when at its base, I do not think that we had ascended +above forty feet higher than the plains in the neighbourhood of that last +mentioned eminence. There certainly is a partial rise of country, where +the change of soil takes place from the alluvial deposits of the marshes, +to the sandy loam so prevalent on the plains we had lately traversed; but +I had to regret that I was unable to decide so interesting a question by +other than bare conjecture. + +Notwithstanding that Mr. Hume had already been on them, I encouraged hopes +that a second survey of the country from the highest point of New Year's +Range would enable us to form some opinion of it, by which to direct our +future movements; but I was disappointed. + +The two wooded hills I had seen from Oxley's Table Land were visible from +the range, bearing south; and other eminences bore by compass S.W. +and W. by S.; but in every other direction the horizon was unbroken. To +the westward, there appeared to be a valley of considerable extent, +stretching N. and S., in which latter direction there was a long strip of +cleared ground, that looked very like the sandy bed of a broad and rapid +river. The bare possibility of the reality determined me to ascertain by +inspection, whether my conjecture was right, and Mr. Hume accompanied me +on this excursion. After we left the camp we crossed a part of the range, +and travelled for some time through open forest land that would afford +excellent grazing in most seasons. We passed some hollows, and noticed +many huts that had been occupied near them; but the hollows were now quite +dry, and the huts had been long deserted. After about ten miles' ride we +reached a plain of white sand, from which New Year's Range was distinctly +visible; and this no doubt was the spot that had attracted my attention. +Pools of water continued on it, from which circumstance it would appear +that the sand had a substratum of clay or marl. From this plain we +proceeded southerly through acacia scrub, bounding gently undulating +forest land, and at length ascended some small elevations that scarcely +deserved the name of hills. They had fragments of quartz profusely +scattered over them; and the soil, which was sandy, contained particles of +mica. + +MOSQUITOES. + +The view from them was confused, nor did any fresh object meet our +observation. We had, however, considerably neared the two wooded hills, +and the elevations that from the range were to the S.W., now bore N.W. +of us. We had wandered too far from the camp to admit of our returning to +it to sleep; we therefore commenced a search for water, and having found +some, we tethered our horses near it for the night, and should have been +tolerably comfortable, had not the mosquitoes been so extremely +troublesome. They defied the power of smoke, and annoyed me so much, that, +hot as it was, I rolled myself in my boat cloak, and perspired in +consequence to such a degree, that my clothes were wet through, and I had +to stand at the fire in the morning to dry them. Mr. Hume, who could not +bear such confinement, suffered the penalty, and was most unmercifully +bitten. + +A MAN MISSING. + +We reached the camp about noon the following day, and learnt, to our +vexation, that one of the men, Norman, had lost himself shortly after we +started, and had not since been heard of. Dawber, my overseer, was out in +search of him. I awaited his return, therefore, before I took any measures +for the man's recovery; nor was I without hopes that Dawber would have +found him, as it appeared he had taken one of the horses with him, and +Dawber, by keeping his tracks, might eventually have overtaken him. He +returned, however, about 3 p.m. unsuccessful, when Mr. Hume and I mounted +our horses, and proceeded in different directions in quest of him, but +were equally disappointed. + +We met at the creek in the dark, and returned to the camp together, when I +ordered the cypresses on the range to be set on fire, and thus illuminated +the country round for many miles. In the morning, however, as Norman had +not made his appearance, we again started in search of the poor fellow, +on whose account I was now most uneasy; for his horse, it appeared, had +escaped him, and was found with the others at watering time. + +I did not return to the camp until after sunset, more fatigued than I +recollect ever having been before. I was, however, rejoiced on being +informed that the object of my anxiety was safe in his tent; that he had +caught sight of the hill the evening before, and that he had reached the +camp shortly after I left it. He had been absent three nights and two +days, and had not tasted water or food of any kind during that time. + +To my enquiries he replied, that, being on horseback, he thought he could +have overtaken a kangaroo, which passed him whilst waiting at the creek +for the cattle, and that in the attempt, he lost himself. It would appear +that he crossed the creek in the dark, and his horse escaped from him on +the first night. He complained more of thirst than of hunger, although he +had drunk at the watering-place to such an excess, on his return, as to +make him vomit; but, though not a little exhausted, he had escaped better +than I should have expected. + +COUNTRY AROUND NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +New Year's Range consists of a principal group of five hills, the loftiest +of which does not measure 300 feet in height. It has lateral ridges, +extending to the N.N.W. on the one hand, and bending in to the creek on +the other. The former have a few cypresses, sterculia, and iron bark upon +them; the latter are generally covered with brush, under box; the brush +for the most part consisting of two distinct species of stenochylus, and a +new acacia. The whole range is of quartz formation, small fragments of +which are profusely scattered over the ridges, and are abundantly +incrusted with oxide of iron. The soil in the neighbourhood of New Year's +Range is a red loam, with a slight mixture of sand. An open forest country +lies between it and the creek, and it is not at all deficient in pasture. + +NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +That a change of soil takes place to the westward of the creek, is +obvious, from the change of vegetation, the most remarkable feature of +which is the sudden check given to the further extension of the acacia +pendula, which is not to be found beyond it, it being succeeded by another +acacia of the same species and habits; neither do the plants of the +chenopedia class exist in the immediate vicinity of the range. + +I place these hills, as far as my observations will allow, in east +lon. 146 degrees 32 minutes 15 seconds, and in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes +south; the variation of the compass being 6 degrees 40 minutes easterly. + +As New Year's Creek was leading northerly, it had been determined to trace +it down as long as it should keep that course, or one to the westward of +it. We broke up the camp, therefore, under the range, on the evening of +the 18th, and moved to the creek, about two miles north of the place at +which we had before crossed it, with the intention of prosecuting our +journey on the morrow. But both Mr. Hume and I were so fatigued that we +were glad of an opportunity to rest, even for a single day. We remained +stationary, therefore, on the 19th; nor was I without hope that the +natives whom we had surprised in the woods, would have paid us a visit, +since Mr. Hume had met them in his search for Norman, and they had +promised not only to come to us, but to do all in their power to find +the man, whose footsteps some of them had crossed. They did not, however, +venture near us; and I rather attribute their having kept aloof, to the +circumstance of Mr. Hume's having fired a shot, shortly after he left +them, as a signal to Norman, in the event of his being within hearing of +the report. They must have been alarmed at so unusual a sound; but I am +sure nothing was further from Mr. Hume's intention than to intimidate +them; his knowledge of their manners and customs, as well as his +partiality to the natives, being equally remarkable. The circumstance is, +however, a proof of the great caution that is necessary in communicating +with them. + +ANNOYED BY KANGAROO FLIES. + +I have said that we remained stationary the day after we left the range, +with a view to enjoy a little rest; it would, however, have been +infinitely better if we had moved forward. Our camp was infested by the +kangaroo fly, which settled upon us in thousands. They appeared to rise +from the ground, and as fast as they were swept off were succeeded by +fresh numbers. It was utterly impossible to avoid their persecution, +penetrating as they did into the very tents. + +The men were obliged to put handkerchiefs over their faces, and stockings +upon their hands; but they bit through every thing. It was to no purpose +that I myself shifted from place to place; they still followed, or were +equally numerous everywhere. To add to our discomfort, the animals were +driven almost to madness, and galloped to and fro in so furious a manner +that I was apprehensive some of them would have been lost. I never +experienced such a day of torment; and only when the sun set, did these +little creatures cease from their attacks. + +SUDDENLY RELIEVED. + +It will be supposed that we did not stay to subject ourselves to another +trial; indeed it was with some degree of horror that the men saw the first +light of morning streak the horizon. They got up immediately, and we moved +down the creek, on a northerly course, without breakfasting as usual. We +found that dense brushes of casuarina lined the creek on both sides, +beyond which, to our left, there was open rising ground, on which +eucalypti, cypresses, and the acacia longifolia, prevailed; whilst to the +east, plains seemed to predominate. + +Although we had left the immediate spot at which the kangaroo flies +(cabarus) seemed to be collected, I did not expect that we should have got +rid of them so completely as we did. None of them were seen during the +day; a proof that they were entirely local. They were about half the size +of a common house fly, had flat brown bodies, and their bite, although +sharp and piercing, left no irritation after it. + +About noon we stopped at the creek side to take some refreshment. The +country bore an improved appearance around us, and the cattle found +abundance of pasture. It was evident that the creek had been numerously +frequented by the natives, although no recent traces of them could be +found. It had a bed of coarse red granite, of the fragments of which the +natives had constructed a weir for the purpose of taking fish. The +appearance of this rock in so isolated a situation, is worthy of the +consideration of geologists. + +DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY. + +The promise of improvement I have noticed, gradually disappeared as we +proceeded on our day's journey, and we at length found ourselves once more +among brushes, and on the edge of plains, over which the rhagodia +prevailed. Nothing could exceed in dreariness the appearance of the tracks +through which we journeyed, on this and the two following days. The creek +on which we depended for a supply of water, gave such alarming indications +of a total failure, that I at one time, had serious thoughts of abandoning +my pursuit of it. We passed hollow after hollow that had successively +dried up, although originally of considerable depth; and, when we at +length found water, it was doubtful how far we could make use of it. +Sometimes in boiling it left a sediment nearly equal to half its body; at +other times it was so bitter as to be quite unpalatable. That on which we +subsisted was scraped up from small puddles, heated by the sun's rays; +and so uncertain were we of finding water at the end of the day's journey, +that we were obliged to carry a supply on one of the bullocks. There was +scarcely a living creature, even of the feathered race, to be seen to +break the stillness of the forest. The native dogs alone wandered about, +though they had scarcely strength to avoid us; and their melancholy howl, +breaking in upon the ear at the dead of the night, only served to impress +more fully on the mind the absolute loneliness of the desert. + +It appeared, from their traces that the natives had lingered on this +ground, on which they had perhaps been born, as long as it continued to +afford them a scanty though precarious subsistence; but that they had at +length been forced from it. Neither fish nor muscles remained in the +creek, nor emus nor kangaroos on the plains. How then could an European +expect to find food in deserts through which the savage wandered in vain? +There is no doubt of the fate that would have overtaken any one of the +party who might have strayed away, and I was happy to find that Norman's +narrow escape had made a due impression on the minds of his comrades. + +SANDY PLAINS; LEAVE THE CREEK. + +We passed some considerable plains, lying to the eastward of the creek, on +parts of which the grass, though growing in tufts, was of luxuriant +growth. They were, however, more generally covered with salsola and +rhagodia, and totally destitute of other vegetation, the soil upon them +being a red sandy loam. The paths across the plains, which varied in +breadth from three to eight miles, were numerous; but they had not been +recently trodden. The creek continued to have a thick brush of casuarina +and acacia near it, to the westward of which there was a rising open +forest track; the timber upon it being chiefly box, cypress, and the +acacia longifolia. It was most probably connected with New Year's Range, +those elevations being about thirty miles distant. It terminated in some +gentle hills which, though covered in places with acacia shrub, were +sufficiently open to afford an extensive view. From their summit Oxley's +Table Land, towards which we had been gradually working our way, was +distinctly visible, distant about twenty miles, and bearing by compass +W. by S. On descending from these hills (called the Pink Hills, from the +colour of a flower upon them) which were scattered over with fragments of +slaty quartz, we traversed a box flat, apparently subject to overflow, +having a barren sandy scrub to its left. I had desired the men to preserve +a W.N.W. direction, on leaving them, supposing that that course would have +kept them near the creek; but, on overtaking the party, I found that they +had wandered completely away from it. The fact was, that the creek had +taken a sudden bend to the eastward of N. and had thus thrown them out. +It was with some difficulty that we regained it before sunset; and we were +at length obliged to stop for the night at a small plain, about a quarter +of a mile short of it, but we had the satisfaction of having excellent +feed for the animals. + +OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Fearful that New Year's Creek would take us too far to the eastward, and +being anxious to keep westward as much as possible, it struck me that we +could not, under existing circumstances, do better than make for Oxley's +Table Land. Water, I knew, we should find in a swamp at it's base, and we +might discover some more encouraging feature than I had observed on my +hasty visit to it. We left the creek, therefore on the 23rd, and once more +took up a westerly course. Passing through a generally open country, we +stopped at noon to rest the animals; and afterwards got on an excellent +grazing forest track, which continued to the brush, through another part +of which I had penetrated to the marsh more to the south. While making our +way through it, we came upon a small pond of water, and must have alarmed +some natives, as there was a fresh made fire close to it. Our journey had +been unusually long, and the cattle had felt the heat so much, that the +moment they saw water they rushed into it; and, as this created some +confusion, I thought it best to stop where we were for the night. + +In the morning, Mr. Hume walked with me to the hill, a distance of about a +mile. It is not high enough to deserve the name of a mountain, although a +beautiful feature in the country, and showing well from any point of view. +We ascended it with an anxiety that may well be imagined, but were wholly +disappointed in our most sanguine expectations. Our chief object, in this +second visit to Oxley's Table Land, had been to examine, more at leisure, +the face of the country around it, and to discover, if possible, some +fixed point on which to move. + +If the rivers of the interior had already exhausted themselves, what had +we to expect from a creek whose diminished appearance where we left it +made us apprehend its speedy termination, and whose banks we traversed +under constant apprehension? In any other country I should have followed +such a water course, in hopes of its ultimately leading to some reservoir; +but here I could encourage no such favourable anticipation. + +The only new object that struck our sight was a remarkable and distant +hill of conical shape, bearing by compass S. 10 E. To the southward and +westward, in the direction of D'Urban's Group, a dense and apparently low +brush extended; but to the N. and N.W., there was a regular alternation of +wood and plain. I left Mr. Hume upon the hill, that he might the more +readily notice any smoke made by the natives; and returned myself to the +camp about one o'clock, to move the party to the swamp. Mr. Hume's +perseverance was of little avail. The region he had been overlooking was, +to all appearance, uninhabited, nor did a single fire indicate that there +was even a solitary wanderer upon its surface. + +EXCURSION TO D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +Our situation, at this time, was extremely embarrassing, and the only +circumstance on which we had to congratulate ourselves was, the improved +condition of our men; for several of the cattle and horses were in a sad +plight. The weather had been so extremely oppressive, that we had found it +impossible to keep them free from eruptions. I proposed to Mr. Hume, +therefore, to give them a few days' rest, and to make an excursion, with +such of them as were serviceable, to D'Urban's Group. We were both of us +unwilling to return to the creek, but we foresaw that a blind reliance +upon fortune, in our next movements, might involve us in inextricable +difficulty. + +On the other hand, there was a very great risk in delay. It was more than +probable, from the continued drought, that our retreat would be cut off +from the want of water, or that we should only be enabled to effect our +retreat with loss of most of the animals. The hope, however, of our +intersecting some stream, or of falling upon a better country, prevailed +over other considerations; and the excursion was, consequently, determined +upon. + +DISTRESS FROM WANT OF WATER. + +We left the camp on the 25th, accompanied by Hopkinson and the tinker; +and, almost immediately after, entered an acacia scrub of the most sterile +description, and one, through which it would have been impossible to have +found a passage for the boat carriage. The soil was almost a pure sand, +and the lower branches of the trees were decayed so generally as to give +the whole an indescribable appearance of desolation. About mid-day, we +crossed a light sandy plain, on which there were some dirty puddles of +water. They were so shallow as to leave the backs of the frogs in them +exposed, and they had, in consequence, been destroyed by solar heat, and +were in a state of putrefaction. Our horses refused to drink, but it was +evident that some natives must have partaken of this sickening beverage +only a few hours before our arrival. Indeed, it was clear that a wandering +family must have slept near this spot, as we observed a fresh made gunneah +(or native hut), and their foot-prints were so fresh along the line we +were pursuing, that we momentarily expected to have overtaken them. It was +late in the evening when we got out of this brush into better and more +open ground, where, in ordinary seasons we should, no doubt, have found +abundance of water. But we now searched in vain for it, and were contented +to be enabled to give our wearied animals better food than they had tasted +for many days, the forest grass, though in tufts, being abundant. + +We brought up for the night at the edge of a scrub, having travelled from +thirty-two to thirty-five miles, judging the distance from the mountains +still to be about twelve. + +BEARINGS FROM OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +In the morning we started at an early hour, and immediately entered the +brush, beneath which we had slept; pursuing a westerly course through it. +After a short ride, we found ourselves upon a plain, that was crowded with +flocks of cockatoos. Here we got a supply of water, such as it was--so +mixed with slime as to hang in strings between the fingers; and, after a +hasty breakfast, we proceeded on our journey, mostly through a barren +sandy scrub that was a perfect burrow from the number of wombats in it, to +within a mile of the hill group, where the country appeared like one +continuous meadow to the very base of them. I never saw anything like the +luxuriance of the grass on this tract of country, waving as it did higher +than our horses' middles as we rode through it. We ascended the S.W. face +of the mountain to an elevation of at least 800 feet above the level of +the plain, and had some difficulty in scaling the masses of rock that +opposed themselves to our progress. But on gaining the summit, we were +amply repaid for our trouble. The view extended far and wide, but we were +again disappointed in the main object that had induced us to undertake the +journey. I took the following bearings by compass. Oxley's Table Land bore +N. 40 E. distant forty-five miles; small and distant hill due E.; conical +peak seen from Oxley's Table Land S. 60 E., very distant; long ridge of +high land, S.E., distant thirty-five miles; high land, S. 30 E., distant +thirty miles; long range, S. 25 W. + +To the westward, as a medium point. the horizon was unbroken, and the eye +wandered over an apparently endless succession of wood and plain. A +brighter green than usual marked the course of the mountain torrents in +several places, but there was no glittering light among the trees, no +smoke to betray a water hole, or to tell that a single inhabitant was +traversing the extensive region we were overlooking. We were obliged to +return to the plain on which we had breakfasted, and to sleep upon it. + +D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +D'Urban's Group is of compact sandstone formation. Its extreme length is +from E.S.E. to W.N.W., and cannot be more than from seven to nine miles, +whilst its breadth is from two to four. The central space forms a large +basin, in which there are stunted pines and eucalyptus scrub, amid huge +fragments of rocks. It rises like an island from the midst of the ocean, +and as I looked upon it from the plains below, I could without any great +stretch of the imagination, picture to myself that it really was such. +Bold and precipitous, it only wanted the sea to lave its base; and I +cannot but think that such must at no very remote period have been the +case, and that the immense flat we had been traversing, is of +comparatively recent formation. + +We reached the camp on the 28th of the month, by nearly the same route; +and were happy to find that, after the few days' rest they had enjoyed, +there was a considerable improvement in the animals. + +Our experience of the nature of the country to the southward, and the +westward, was such as to deter us from risking anything, by taking such a +direction as was most agreeable to our views. Nothing remained to us but +to follow the creek, or to retreat; and as we could only be induced to +adopt the last measure when every other expedient should have failed, we +determined on pursuing our original plan, of tracing New Year's Creek as +far as practicable. + +DESCRIPTION OF OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Oxley's Table Land is situated in lat. 29 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds, +and in E. long. 145 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds, the mean variation +being 6.32 easterly. It consists of two hills that appear to have been +rent asunder by some convulsion of nature, since the passage between them +is narrow and their inner faces are equally perpendicular. The hill which +I have named after the late Surveyor-general, is steep on all sides; but +the other gradually declines from the south, and at length loses itself in +a large plain that extends to the north. It is from four to five miles in +length, and is picturesque in appearance, and lightly wooded. A few +cypresses were growing on Oxley's Table Land; but it had, otherwise, very +little timber upon its summit. Both hills are of sandstone formation, and +there are some hollows upon the last that deserve particular notice. They +have the appearance of having been formed by eddies of water, being deeper +in the centre than at any other part, and contain fragments and slabs of +sandstone of various size and breadth, without a particle of soil or of +sand between them. It is to be observed that the edges of these slabs, +which were perfect parallelograms, were unbroken, and that they were as +clean as if they had only just been turned out of the hand of the mason. +We counted thirteen of these hollows in one spot about twenty-five feet in +diameter, but they are without doubt of periodical formation, since a +single hollow was observed lower than the summit of the hill upon its +south extremity, that had evidently long been exposed to the action of the +atmosphere, and had a general coating of moss over it. + +CONTINUE THE JOURNEY; DOWN NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +We left Oxley's Table Land on the morning of the 31st of January, pursuing +a northern course through the brush and across a large plain, moving +parallel to the smaller hill, and keeping it upon our left. The soil upon +this plain differed in character from that on the plains to the eastward, +and was much freer from sand. We stopped to dine at a spot, whence Oxley's +Table Land bore by compass, S. by W., distant about twelve miles. +Continuing our journey, at 2 p.m. we cleared the plain, and entered a +tract covered with the polygonum junceum, on a soil evidently the deposit +of floods. Box-trees were thinly scattered over it, and among the +polygonum, the crested pigeons were numerous. These general appearances, +together with a dip of country to the N.N.W., made us conclude that we +were approaching the creek, and we accordingly intersected it on a N.N.E. +course, at about three miles' distance from where we had dined. It had, +however, undergone so complete a change, and had increased so much in size +and in the height of its banks, that we were at a loss to recognize it. +Still, with all these favourable symptoms, there was not a drop of water +in it. But small shells lay in heaps in its bed, or were abundantly +scattered over it; and we remarked that they differed from those on the +plains of the Macquarie. A circumstance that surprised us much, was the +re-appearance of the flooded-gum upon its banks, and that too of a large +size. We had not seen any to the westward of the marshes, and we were, +consequently, led to indulge in more sanguine expectation as to our +ultimate success than we had ever ventured to do before. + +The party crossed to the right bank of the creek, and then moved in a +westerly direction along it in search of water. A brush extended to our +right, and some broken stony ground, rather elevated, was visible, to +which Mr. Hume rode; nor did he join me again until after I had halted the +party for the night. + +DISTRESSED FOR WATER. + +My search for water had been unsuccessful, and the sun had set, when I +came upon a broad part of the creek that appeared very favourable for an +encampment, as it was encompassed by high banks, and would afford the men +a greater facility of watching the cattle, that I knew would stray away if +they could. + +My anxiety for them led me to wander down the bed of the creek, when, to +my joy, I found a pond of water within a hundred yards of the tents. It is +impossible for me to describe the relief I felt at this success, or the +gladness it spread among the men. Mr. Hume joined me at dusk, and informed +me that he had made a circuit, and had struck upon the creek about three +miles below us but that, in tracing it up, he had not found a drop of +water until he came to the pond near which we had so providentially +encamped. On the following morning, we held a westerly course over an open +country for about eight miles and a half. The prevailing timber appeared +to he a species of eucalypti, with rough bark, of small size, and +evidently languishing from the want of moisture. The soil over which we +travelled was far from bad, but there was a total absence of water upon +it. At 6 p.m. Oxley's Table Land was distant from us about fifteen miles, +bearing S. 20 E. by compass. + +We had not touched upon the creek from the time we left it in the morning, +having wandered from it in a northerly direction, along a native path that +we intersected, and that seemed to have been recently trodden, since +footsteps were fresh upon it. At sunset, we crossed a broad dry creek that +puzzled us extremely, and were shortly afterwards obliged to stop for the +night upon a plain beyond it. We had, during the afternoon, bent down to +the S.W. in hopes that we should again have struck upon New Year's Creek; +and, under an impression that we could not be far from it, Mr. Hume and I +walked across the plain, to ascertain if it was sufficiently near to be of +any service to us. We came upon a creek, but could not decide whether it +was the one for which we had been searching, or another. + +Its bed was so perfectly even that it was impossible to say to what point +it flowed, more especially as all remains of debris had mouldered away. It +was, however, extremely broad, and evidently, at times, held a furious +torrent. In the centre of it, at one of the angles, we discovered a pole +erected, and at first thought, from the manner in which it was propped up, +that some unfortunate European must have placed it there as a mark to tell +of his wanderings, but we afterwards concluded that it might be some +superstitious rite of the natives, in consequence of the untowardness of +the season, as it seemed almost inconceivable that an European could have +wandered to such a distance from the located districts in safety. + +REACH A LARGE RIVER. + +The creek had flooded-gum growing upon its banks, and, on places +apparently subject to flood, a number of tall straight saplings were +observed by us. We returned to the camp, after a vain search for water, +and were really at a loss what direction next to pursue. The men kept the +cattle pretty well together, and, as we were not delayed by any +preparations for breakfast, they were saddled and loaded at an early hour. +The circumstance of there having been natives in the neighbourhood, of +whom we had seen so few traces of late, assured me that water was at hand, +but in what direction it was impossible to guess. As the path we had +observed was leading northerly, we took up that course, and had not +proceeded more than a mile upon it, when we suddenly found ourselves on +the banks of a noble river. Such it might in truth be called, where water +was scarcely to be found. The party drew up upon a bank that was from +forty to forty-five feet above the level of the stream. The channel of the +river was front seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken +sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans +and other wild fowl. Our surprise and delight may better be imagined than +described. Our difficulties seemed to be at an end, for here was a river +that promised to reward all our exertions, and which appeared every moment +to increase in importance to our imagination. Coming from the N.E.,and +flowing to the S.W., it had a capacity of channel that proved that we 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 trees that +overhung it were of beautiful and gigantic growth. + +DISAPPOINTMENT ON FINDING THE RIVER SALT. + +Its banks were too precipitous to allow of our watering the cattle, but +the men eagerly descended to quench their thirst, which a powerful sun had +contributed to increase; nor shall I ever forget the cry of amazement that +followed their doing so, or the looks of terror and disappointment with +which they called out to inform me that the water was so salt as to be +unfit to drink! This was, indeed, too true: on tasting it, I found it +extremely nauseous, and strongly impregnated with salt, being apparently +a mixture of sea and fresh water. Whence this arose, whether from local +causes, or from a communication with some inland sea, I knew not, but the +discovery was certainly a blow for which I was not prepared. Our hopes +were annihilated at the moment of their apparent realization. The cup of +joy was dashed out of our hands before we had time to raise it to our +lips. Notwithstanding this disappointment, we proceeded down the river, +and halted at about five miles, being influenced by the goodness of the +feed to provide for the cattle as well as circumstances would permit. They +would not drink of the river water, but stood covered in it for many +hours, having their noses alone exposed above the stream. Their condition +gave me great uneasiness. It was evident they could not long hold out +under their excessive thirst, and unless we should procure some fresh +water, it would impossible for us to continue our journey. On a closer +examination, the river appeared to me much below its ordinary level, and +its current was scarcely perceptible. We placed sticks to ascertain if +there was a rise or fall of tide, but could arrive at no satisfactory +conclusion, although there was undoubtedly a current in it. Yet, as I +stood upon its banks at sunset, when not a breath of air existed to break +the stillness of the waters below me, and saw their surface kept in +constant agitation by the leaping of fish, I doubted whether the river +could supply itself so abundantly, and the rather imagined, that it owed +such abundance, which the pelicans seemed to indicate was constant, to +some mediterranean sea or other. Where, however, were the human +inhabitants of this distant and singular region? The signs of a numerous +population were around us, but we had not seen even a solitary wanderer. +The water of the river was not, by any means, so salt as that of the +ocean, but its taste was precisely similar. Could it be that its unnatural +state had driven its inhabitants from its banks? + +One would have imagined that our perplexities would have been sufficient +for one day, but ere night closed, they increased upon us, although our +anxiety, with regard to the cattle, was happily removed. Mr. Hume with his +usual perseverance, walked out when the camp was formed; and, at a little +distance from it, ascended a ridge of pure sand, crowned with cypresses. +From this, he descended to the westward, and, at length, struck upon the +river, where a reef of rocks creased its channel, and formed a dry passage +from one side to the other; but the bend, which the river must have taken, +appeared to him so singular, that he doubted whether it was the same +beside which we had been travelling during the day. Curiosity led him to +cross it, when he found a small pond of fresh water on a tongue of land, +and, immediately afterwards, returned to acquaint me with the welcome +tidings. It was too late to move, but we had, at least, the prospect of a +comfortable breakfast in the morning. + +JUNCTION OF NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +In consequence of the doubts that hung upon Mr. Hume's mind, as to the +course of the river, we arranged that the animals should precede us to the +fresh water; and that we should keep close in upon the stream, to +ascertain that point. After traversing a deep bight, we arrived nearly as +soon as the party, at the appointed rendezvous. The rocks composing the +channel of the river at the crossing place, were of indurated clay. In the +course of an hour, the animals appearing quite refreshed, we proceeded on +our journey, and at about four miles crossed New Year's Creek, at its +junction with the salt river. We passed several parts of the main channel +that were perfectly dry, and were altogether at a loss to account for the +current we undoubtedly had observed in the river when we first came upon +it. At midday D'Urban's Group bore S. 65 E. distant about 32 miles. We +made a little westing in the afternoon. The river continued to maintain +its character and appearance, its lofty banks, and its long still reaches: +while, however, the blue-gum trees upon its banks were of magnificent +size, the soil had but little vegetation upon it, although an alluvial +deposit. + +We passed over vast spaces covered with the polygonum junceum, that bore +all the appearance of the flooded tracks in the neighbourhood of the +marshes, and on which the travelling was equally distressing to the +animals. Indeed, it had been sufficiently evident to us that the waters of +this river were not always confined to its channel, capacious as it was, +but that they inundated a belt of barren land, that varied in width from a +quarter of a mile to a mile, when they were checked by an outer embankment +that prevented them from spreading generally over the country, and upon +the neighbouring plains. At our halting place, the cattle drank sparingly +of the water, but it acted as a violent purgative both on them and the men +who partook of it. + +NATIVE VILLAGE. + +On the 5th, the river led us to the southward and westward. Early in the +day, we passed a group of seventy huts, capable of holding from twelve to +fifteen men each. They appeared to be permanent habitations, and all of +them fronted the same point of the compass. In searching amongst them we +observed two beautifully made nets, of about ninety yards in length. The +one had much larger meshes than the other, and was, most probably, +intended to take kangaroos; but the other was evidently a fishing net. + +In one hut, the floor of which was swept with particular care, a number of +white balls, as of pulverised shells or lime, had been deposited--the +use of which we could not divine. A trench was formed round the hut to +prevent the rain from running under it, and the whole was arranged with +more than ordinary attention. + +TERROR OF THE NATIVES. + +We had not proceeded very far when we came suddenly upon the tribe to +which this village, as it might be called, belonged. + +In breaking through some brush to an open space that was bounded on one +side by the river, we observed three or four natives, seated on a bank at +a considerable distance from us; and directly in the line on which we were +moving. The nature of the ground so completely favoured our approach, that +they did not become aware of it until we were within a few yards of them, +and had ascended a little ridge, which, as we afterwards discovered, ended +in an abrupt precipice upon the river, not more than thirty yards to our +right. The crack of the drayman's whip was the first thing that aroused +their attention. They gazed upon us for a moment, and then started up and +assumed an attitude of horror and amazement; their terror apparently +increasing upon them. We stood perfectly immovable, until at length they +gave a fearful yell, and darted out of sight. + +THEY FIRE THE BUSH. + +Their cry brought about a dozen more natives from the river, whom we had +not before observed, but who now ran after their comrades with surprising +activity, and without once venturing to look behind them. As our position +was a good one, we determined to remain upon it, until we should ascertain +the number and disposition of the natives. We had not been long +stationary, when we heard a crackling noise in the distance, and it soon +became evident that the bush had been fired. It was, however, impossible +that we could receive any injury on the narrow ridge upon which we stood, +so that we waited very patiently to see the end of this affair. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES; DISEASE AMONG THEM. + +In a short time the fire approached pretty near to us, and dense columns +of smoke rose into the air over our heads. One of the natives, who had +been on the bank, now came out of the bush, exactly from the spot into +which he had retreated. He advanced a few paces towards us, and bending +his body so that his hands rested on his knees, he fixed his gaze upon us +for some time; but, seeing that we remained immovable, he began to throw +himself into the most extravagant attitudes, shaking his foot from time to +time. When he found that all his violence had no effect, he turned his +rear to us in a most laughable manner, and absolutely groaned in spirit +when he found that this last insult failed of success. + +He stood perplexed and not knowing what next to do, which gave Mr. Hume an +opportunity to call out to him, and with considerable address he at length +got the savage to approach close up to him; Mr. Hume himself having +advanced a short distance from the animals in the first instance. As soon +as I thought the savage had sufficiently recovered from his alarm, I went +up to him with a tomahawk, the use of which he immediately guessed. We now +observed that the natives who had fled from the river, had been employed +in setting a net. They had placed it in a semicircle, with either end to +the shore, and rude pieces of wood were attached to it to keep the upper +part perpendicular. It was in fact a sein, only that the materials, with +the exception of the net-work, were simpler and rougher than cork or +lead--for which last, we afterwards discovered stones had been +substituted. + +We had on this occasion a remarkable instance of the docility of the +natives of the interior, or of the power they have of subduing their +apprehensions; manifesting the opposite extremes of fear and confidence. +These men whom we had thus surprised, and who, no doubt, imagined that we +were about to destroy them, having apparently never seen nor heard of +white men before, must have taken us for something preternatural; yet from +the extremity of fear that had prompted them to set their woods in flames, +they in a brief space so completely subdued those fears as to approach +the very beings who had so strongly excited their alarm. The savage who +had been the principal actor in the scene, was an elderly man, rather +descending to the vale of years than what might be strictly called aged. +I know not how it was, but I regarded him with peculiar interest. +Mr. Hume's manners had in a great measure contributed to allay his evident +agitation; but, from the moment I approached him, I thought there was a +shade of anxiety upon his brow, and an expression of sorrow over his +features, the cause of which did not originate with us. I could see in a +moment, that his bosom was full even to bursting, and he seemed to claim +at once our sympathy and our protection, although we were ignorant of that +which oppressed him. We had not long been seated together, when some of +his tribe mustered sufficient courage to join him. Both Mr. Hume and I +were desirous of seeing the net drawn, but the old man raised some +objection, by pointing to the heavens and towards the sun. After a little +more solicitation, however, he gave a whistle, and, four or five natives +having obeyed the summons, he directed them to draw the net, but they were +unfortunate, and our wish to ascertain the kind of fish contained in the +river was disappointed. As his tribe gathered round him, the old chief +threw a melancholy glance upon them, and endeavoured, as much as he could, +to explain the cause of that affliction which, as I had rightly judged, +weighed heavily upon him. It appeared, then, that a violent cutaneous +disease raged throughout the tribe, that was sweeping them off in great +numbers. He called several young men to Mr. Hume and myself, who had been +attacked by this singular malady. Nothing could exceed the anxiety of his +explanations, or the mild and soothing tone in which he addressed his +people, and it really pained me that I could not assist him in his +distress. We now discovered the use to which the conical substance that +had been deposited with such unusual care in one of the huts, was applied. +There were few of the natives present who were not more or less marked +with it, and it was no doubt, indicative of mourning. + +DEPARTURE OF THE NATIVES. + +Some of the men, however, were painted with red and yellow ochre, with +which it was evident to me they had besmeared themselves since our +appearance, most likely in preparing for the combat in which they fancied +they would be engaged. We distributed such presents as we had to those +around us, and when we pursued our journey, the majority accompanied us, +nor did they wholly leave us until we had passed the place to which their +women had retired. They might have left us when they pleased, for we +intended them no harm; as it was, however, they struck into the brushes to +join their families, and we pushed on to make up for lost time. + +The travelling near the river had been so bad, not only in consequence of +the nature of the soil and brush, but from the numerous gullies that had +been formed by torrents, as they poured into its channel after heavy rains +and floods, that it was thought advisable to keep at a greater distance +from it. We turned away, therefore, to the plains, and found them of much +firmer surface. They partook, however, of the same general character as +the plains we had traversed more to the eastward. Their soil was a light +sandy loam, and the same succulent plants still continued to prevail upon +them, which we have already noticed as existing upon the other plains. +Both emus and kangaroos were seen, though not in any considerable numbers, +but our dogs were not in a condition to run, and were all but killed by +the extreme heat of the weather. We had fallen on a small pool of water +shortly after we started in the morning, but we could do no more than +refresh ourselves and the animals at it. In the afternoon, we again turned +towards the river, and found it unaltered. Its water was still salt, and +from the increased number of wild fowl and pelicans upon it, as well as +from the general flatness of the country, I certainly thought we were +rapidly approaching some inland sea. It was, however, uncertain how long +we should be enabled to continue on the river. The animals were all of +them extremely weak, and every day increased the probable difficulty of +our return. There was not the least appearance of a break-up of the +drought, the heavens were without a cloud, and the atmosphere was so clear +that the outline of the moon could be distinctly seen, although she was +far in her wane. + +BRINE SPRINGS IN THE RIVER. + +On the 6th, we journeyed again through a barren scrub, although on firmer +ground, and passed numerous groups of huts. At about eight miles from our +last encampment, we came upon the river, where its banks were of +considerable height. In riding along them, Mr. Hume thought he observed a +current running, and be called to inform me of the circumstance. On a +closer examination, we discovered some springs in the very bed of the +river, from which a considerable stream was gushing, and from the +incrustation around them, we had no difficulty in guessing at their +nature: in fact, they were brine springs, and I collected a quantity of +salt from the brink of them. + +DISTRESS FOR WANT OF FRESH WATER. + +After such a discovery, we could not hope to keep our position. No doubt +the current we had observed on first reaching the river, was caused by +springs that had either escaped our notice or were under water. Here was +at length a local cause for its saltness that destroyed at once the +anticipation and hope of our being near its termination, and, +consequently, the ardour with which we should have pressed on to decide so +interesting a point. + +Our retreat would have been a measure of absolute necessity ere this, had +we not found occasional supplies of fresh water, the last pond of which +was now about eighteen miles behind us. + +OUR COURSE ARRESTED. + +Whether we should again find any, was a doubtful question, and I hesitated +to run the risk. The animals were already, from bad food, and from the +effects of the river water, so weak, that they could scarcely carry their +loads, and I was aware, if any of the bullocks once fell, he would never +rise again. Under such circumstances, I thought it better to halt the +party at the edge of the scrub, though the feed was poor, and the water +not drinkable. Our situation required most serious consideration. It was +necessary that we should move either backward or forward in the morning. +Yet we could not adopt either measure with satisfaction to ourselves, +under such unfavorable circumstances. I determined to relieve my own mind +by getting the animals into a place of safety, as soon as possible; and, +as the only effectual way of doing this was to retire upon the nearest +fresh water, I resolved at once to do so. The party turned back on the +morning of the 6th; nor do I think the cattle would ever have reached +their destination had we not found a few buckets of rain water in the +cleft of a rock, to refresh them. Thus it will appear that under our most +trying circumstances, we received aid from Providence, and that the bounty +of Heaven was extended towards us, when we had least reason to expect it. + +Notwithstanding we had been thus forced to a partial retreat, both +Mr. Hume and myself were unwilling to quit the pursuit of the river, in so +unsatisfactory a manner. There was no difference in the appearance of the +country to the westward of it; but a seeming interminable flat stretched +away in that direction. A journey across it was not likely, therefore, to +be attended with any favorable results, since it was improbable that any +other leading feature was within our reach. I proposed, therefore, to take +the most serviceable of the horses with me down the river, that, in the +event of our finding fresh water, we might again push forward. Mr. Hume +requesting to be permitted to accompany me, it was arranged that we should +start on the 8th, thereby giving the animals a day's rest. We had not seen +any natives since our parting with the chief horde; and as we were +stationed at some little distance from the river, I hoped that they would +not visit the camp during my absence. This was the only circumstance that +gave me uneasiness, but the men had generally been behaving so well that I +relied a great deal upon them. + +EXTRAORDINARY SOUND. + +About 3 p.m. on the 7th, Mr. Hume and I were occupied tracing the chart +upon the ground. The day had been remarkably fine, not a cloud was there +in the heavens, nor a breath of air to be felt. On a sudden we heard what +seemed to be the report of a gun fired at the distance of between five and +six miles. It was not the hollow sound of an earthly explosion, or the +sharp cracking noise of falling timber, but in every way resembled a +discharge of a heavy piece of ordnance. On this all were agreed, but no +one was certain whence the sound proceeded. Both Mr. Hume and myself had +been too attentive to our occupation to form a satisfactory opinion; but +we both thought it came from the N.W. I sent one of the men immediately up +a tree, but he could observe nothing unusual. The country around him +appeared to be equally flat on all sides, and to be thickly wooded: +whatever occasioned the report, it made a strong impression on all of us; +and to this day, the singularity of such a sound, in such a situation, +is a matter of mystery to me. + +FURTHER ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE RIVER. + +On the 8th, we commenced our journey down the river, accompanied by two +men, and a pack-horse, carrying our provisions on one side and a bucket of +water on the other. Keeping in general near the stream, but making +occasional turns into the plains, we got to the brush from which the party +had turned back, about 3 p.m. Passing through, we crossed a small plain, +of better soil and vegetation than usual; but it soon gave place to the +sandy loam of the interior; nor did we observe any material alteration, +either in the country or the river, as we rode along. The flooded-gum +trees on the banks of the latter, were of beautiful growth, but in the +brushes dividing the plains, box and other eucalypti, with cypresses and +many minor shrubs, prevailed. We slept on the river side, and calculated +our distance from the camp at about twenty-six or twenty-eight miles. + +The horses would not drink the river water, so that we were obliged to +give them a pint each from our own supply. On the following morning we +continued our journey. The country was generally open to the eastward, and +we had fine views of D'Urban's Group, distant from twenty to twenty-five +miles. About noon, turning towards the river to rest, both ourselves and +the horses, we passed through brush land for about a mile and a half. When +we came upon its banks, we found them composed of a red loam with sandy +superficies. We had, in the course of the day, crossed several creeks, but +in none of them could we find water, although their channels were of great +depth. + +The day had been extremely warm, and from shaking in the barrel our supply +of water had diminished to a little more than a pint; it consequently +became a matter of serious consideration, how far it would he prudent to +proceed farther; for, however capable we were of bearing additional +fatigue, it was evident our animals would soon fail, since they trembled +exceedingly, and had the look of total exhaustion. We calculated that we +were forty miles from the camp, in a S.W. direction, a fearful distance +under our circumstances, since we could not hope to obtain relief for two +days. Independently however, of the state of the animals, our spirits were +damped by the nature of the country, and the change which had taken place +on the soil, upon which it was impossible that water could rest; while the +general appearance of the interior showed how much it had suffered from +drought. On the other hand, although the waters of the river had become +worse to the taste, the river itself had increased in size, and stretched +away to the westward, with all the uniformity of a magnificent canal, and +gave every promise of increasing importance; while the pelicans were in +such numbers upon it as to be quite dazzling to the eye. Considering, +however, that perseverance would only involve us in inextricable +difficulties, and that it would also be useless to risk the horses, since +we had gained a distance to which the bullocks could not have been +brought, I intimated my intention of giving up the further pursuit of the +river, though it was with extreme reluctance that I did so. + +CALLED IT THE "DARLING". + +As soon as we had bathed and finished our scanty meal, I took the bearings +of D'Urban's Group, and found them to be S. 58 E. about thirty-three miles +distant; and as we mounted our horses, I named the river the "Darling," +as a lasting memorial of the respect I bear the governor. + +ABANDON THE ATTEMPT. + +I should be doing injustice to Mr. Hume and my men, if I did not express +my conviction that they were extremely unwilling to yield to +circumstances, and that, had I determined on continuing the journey, they +would have followed me with cheerfulness, whatever the consequences might +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach +the Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck +upon it. + + +We kept near the river as we journeyed homewards, and in striking across a +plain, found an isolated rock of quartz and jasper, just showing itself +partially above the surface of the ground. + +We were anxious to get to the small plain I have mentioned, if possible, +for the sake of the animals, and pushed on rapidly for it. About 4 p.m. we +had reached our sleeping place of the previous evening, and being +overpowered by thirst, we stopped in hopes that by making our tea strong +we might destroy, in some measure, the nauseous taste of the water. The +horses were spancelled and a fire lit. Whilst we were sitting patiently +for the boiling of the tins, Mr. Hume observed at a considerable distance +above us, a large body of natives under some gum trees. They were not near +enough for us to observe them distinctly, but it was evident that they +were watching our motions. We did not take any notice of them for some +time, but at last I thought it better to call out to them, and accordingly +requested Mr. Hume to do so. In a moment the whole of them ran forward and +dashed into the river, having been on the opposite side, with an uproar I +had never witnessed on any former occasion. + +INTERCOURSE WITH NATIVES. + +Mr. Hume thought they intended an attack, and the horses had taken fright +and galloped away. I determined, therefore, to fire at once upon them if +they pressed up the bank on which we were posted. Mr. Hume went with me +to the crest of it, and we rather angrily beckoned to the foremost of the +natives to stop. They mistook our meaning, but laid all their spears in a +heap as they came up. We then sat down on the bank and they immediately +did the same; nor did they stir until we beckoned to them after the horses +had been secured. + +As they conducted themselves so inoffensively, we gave them everything we +had to spare. My gun seemed to excite their curiosity, as they had seen +Mr. Hume shoot a cockatoo with it; they must consequently have been close +to us for the greater part of the day, as the bird was killed in the +morning. It was of a species new to me, being smaller than the common +white cockatoo, and having a large scarlet-and-yellow instead of a +pine-yellow top-knot. + +Having stayed about half an hour with them, we remounted our horses, and +struck away from the river into the plains, while the natives went up its +banks to join their hordes. Those whom we saw were about twenty-seven in +number and the most of them were strangers. + +DISTRESS FROM THIRST. + +It was some time after sunset before we reached the little plain on which +we had arranged to sleep, and when we dismounted we were in a truly +pitiable state. I had been unable to refrain from drinking copiously at +the river, and now became extremely sick. Mr. Hume had been scarcely more +prudent than myself, but on him the water had a contrary effect, as well +as upon Hopkinson. The tinker was the only man fit for duty, and it was +well for us that such was the case, as the horses made frequent attempts +to stray, and would have left us in a pretty plight had they succeeded. We +reached the camp on the following day a little before sunset, nor was I +more rejoiced to dismount from my wearied horse than to learn that +everything in the camp had been regular during our absence and that the +men had kept on the best terms with the natives who had paid them frequent +visits. + +The bullocks had improved, but were still extremely weak, and as the +horses we had employed on the last journey required a day or two's rest, +it was arranged that we should not break up our camp until the 12th, +beyond which period we could not stop, in consequence of the low state of +our salt provisions, we having barely sufficient to last to Mount Harris, +at the rate of two pounds per week. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES. + +The morning after we returned from our excursion, a large party of +natives, about seventy in number, visited the camp. On this occasion, the +women and children passed behind the tents, but did not venture to stop. +Most of the men had spears, and were unusually inquisitive and forward. +Several of them carried fire-sticks under the influence of the disease I +have already noticed, whilst others were remarked to have violent +cutaneous eruptions all over the body. We were pretty well on the alert; +notwithstanding which, every minor article was seized with a quickness +that would have done credit to a most finished juggler. One of the natives +thus picked up my comb and toothbrush, but as he did not attempt to +conceal them, they were fortunately recovered. After staying with us a +short time the men followed the women. They appeared to be strangers who +had come from a distance. + +CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES. + +The natives of the Darling are a clean-limbed, well-conditioned race, +generally speaking. They seemingly occupy permanent huts, but their tribe +did not bear any proportion to the size or number of their habitations. +It was evident their population had been thinned. The customs of these +distant tribes, as far as we could judge, were similar to those of the +mountain blacks, and they are essentially the same people, although their +language differs. They lacerate their bodies, but do not extract the front +teeth. We saw but few cloaks among them, since the opossum does not +inhabit the interior. Those that were noticed, were made of the red +kangaroo skin. In appearance, these men are stouter in the bust than at +the lower extremities; they have broad noses, sunken eyes, overhanging +eyebrows, and thick lips. The men are much better looking than the women. +Both go perfectly naked, if I except the former, who wear nets over the +loins and across the forehead, and bones through the cartilages of the +nose. Their chief food is fish, of which they have great supplies in the +river; still they have their seasons for hunting their emus and kangaroos. +The nets they use for this purpose, as well as for fishing, are of great +length, and are made upon large frames. These people do not appear to have +warlike habits nor do they take any pride in their arms, which differ +little from those used by the inland tribes, and are assimilated to them +as far as the materials will allow. One powerful man, however, had a +regular trident, for which Mr. Hume offered many things without success. +He plainly intimated to us that he had a use for it, but whether against +an enemy or to secure prey, we could not understand. I was most anxious to +have ascertained if any religious ceremonies obtained among them, but the +difficulty of making them comprehend our meaning was insurmountable; and +to the same cause may be attributed the circumstance of my being unable to +collect any satisfactory vocabulary of their language. They evinced a +strange perversity, or obstinacy rather, in repeating words, although it +was evident that they knew they were meant as questions. The pole we +observed in the creek, on the evening previously to our making the +Darling, was not the only one that fell under our notice; our impression +therefore, that they were fixed by the natives to propitiate some deity, +was confirmed. It would appear that the white pigment was an indication of +mourning. Whether these people have an idea of a superintending Providence +I doubt, but they evidently dread evil agency. On the whole I should say +they are a people, at present, at the very bottom of the scale of +humanity. + +REMARKS ON THE DARLING RIVER. + +We struck the Darling River in lat. 29 degrees 37 minutes S. and in E. +long. 145 degrees 33 minutes, and traced it down for about sixty-six miles +in a direct line to the S.W. If I might hazard an opinion from appearance, +to whatever part of the interior it leads, its source must be far to the +N.E. or N. The capacity of its channel, and the terrific floods that must +sometimes rage in it, would argue that it is influenced by tropical rains, +which alone would cause such floods. It is likely that it seldom arrives +at so reduced a state as that in which we found it, and that, generally +speaking, it has a sufficient depth of water for the purposes of inland +navigation: in such case its future importance cannot be questioned, since +it most probably receives the chief streams falling westerly from the +coast ranges. But, with every anticipation of the benefit that may at some +time or other be derived from this remarkable and central stream, it is +incumbent on me to state that the country, through which it flows, holds +out but little prospect of advantage. Certainly the portion we know of it, +is far from encouraging. The extent of alluvial soil, between the inner +and outer banks of the river, is extremely limited, and, instead of being +covered with sward, is in most places over-run by the polygonum. Beyond +this the plains of the interior stretch away, whose character and soil +must change, ere they can be available to any good purpose. But there is a +singular want of vegetable decay in the interior of New Holland, and that +powerfully argues its recent origin. + +REMARKS ON THE COUNTRY. + +There is no life upon its surface, if I may so express myself; but the +stillness of death reigns in its brushes, and over its plains. It cannot, +however, be doubted that we visited the interior during a most unfavorable +season. Probably in ordinary ones it wears a different appearance, but its +deserts are of great extent, and its productions are of little value. + +Agreeably to our arrangements, we broke up our camp at an early hour on +the morning of the 12th, and proceeded up the river to the junction of +New Year's Creek. We then struck away in an easterly direction from it, +detaching a man to trace the creek up, lest we should pass any water; and +we should certainly have been without it had we not taken this precaution. + +On the following day, we again passed to the eastward, through an open +country, having picturesque views of Oxley's Table Land. We crossed our +track about noon, and struck on the creek at about five miles beyond it, +and we were fortunate enough to procure both water and grass. The timber +upon the plains, between us and the Darling, we found to be a rough gum, +but box prevailed in the neighbourhood of the creek at this part of it. + +On the 14th, we changed our direction more to the southward, but made a +short journey, in consequence of being obliged to make some slight repairs +on the boat carriage. + +REGAIN OUR OLD ROUTE. + +On the 15th, we kept an E.S.E. course, and, crossing the creek at an early +hour, got upon our old track, which we kept. We had the lateral ridge of +the Pink Hills upon our right, and travelled through a good deal of brush. +Four or five natives joined us, and two followed us to the end of our +day's journey. In the course of the evening, they endeavoured to pilfer +whatever was in their reach, but were detected putting a tin into a bush, +and soon took to their heels. This was the first instance we had of open +theft among the natives of the interior. + +We passed Mosquito Brush on the 18th, but found the ponds quite dry, we +were, therefore, under the necessity of pushing on, to shorten the next +day's journey, as we could not expect to get water nearer than the +marshes. At noon, on the 19th, we entered the plain, and once more saw +them spreading in dreariness before us. While the party was crossing to +the first channel, I rode to the left, in order to examine the appearance +of the country in the direction of the wood, and as far as I skirted the +reeds had my impressions confirmed as to their partial extension. I was +obliged, however, to join the men without completing the circuit of the +marshes. They had found the first channel dry, and had passed on to the +other, in which, fortunately, a small quantity of water still remained. +It was, however, so shallow as to expose the backs of the fish in it, and +a number of crows had congregated, and were pecking at them. Wishing to +satisfy my mind as to the distance to which the river extended to the +northward, Mr. Hume rode with me on the following day, to examine the +country in that direction, leaving the men stationary. We found that the +reeds gradually decreased in body, until, at length, they ceased, or gave +place to bulrushes. There were general appearances of inundation, and of +the subsidence of waters, but none that led us to suppose that any channel +existed beyond the flooded lands. + +ALARM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PROVISION PARTY. + +On our return to the camp, we observed dense masses of smoke rising at the +head of the marshes, and immediately under Mount Foster. This excited our +alarm for the safety of the party we hoped to find at Mount Harris, and +obliged us to make forced marches, to relieve it if threatened by the +natives. + +On the 22nd, we crossed the plains of the Macquarie, and surprised a +numerous tribe on the banks of the river; and the difficulty we found in +getting any of them to approach us, their evident timidity, and the +circumstance of one of them having on a jacket, tended to increase our +apprehensions. When two or three came to us, they intimated that white +men either had been or were under Mount Harris, but we were left in +uncertainty and passed a most anxious night. + +The body of reeds was still on fire; and the light embers were carried to +an amazing distance by the wind, falling like a black-shower around us. As +we knew that the natives never made such extensive conflagration, unless +they had some mischievous object in view, our apprehension for the safety +of Riley, with his supplies, was increased. + +At the earliest dawn, we pushed for the hill. In passing that part of the +meadows under Mount Foster, we observed that the grass had also been +consumed, and we scarcely recognized the ground from its altered +appearance. As we approached Mount Harris, we saw recent traces of cattle, +but none were visible on the plains. Under the hill, however, we could +distinctly see that a hut of some kind had been erected, and it is +impossible for me to describe the relief we felt when a soldier came +forward to reconnoitre us. I could no longer doubt the safety of the +party, and this was confirmed by the rest of the men turning out to +welcome us. It appeared that our suspicions with regard to the natives had +not been without foundation, since they attempted to surprise the camp, +and it was supposed the firing of the marshes was done with a view to +collect the distant tribes, to make a second attack; so that our arrival +was most opportune. + +The party I found awaiting our arrival at Mount Harris consisted of one +soldier, Riley, who had the charge of the supplies, and a drayman. They +had found the paper I had fixed against the tree, and also the letters I +had hid, and had forwarded them to Sydney, by another soldier and a +prisoner; which had weakened their party a good deal. Riley informed me, +that he had been between a month and three weeks at the station, and that +knowing our provisions must have run short he had expected us much earlier +than we had made our appearance. + +My dispatches stated, that additional supplies had been forwarded for my +use, together with horses and bullocks, in the event of my requiring them. +On examination, the former were found to be in excellent order; and, as it +would take some time to carry any changes I might contemplate, or find it +necessary to make, into effect, I determined to give the men who had been +with me a week's rest. + +ENCAMP AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +The camp was made snug; and as the weather had become much cooler I +thought it a good opportunity to slaughter one of the bullocks, in order +to guard against any bad effects of our having been living for some weeks +exclusively on salt provisions. I was also induced to this measure, from a +wish to preserve my supplies as much as possible. + +These matters having been arranged, I had a temporary awning erected near +the river, and was for three or four days busily employed writing an +account of our journey for the Governor's information. + +Having closed my despatches, and answered the numerous friendly letters I +had received, my attention was next turned to the changes that had taken +place at Mount Harris during our absence. The Macquarie, I found, had +wholly ceased to flow, and now consisted of a chain of ponds. Such of the +minor vegetation as had escaped the fires of the natives, had perished +under the extreme heat of the season. The acacia pendula stood leafless +upon the plains, and the polygonum junceum appeared to be the only plant +that had withstood the effects of the drought. Yet, notwithstanding this +general depression of the vegetable kingdom, the animals that had been +brought from Wellington Valley were in the best condition, and were, +indeed, too fat for effective labour; it might, therefore, be reasonably +presumed, that herbage affording such nourishment in so unfavourable a +season, would be of the richest quality, if fresh and vigorous under the +influence of seasonable, and not excessive, rains. + +FIRING OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +The appearance of the country was, however, truly melancholy; there was +not a flower in bloom, nor a green object to be seen. Whether our arrival +had increased their alarm, is uncertain, but the natives continued to fire +the great marshes, and as the element raged amongst them, large bodies of +smoke rose over the horizon like storm clouds, and had the effect of +giving additional dreariness to the scene. I am inclined to think that +they made these conflagrations to procure food, by seizing whatsoever +might issue from the flames, as snakes, birds, or other animals; for they +had taken every fish in the river, and the low state of its waters had +enabled them to procure an abundance of muscles from its bed, which they +had consumed with their characteristic improvidence. They were, +consequently, in a starving condition, and so pitiable were their +indications of it, that I was induced to feed such of them as visited the +camp, notwithstanding their late misconduct; being likewise anxious to +bring about a good understanding, as the best means of ensuring the safety +of the smaller party when we should separate, of which I had reason to be +doubtful. These people had killed two white men not long before my arrival +among them, and as the circumstances attending the slaughter are singular, +I shall relate them. + +SLAUGHTER OF TWO IRISH RUNAWAYS. + +The parties were two Irish runaways, who thought they could make their way +to Timor. They escaped from Wellington Valley with a fortnight's provision +each, and a couple of dogs, and proceeded down the Macquarie. About the +cataract, they fell in with the Mount Harris tribe, and remained with them +for some days, when they determined on pursuing their journey. The blacks, +however, wanted to get possession of their dogs, and a resistance on the +part of the Europeans brought on a quarrel. It appears, that before the +blacks proceeded to extremities, they furnished the Irishmen, who were +unarmed, with weapons, and then told them to defend themselves, but +whether against equal or inferior numbers, I am uninformed. One of them +soon fell, which the other observing, he took his knife out, and cut the +throats of both the dogs before the blacks had time to put him to death. +He was, however, sacrificed; and both the men were eaten by the tribe +generally. I questioned several on the subject, but they preserved the +most sullen silence, neither acknowledging nor denying the fact. + +ARBUTHNOT'S RANGE. + +Mr. Hume had been one day on Mount Harris, and while there, had laid his +compass on a large rock, near to which Mr. Oxley's boat had been burnt. +To his surprise, he found the needle affected; and his bearings were all +wrong. I subsequently went up to ascertain the extent of the error +produced, and found it precisely the same as Mr. Hume noticed. When I +placed the compass on the rock, Mount Foster bore from me N. by W., the +true bearing of the one hill from the other being N.N.W. My placing my +notebook under the compass did not alter the effect, nor did the card move +until I raised the instrument a couple of feet above the stone, when it +first became violently agitated, and then settled correctly; and my +bearings of the highest parts of Arbuthnot's Range, and of its centre, +were as follows: + +Mount Exmouth to the N ...... N. 86 E. +Centre....................... N. 85 E. +Vernon's Peak................ N. 89 E. +Distance 70 miles. + +Having finished my reports and letters, it became necessary to consider +the best point on which to move, and to fix a day for our departure from +Mount Harris. It struck me that having found so important a feature as the +Darling River, the Governor would approve my endeavouring to regain it +more to the southward, in order to trace it down. I, therefore, detached +Mr. Hume to survey the country in that direction, and to ascertain if a +descent upon the Bogen district would be practicable, through which I had +been informed a considerable river forced itself. The report he made on +his return was such as to deter me from that attempt, but he stated that +the country for 30 miles from the Macquarie was well watered, and superior +to any he had passed over during the journey; beyond that distance, it +took up the character of the remote interior, and alternated with plains +and brush, the soil being too sandy to retain water on its surface. He saw +some hills from the extremity of his journey, bearing by compass W.S.W. +We consequently determined to make for the Castlereagh, agreeably to our +instructions. Preparations were made for breaking up the camp, all the +various arrangements in the change of animals were completed, the boat +carriage was exchanged for a dray, and I took Boyle in the place of +Norman, whose timidity in the bush rendered him unfit for service. + +CIRCUIT OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +There is a small hill on the opposite side of the river, and immediately +facing Mount Harris, and to the S.E. of it there is a small lagoon, the +head of a creek, by means of which its superfluous waters are carried off. +This creek runs parallel to the river for about ten miles, and enters the +marshes at the S.E. angle. This I ascertained one day in riding to carry +on my survey of the southern extremity of the marshes, and to join my line +of route by making the circuit of that part of them. I found that the +river was turned to its northerly course by a rising ground of forest +land, which checks its further progress westerly. I proceeded round +the S.W. angle, and then, taking a northerly course, got down to the +bottom of the first great marsh, thus completing the circuit of them. I +did not return to the camp until after 10 p.m., having crossed the river +at day-light, nor did we procure any water from the time we left the +stream to the moment of our recrossing it. + +WALLIS'S PONDS. + +Having completed our various arrangements, and closed our letters, we +struck our tents on the morning of the 7th March; we remained, however, to +witness the departure of Riley's party for Wellington Valley, and then +left the Macquarie on an E.N.E. course for Wallis's Ponds, and made them +at about 14 miles. They undoubtedly empty themselves into the marshes, and +are a continuation of that chain of ponds on which I left the party in +Mr. Hume's charge. About a mile from Mount Harris, we passed a small dry +creek, that evidently lays the country under water in the wet seasons. +There was a blue-gum flat to the eastward of it, which we crossed, and +then entered a brush of acacia pendula and box. The soil upon the plain +was an alluvial deposit; that in the brushes was sandy. From the extremity +of the plain, Mount Harris bore, by compass, S.W. by W.; Mount Foster due +west. The scrub through which we were penetrating, at length became so +dense, that we found it impossible to travel in a direct line through it, +and frequent ridges of cypresses growing closely together, turned us +repeatedly from our course. The country at length became clearer, and we +travelled over open forest of box, casuarina, and cypresses, on a sandy +soil; the first predominating. For about two miles before we made the +creek, the country was not heavily timbered, the acacia pendula +succeeding the larger trees. The ground had a good covering of grass upon +it, and there were few of the salsolaceous plants, so abundant on the +western plains, to be found. The rough-gum abounded near the creek, with a +small tree bearing a hard round nut, and we had the luxury of plenty of +water. + +We remained stationary on the 8th, in hopes that Riley would have met the +soldier who had been sent back to Wellington Valley, and that he would +have forwarded any letters to us, of which he might have been the bearer. +The day, however, passed over without realizing our expectations; and we +started once more for the interior, and cut ourselves off from all +communication with society. + +MORRISSET'S PONDS. + +We made for Morrisset's chain of ponds, and travelled over rich and +extensive plains, divided by plantations of cypress, box, and casuarina, +in the early and latter period of the day. About noon we entered a dense +forest of cypresses, which continued for three miles, when the cypresses +became mixed with casuarina, box, and mountain-gum, a tree we had not +remarked before in so low a situation. We struck upon the creek after a +journey of about 15 miles. It had a sandy bed, and was extremely tortuous +in its course, nor was it until after a considerable search, that we at +length succeeded in finding water, at which a party of natives were +encamped. The moment they saw us, they fled, and left all their utensils, +&c. behind them. Among other things, we found a number of bark troughs, +filled with the gum of the mimosa, and vast quantities of gum made into +cakes upon the ground. From this it would appear these unfortunate +creatures were reduced to the last extremity, and, being unable to procure +any other nourishment, had been obliged to collect this mucilaginous food. + +The plains we traversed, were of uniform equality of surface. Water +evidently lodges and continues on them long after a fall of rain, and in +wet seasons they must, I should imagine, be full of quagmires, and almost +impassable. + +On the 10th, we passed through a country that differed in no material +point from that already described. We stopped at 10 a.m. under some brush, +in the centre of a large plain, from which Arbuthnot's range bore S. 84 E. +distant from 50 to 55 miles, and afterwards traversed or rather crossed, +those extensive tracts described by Mr. Evans as being under water and +covered with reeds, in 1817. They now bore a very different appearance, +being firm and dry. The soil was in general good, and covered with forest +grass and a species of oxalia. We did not observe any reeds, or the signs +of inundation, but, as is invariably the case with plains in the interior, +they were of too even surface, as I have so lately remarked, to admit of +the waters running quickly off them; and no doubt, when they became +saturated, many quagmires are formed, that would very much impede the +movements of an expedition. + +REACH THE CASTLEREAGH RIVER. + +We reached the Castlereagh about 4 p.m., and although its channel could +not have been less than 130 yards in breadth, there was apparently not a +drop of water in it. Its bed consisted of pure sand and reeds; amid the +latter, we found a small pond of 15 yards circumference, after a long +search. There is a considerable dip in the country towards the river, at +about two miles from it; and the intervening brush was full of kangaroo, +which, I fancy, had congregated to a spot where there was abundance of +food for them. The soil covering the space was of the richest quality, +and the timber upon it consisted of box, mountain gum, and the angophora +lanceolata, a tree that is never found except on rich ground. + +WANT OF WATER; CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. + +It appeared that our troubles were to recommence, and that in order to +continue on the Castlereagh, it would be necessary for Mr. Hume and myself +to undertake those fatiguing journeys in search of water that had so +exhausted us already: and after all, it was doubtful how soon we might be +forced back. I had certainly expected that, on our gaining the banks of +the river, we should have had a constant supply of water, but the +circumstance of the Castlereagh having not only ceased to flow, but being +absolutely dry, while it afforded the best and clearest proof of the +severity and continuance of the drought in the interior, at the same time +damped the spirits and ardour of the men. We kept the left bank of the +river as we proceeded down it, and passed two or three larger ponds about +a mile below where we had slept, but there they ceased. The bed of the +river became one of pure sand, nor did there appear to be any chance of +our finding any water in it. I stopped the party at about eight miles, and +desired the men to get their dinners, to give Mr. Hume and myself time to +search for a supply upon the plains. Disappointed to the left, we crossed +the channel of the Castlereagh, and struck over a small plain upon the +right bank, and at the extremity of it, came upon a swamp, from which we +immediately returned for the cattle, and got them unloaded by seven +o'clock. As there was sufficient pasture around us, I proposed to Mr. Hume +on the following day, to leave the party stationary, and to ride down the +river to see how far its present appearances continued. Like the +generality of rivers of the interior, it had, where we struck upon it, +outer banks to confine its waters during floods, and to prevent them from +spreading generally over the country; the space between the two banks +being of the richest soil, and the timber chiefly of the angophora kind. +Flooded-gum overhung the inner banks of the river, or grew upon the many +islands, with casuarina. It became evident, however, that the outer banks +declined in height as we proceeded down the river, nor was it long before +they ceased altogether. As we rode along, we found that the inner ones +were fast decreasing in height also. Riding under a hanging wood of the +angophora, which had ceased for a time, we were induced to break off to +our right, to examine some large flooded-gum trees about a couple of miles +to the N.W. of us. On arriving near them, we were astonished to find that +they concealed a serpentine lagoon that had a belt of reeds round it. +Keeping this lagoon upon our right, we at length came to the head of it, +past which the river sweeps. Crossing the channel of the river, we +continued to ride in an easterly direction to examine the country. In +doing this, we struck on a second branch of the Castlereagh, leading +W. by N. into a plain, which it of course inundates at times, and running +up it, we found its bed at the point of separation, to be considerably +higher than that of the main channel, which still continued of pure +sand--and was stamped all over with the prints of the feet of natives, +kangaroos, emus, and wild dogs, We then turned again to the head of the +lagoon, and took the following bearings of Arbuthnot's range: + +Mount Exmouth .......... E. 90 S. +Centre Range ........... E. 35 E. +Vernon's Peak .......... E. 20 S. + +From the head of the lagoon, the river appeared to enter a reedy hollow, +shaded by a long line of flooded gum trees, and on proceeding to it, we +found the banks ceased here altogether; and that a very considerable plain +extended both to the right and the left, which cannot fail of being +frequently laid under water. + +LAGOONS AND CREEKS OF THE CASTLEREAGH. + +On the following morning we moved the party to the lagoon, and, passing +its head, encamped to the north of it; after which we again rode down the +river in search of water. It continued to hold a straight and northerly +course for about five miles, having a plain on either side. The reeds that +had previously covered the channel then suddenly ceased, and the channel, +contracting in breadth, gained in depth: it became extremely serpentine, +and at length lost all the character and appearance of a river. It had +many back channels, as large as the main one, serving to overflow the +neighbouring country. We succeeded in finding a small pond of water in one +of the former, hardly large enough to supply our necessities, but as it +enabled us to push so much further on, we turned towards the lagoon, +making a circuitous journey to the right, across a large plain, bounded to +the north by low acacia brush and box. We struck upon a creek at the +further extremity of the plain, in which there was a tolerably sized pond. +It appeared from the traces of men, that some natives had been there the +day before; but we did not see any of them. The water was extremely muddy +and unfit for use. The lagoon at which we had encamped, was of less +importance than we had imagined. + +JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER. + +Whilst Mr. Hume led the party down the river, I rode up its northward +bank, to examine it more closely. I found it to be a serpentine sheet of +about three miles in length, gradually decreasing in depth until it +separated into two small creeks. In following one of them up, I observed +that they re-united at the distance of about two miles, and that the +lagoon was filled from the eastward, and not by the river as I had at +first supposed. The waters at the head of the lagoon were putrid, nor was +there a fish in, or a wild fowl upon it. The only bird we saw was a +beautiful eagle, of the osprey kind, with plumage like a sea gull, which +had a nest in the tree over the tents. + +In turning to overtake the party I rode through a great deal of acacia +scrub, and on arriving at the place at which I expected to have overtaken +them, I found they had pushed on. + +The Castlereagh, as I rode down it, diminished in size considerably, and +became quite choked up with rushes and brambles. Rough-gum again made its +appearance, with swamp-oak and a miserable acacia scrub outside. The +country on both sides of the river seemed to be an interminable flat, and +the soil of an inferior description. + +WRETCHED APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. + +I came up with with Mr. Hume about 1 o'clock and we again pushed forward +at 3, and halted for the night without water, the want of which the cattle +did not feel. The river held a general westerly course, and the country in +its neighbourhood became extremely depressed and low. On the following day +we moved forward a distance of not more than nine miles, through a country +on which, at first, the acacia pendula alone was growing on a light +alluvial soil. The river had many back drains, by means of which, in wet +seasons, it inundates the adjacent plains. It was evident, however, that +they had not been flooded for many years; and, notwithstanding that the +country was low, the line of inundation did not appear to be very +extensive, nor were there any reeds growing beyond the immediate banks of +the river. Swamp-oak and rough-gum again prevailed near the stream at our +halting place, and the improvement that had taken place, both in the +country and in the Castlereagh, had induced us to make so short a journey; +for not only was there abundance of the grass for the animals, but large +ponds of water in the river. Some natives had only just preceded us down +it: we came upon their fires that were still smoking; and upon them were +the remains of some fish they had taken, near which they had left a +cumbrous spear. The circumstances cheered us with hopes that an +improvement would take place in the country, and that some new feature +would soon open upon us. In the course of the following day, however, +every favorable change, both in the river and in the country, disappeared. +The latter continued extremely depressed, and in general open, or lightly +covered with acacia pendula; the former dwindled into a mere ditch, choked +up with brambles and reeds, and having only here and there a stagnant pool +of water. We travelled on a N.W. 1/2 W. course for about ten miles, and +again stopped for the night without water. In the course of the afternoon, +we traversed several flats, on which the rough-gum alone was growing. +These flats were evidently subject to flood; and contained an alluvial +soil. + +They became more frequent as we travelled down the river, and the work was +so heavy for the animals, that I was obliged to keep wide of them, in +doing which we struck upon a creek of large size, coming from the N.E. +and, having crossed, we traversed its right bank to its junction with the +Castlereagh, and stopped close to it at a pond of water, though the feed +for the animals was bad. The country to the left of the river, though +somewhat high, was the same, in essential points, as that to the right. + +The Castlereagh seemed to have increased in size below the creek, but +still it had no resemblance to a river. We had not proceeded very far down +its banks, on the 18th, when we crossed a broad footpath leading to it +from the interior. I turned my horse to the left, and struck upon a long +sheet of water, from which I startled a number of pelicans. It was evident +that the natives had recently been in the neighbourhood, but we thought it +probable they might have been a hunting party, who had returned again to +the plains. The whole track we passed over during the day was miserably +poor and bare of vegetation, nor did the appearance of the country to the +N.E. indicate any improvement. We lost the traces of the natives +immediately after crossing their path or beat, and again found the bed of +the river dry, after we had passed the sheet of water to which it led. The +soil was so rotten and yielding, that the team knocked up early; indeed, +it was a matter of surprise to me that they should not have failed before. +The river made somewhat to the westward with little promise of +improvement. The wretched appearance of the country as we penetrated into +it, damped our spirits; we pressed on, however, with difficulty, over +ground that was totally destitute of vegetation. Instead of lofty timber +and a living stream, we wandered along the banks of an insignificant +watercourse, and under trees of stunted size and scanty foliage. We +stopped on the 20th at the angle of a creek, in which there was some dry +grass, in consequence of the animals being almost in a starving state, but +even here they had but little to eat. + +A violent thunder-storm passed over us in the afternoon, but it made no +change in the temperature of the air. The weather, although it had been +hot and sultry, had fallen far short of the intense heat we experienced in +crossing the marshes of the Macquarie, when it was such as to melt the +sugar in the canisters, and to destroy all our dogs; and our nights were +now become agreeably cool. + +A PARTY OF NATIVES. + +We still, however, continued to travel over a dead level, nor was a height +or break visible from the loftiest trees we ascended. A little before we +stopped at the creek, we surprised a party of natives; old men, women, and +children. They were preparing dinners of fish in much larger quantities +than they could have devoured--probably for a part of the tribe that were +absent; but the moment they saw us they fled, and left every thing at our +mercy. On examining the fish, we found them totally different from any in +the Macquarie, and took two of the most perfect to preserve. In the +afternoon one of the men came to inform me that the tribe was coming down +upon us. + +Mr. Hume and I, therefore, went to meet them. They were at this time about +150 yards from the tent, but seeing us advance, they stopped, and forming +two deep, they marched to and fro, to a war song I suppose, crouching with +their spears. We had not, however, any difficulty in communicating with +them, and I shall detail the manner in which this was brought about, in +hopes that it may help to guide others. When the natives saw us advance, +they stopped, and we did the same. Mr. Hume then walked to a tree, and +broke off a short branch. It is singular that this should, even with these +rude people, be a token of peace. As soon as they saw the branch, the +natives laid aside their spears, and two of them advanced about twenty +paces in front of the rest, who sat down. Mr. Hume then went forward and +sat down, when the two natives again advanced and seated themselves close +to him. + +Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every people +is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with patience +and kindness, will seldom fail with the natives of the interior. It is not +to avoid alarming their natural timidity that a gradual approach is so +necessary. They preserve the same ceremony among themselves. These men, +who were eighteen in number, came with us to the tents, and received such +presents as we had for them. They conducted themselves very quietly, and, +after a short time, left us with every token of friendship. + +LARGE CREEK. + +On the 21st we proceeded down the river on a N.N.W. course, and at about +five miles struck upon a very large creek, apparently coming from +the E.N.E. + +Although the Castlereagh had increased in size, this creek was infinitely +larger; it was, however, perfectly dry. Lofty flooded-gum trees were upon +its banks, and it appeared so much superior to the river that I was +induced to halt the party at the junction, in order to examine it more +closely. Mr. Hume, therefore, rode with me up the right bank. We had not +proceeded very far, when some natives called out to us from the opposite +scrub. Thinking that they belonged to the tribe we had left behind us, we +pointed to the junction, and motioned them to go there, but one of the +party continued to follow and call to us for some time. On our return to +the men, we found that the natives had joined them, and they now gave us +to understand that we were going away from water. This had indeed been +apparent to us. The creek was perfectly dry, as far as we traced it up; +and seemed to have been totally deserted by the natives. + +We were about to proceed on our journey, when from twenty to thirty +natives approached us from down the river. We sent two of those who had +been with us to them, and the whole accompanied us for some miles, talking +incessantly to the men, but keeping at a very respectful distance from the +animals. We at length got opposite to their camp, near which there was a +very fine pool of water, and they were earnest in persuading us to stop at +it. We were, however, too anxious to get forward to comply; under the +improved appearance of the river since it had received the creeks from the +eastward, little anticipating what was before us. + +NATIVE ARMOURY. + +The natives did not follow us beyond their own encampment. Within sight of +it, we came upon their armoury, if I may so term it. Numerous spears were +reared against the trees, and heaps of boomerangs were lying on the +ground. The spears were very heavy, and half barbed; and it is singular +that three of them were marked with a broad arrow. We saw the natives +watching us, fearful, I imagine, that we should help ourselves; but I +would not permit any of their weapons to be touched. + +EXAMINATION OF CREEKS NEAR THE CASTLEREAGH. + +Pursuing our journey, we reached another creek, at about five miles, +similar to the last in appearance and size, and we crossed it repeatedly +during the afternoon. We had been induced to keep along a native path in +the hope that it would have led us to the river by a short cut; but it +eventually led us to this creek, and away from the Castlereagh; for, +notwithstanding that we subsequently changed our course to the S.W., we +failed, as we supposed, again to strike upon the latter, and were obliged +to stop for the night on the banks of what appeared to be a third large +dry creek, which we intersected nearly at right angles. + +We travelled through a good deal of brush during the day, nor did the +country change from the miserable and barren character it had assumed for +the last thirty or forty miles. The Castlereagh had so frequently changed, +that both Mr. Hume and myself were puzzled as to the identity of the +creek upon which we had halted. We searched its bed in vain for water, +although it was most capacious. Under an impression that the river was +still to the south, and that we were at a point to which many watercourses +from the high lands tended, I crossed the creek early in the morning, and +held a S.W. course, over an open forest country. At about eight miles, we +came upon a large space over-run by the polygonum junceum, a certain +indication of flooded ground, and of our consequent proximity to some +stream. Accordingly, after pushing through it, we struck upon a small +creek with abundance of water in it. Whether this creek was the +Castlereagh, which it resembled much more than the one we had left in the +morning, was doubtful; but it was a great source of comfort to us to have +so unexpected a supply of water as that which was now at our disposal. +Whatever channel this was, whether a river or a creek, our tracing it down +would lead us in the direction we wished to go, and probably to some +junction. + +The neighbourhood of the creek was well clothed with vegetation, and the +cattle found good feed; but the only trees near it were rough-gum and +casuarinae; the flooded-gum had again disappeared. The soil of the forest +land over which we journeyed was a light sandy loam; and its timber +consisted chiefly of eucalypti, acacia pendula, and the angophora. + +Some natives visited us in the afternoon, and among them, both Mr. Hume +and I recognized one of those we had seen on the Darling. He also knew us +again, but we could not make out from him how far we were from that river. +They stayed with us till sunset, and then went down the creek, leaving +their spears against a tree, for which they said they would return. + +On the 23rd we took up a W.N.W. course, and when we again touched on the +creek it was dry. This was at a distance of about five miles from where we +had slept. As the animals had not recovered from their late privations, I +deemed it better to halt the party and to examine the creek for a few +miles below us, that in case it should prove destitute of water, we might +return to that we had left. Mr. Hume accordingly rode down it for about +three miles, without success; and on his rejoining the men, we returned +with them to our last camp, or to within a short distance of it. Wishing +to examine the creek above our position, I requested Mr. Hume to take two +men with him, and to trace it down in search of water, while I should +proceed in the opposite direction. I went from the camp at an early hour, +and as I wandered along the creek, I passed a regular chain of ponds. The +country on both sides of the creek was evidently subject to flood, but +more extensively to the south than to the north. From the creek, I struck +away to my left, and after penetrating through a belt of swamp-oak and +minor shrubs, got on a small plain, which I crossed N.E. and, to my +annoyance, found it covered with rhagodia and salsolae. As I had not +started with the intention of sleeping, I turned to the S.W. a little +before sunset, and reached the tents between ten and eleven. I found +Mr. Hume awaiting me. He informed me that at about nine miles from +where we had turned back with the party, he had struck upon a junction; +and that as the junction was much larger than the channel he had been +tracing, he thought it better to follow it up for a few miles. He found +that it narrowed in width, and that its banks became steep, with a fine +avenue of flooded-gum trees overhanging them. At four miles, he came upon +another junction, and at four miles more, found himself opposite to the +ground on which we had slept on the previous Saturday. From this point he +retraced the channel, but not finding any water for three miles below the +lower junction, he returned to the camp, with a view of prosecuting a +longer journey on the morrow. Mr. Hume had become impressed with an +opinion, that the junction up which we had slept was no other than the +Castlereagh itself; and that our position was on a creek, probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds, flowing into it. As the cattle wanted a few +days' rest, Mr. Hume and I determined to ride, unattended, along our track +to our camp of the 21st, and then to follow the channel upwards, until we +should arrive at the station of the natives, or until we should have +ridden to such a distance as would set our conjectures at rest. In the +morning, however, instead of running upon our old track, we followed that +of Mr. Hume to the junction, giving up our first intention, with a view to +ascertain if there existed any water which we could, by an effort, gain, +below where Mr. Hume had been. The channel was very broad, with a +considerable fall in its bed, and, in appearance, more resembled the slope +of a lawn than the bed of a river. It had two gum-trees in the centre of +its channel, in one of which the floods had left the trunk of a large +tree. We could discover where it narrowed and its banks rose, but, as we +intended to make a closer examination before we left the neighbourhood, +we continued our journey down the principal channel. The ground exhibited +an abundance of pasture in its immediate neighbourhood, but the distant +country was miserably poor and bare. At about three miles, we came upon +the fresh traces of some natives, which led us to the channel again, from +which we had wandered unintentionally. In it we found there had been water +very lately, and it appeared that the natives had dug holes at the bottom +to insure a longer supply. These were now exhausted, but still retained +the appearance of moisture. At a mile and a half beyond these, we were led +to some similar holes, by observing a number of birds flying about them. +The water was too muddy for us to drink, but the horses emptied them +successively. We now kept sufficiently near the channel to insure our +seeing any pool that might still remain in it, but rode for about seven +miles before we again saw water, and even here, although it was a spring, +we were obliged to dig holes, and await their filling, before we could get +sufficient for our use. Having dined, we again pursued our journey, and +almost immediately came upon a long narrow ditch, full of water, and lined +by bulrushes. The creek or river had for some time kept the centre of a +deep alluvial valley, in which there was plenty of food for the cattle, +and which, at this place, was apparently broader than anywhere else. The +situation being favourable, we returned to the camp, and reached it late. + +DEPRESSION OF THE MEN. + +I do not know whether I was wrong in my conjecture, but I fancied, about +this time, that the men generally were desponding. Whether it was that the +constant fatigue entailed on myself and Mr. Hume, and that our constant +absence, or the consequent exhaustion it produced, had any effect on their +minds, or that they feared the result of our perseverance, is difficult to +say; but certainly, they all had a depression of spirits, and looked, I +thought, altered in appearance; nor did they evince any satisfaction at +our success--at least, not the satisfaction they would have shown at an +earlier period of our journey. + +Before moving forward, it remained for us to ascertain if the channel from +the junction was the Castlereagh, or only a creek. The intersection of so +many channels in this neighbourhood, most of them so much alike, made it +essentially necessary that we should satisfy ourselves on this point. +Mr. Hume, therefore, accompanied me, as had at first been intended the +morning of our return to the place at which we had slept. We took fresh +horses, but dispensed with any other attendants, and indeed went wholly +unarmed. + +CAMP OF NATIVES. + +After following our old track to its termination, we kept up the right +bank of the channel, and at length arrived at the camp of the natives; +thus satisfying ourselves that we had been journeying on the Castlereagh, +and that we were still following it down. By this ride we ascertained that +there was a distance of five-and-forty miles in its bed without a drop of +water. Few of the natives were in the camp. The women avoided us, but not +as if they were under any apprehension. Crossing at the head of the pool, +we again got on our old track, but seeing two or three men coming towards +us we alighted, and, tying our horses to a tree, went to meet them. One +poor fellow had two ducks in his hand, which he had just taken off the +fire; these he offered to us, and on our declining to accept of them, he +called to a boy, who soon appeared with a large trough of honey, of which +we partook. One of the men had an ulcer in the arm, and asked me what he +should do to heal it; indeed, I believe Fraser had promised him some +ointment, but not having any with me, I signified to him that be should +wash it often, and stooping down, made as if I was taking up water in my +hand. The poor fellow mistook me, and, also stooping down, took up a +handful of dust which he threw over the sore. This gave me the trouble of +explaining matters again, and by pointing to the water, I believe I at +length made him understand me. + +DRY CHANNEL OF THE RIVER. + +These good natured people asked us where we had slept the day we passed, +and when informed of the direction, shook their heads, motioning at the +same time, that we must have been without water. We informed them where +the party was, and asked them to come and see us, but I fancy the distance +was too great, or else we were in the beat of another tribe. On mentioning +these facts to the men, they said that two of the natives had followed us +for some miles, calling out loudly to us, but Mr. Hume and I both being in +front, we did not hear them, although, evidently, they wished to save us +distress. + +Since the result of our excursion proved that the channel, about which I +had been so doubtful, was the Castlereagh, it necessarily followed, that +the creek at which we were encamped was one of those (most probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds,) which we had already crossed nearer its +source, and which Mr. Hume must have struck upon when endeavouring to gain +the Castlereagh from the marshes of the Macquarie. + +A perusal of these sheets will ere this have impressed on the reader's +mind, the peculiarity of that fortune which led us from the Castlereagh to +the creek, at which alone our wants could have been supplied. Had we +wandered down the river, as we undoubtedly should have done had we +recognised it as such, the loss of many of our animals would have been the +inevitable consequence, and very probably a final issue would have been +put to our journey. It is only to those who are placed in situations that +baffle their own exertions or foresight, that the singular guidance of +Providence becomes fully apparent. + +NATIVES PERISHING FROM FAMINE. + +It would appear that the natives were dying fast, not from any disease, +but from the scarcity of food; and, should the drought continue, it seemed +probable they may became extinct. + +The men found the body of a woman covered with leaves near the tents, and +very properly buried it. We made Friday a day of rest for ourselves, as +indeed was necessary; and on the following morning proceeded down the +river, and encamped on a high bank above it, at the base of which, our +cattle both fed and watered. + +At this spot one of the largest gum-trees I had ever seen had fallen, +having died for want of moisture; indeed, the state of the vegetable +kingdom was such as to threaten its total extinction, unless a change of +seasons should take place. + +It may be worthy of remark that, from our first arrival on the banks of +the Castlereagh, to our arrival at the present camp, we never picked up a +stone, or a pebble, in its bed. + +JUNCTION OF THE CASTLEREAGH WITH THE DARLING. + +In the hope that we should fall on some detached pond, we pursued our +journey on the 29th. The Castlereagh gave singular proofs of its violence, +as if its waters, confined in the valley, had a difficulty in escaping +from it. We had not travelled two miles, when in crossing, as we imagined, +one of its bights, we found ourselves checked by a broad river. A single +glimpse of it was sufficient to tell us it was the Darling. At a distance +of more than ninety miles nearer its source, this singular river still +preserved its character, so strikingly, that it was impossible not to have +recognised it in a moment. The same steep banks and lofty timber, the same +deep reaches, alive with fish, were here visible as when we left it. +A hope naturally arose to our minds, that if it was unchanged in other +respects, it might have lost the saltness that rendered its waters unfit +for use; but in this we were disappointed--even its waters continued the +same. As it was impossible for us to cross the Darling, I determined on +falling back upon our last encampment, which was at a most Convenient +distance, and of concerting measures there for our future movements. Prior +to doing so, however, I rode to the junction of the Castlereagh with +the Darling, accompanied by Mr. Hume, a distance of about half a mile. +Upon the point formed by the two streams, there were a number of huts, +and on the opposite bank of the Darling, about twenty natives had +collected. We called out to them, but they would not join us. + +At the junction, the Castlereagh, with whatever impetuosity it rushes from +its confinement, makes not apparently the least impression on the Darling +River. The latter seemed to loll on, totally heedless of such a tributary. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +On our return to the party, we found them surrounded by the natives, who +were looking with an eye of wonder on the cattle and horses. We pointed +out to them the direction in which we were going, and invited them to +visit us; and nothing appeared to astonish them so much as the management +of the team by a single man. We got back to our position early, and again +fixed ourselves upon it. + +It now only remained for us to consider what we should do under +circumstances of certainly more than ordinary perplexity. We had nothing +to hope for from travelling in a southerly direction, while to the E. and +N.E., the state of the country was worse than that by which we had +penetrated to the Darling. It was evident, that the large creeks joining +the Castlereagh in that direction were dry, since the natives not only +intimated this to us, but it was unquestionable that they themselves had +deserted them, and had crowded to such places as still contained a supply +of water. Even in retreating, we could not hope to retrace our steps. +Experience had proved to us, that the dry state of the interior was as +injurious to the movements of an expedition as a too wet season would have +been. Taking everything, therefore, into consideration, I determined on +leaving the party stationary, and on crossing the Darling to the N.W., +and, if any encouraging feature presented itself, to return for the party, +and persevere in an examination of the distant interior. Such, at least, +appeared to me the most judicious plan: indeed, an attempt to have moved +in any other direction would have been fruitless. And, as the result of +this journey would be decisive, and would either fix or determine our +advance or retreat, I was anxious for Mr. Hume's attendance. + +The natives followed to the camp, and in the course of the afternoon, were +joined by their women. The latter however, would not approach nearer than +the top of a little hillock on which they sat. The men did not come round +the tents, but stood in a row at a short distance. At sunset, they gained +a little courage, and wandered about a little more; at length they went +off to the Darling. + +HONESTY OF A NATIVE. + +It was quite dark, when I heard a native call from the hill on which the +women had been, and I desired Hopkinson to take his firelock and ascertain +what the man wanted. He soon after returned, and brought a blanket, which +he said the man had returned to him. The native was alone, and when he +offered the blanket, kept his spear poised in his right hand; but, seeing +that no violence was intended him, he lowered his weapon, and walked away. + +REWARD THE MAN FOR HIS CONDUCT. + +I was extremely pleased at this trait of honesty, and determined to reward +it. On inquiry, I found that the men had availed themselves of the day to +wash their blankets and that one of them had been flung over a bush +hanging over the bank of the river, and it was supposed that one of the +natives must have pulled it down with him. In the morning, the tribe went +away from their encampment before day-light as we judged from the cry of +their dogs, than which nothing could be more melancholy; but about eight, +the men made their appearance on the hill occupied by the women the +evening previously, and seemed to be doubtful whether to approach nearer. +I went out to them, and, with a downward motion of my hand, beckoned for +them to come to me: they mistook the signal, but laid all their spears on +the ground, and it was not until after the sign had been reversed that +they stirred or moved towards me. I then got them in a row, and desired +Hopkinson to single out the man who had given him the blanket. It was, +however, with great difficulty that he recognised him, as the man stood +firm and motionless. At length, after walking two or three times along the +line, he stopped before one man, and put his hand on his shoulder, upon +which the manner of the native testified as to the correctness of his +guess. + +The blanket being produced, I explained to the savage, with Mr. Hume's +assistance, that I was highly pleased with him, and forthwith presented +him with a tomahawk and a clasp-knife. The tribe were perfectly aware of +the reason of my conduct, and all of them seemed highly delighted. + +I was happy in having such an opportunity of showing the natives of the +interior that I came among them with a determination to maintain justice +in my communication with them, and to impress them, at the same time, with +a sense of our love of it in them. That they appreciated my apparent +lenity in not calling for the defaulter, I am sure, and I feel perfectly +conscious that I should have failed in my duty had I acted otherwise than +I did. + +EFFECT OF FIRING A GUN. + +Although the natives had shown so good a disposition, as they were +numerous, I thought it as well, since I was about to leave the camp, to +show them that I had a power they little dreamt of about me. I therefore +called for my gun and fired a ball into a tree. The effect of the report +upon the natives, was truly ridiculous. Some stood and stared at me, +others fell down, and others ran away; and it was with some difficulty we +collected them again. At last, however, we did so, and, leaving them to +pick out the ball, mounted our horses and struck away for the Darling. +We crossed the river a little above where we struck it, and then proceeded +N.W. into the interior. + +EXCURSION ACROSS THE DARLING. + +It is impossible for me to describe the nature of the country over which +we passed, for the first eight miles. We rode through brushes of +polygonum, under rough-gum, without a blade of vegetation, the whole space +being subject to inundation. We then got on small plains of firmer +surface, and red soil, but these soon changed again for the former; and +at 4 p.m. we found ourselves advanced about two miles on a plain that +stretched away before us, and bounded the horizon. It was dismally brown; +a few trees only served to mark the distance. Up one of the highest I sent +Hopkinson, who reported that he could not see the end of it, and that all +around looked blank and desolate. It is a singular fact, that during the +whole day, we had not seen a drop of water or a blade of grass. + +DESOLATING EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT. + +To have stopped where we were, would, therefore, have been impossible; to +have advanced, would probably have been ruin. Had there been one favorable +circumstance to have encouraged me with the hope of success, I would have +proceeded. Had we picked up a stone as indicating our approach to high +land, I would have gone on; or had there been a break in the level of the +country, or even a change in the vegetation. But we had left all traces of +the natives far behind us; and this seemed a desert they never +entered--that not even a bird inhabited. I could not encourage a hope of +success, and, therefore, gave up the point; not from want of means, but a +conviction of the inutility of any further efforts. If there is any blame +to be attached to the measure, it is I who am in fault, but none who had +not like me traversed the interior at such a season, would believe the +state of the country over which I had wandered. During the short interval +I had been out, I had seen rivers cease to flow before me, and sheets of +water disappear; and had it not been for a merciful Providence, should, +ere reaching the Darling, have been overwhelmed by misfortune. + +I am giving no false picture of the reality. So long had the drought +continued, that the vegetable kingdom was almost annihilated, and minor +vegetation had disappeared. In the creeks, weeds had grown and withered, +and grown again; and young saplings were now rising in their beds, +nourished by the moisture that still remained; but the largest forest +trees were drooping, and many were dead. The emus, with outstretched +necks, gasping for breath, searched the channels of the rivers for water, +in vain; and the native dog, so thin that it could hardly walk, seemed to +implore some merciful hand to despatch it. How the natives subsisted it +was difficult to say, but there was no doubt of the scarcity of food +among them. + +We arrived in camp at a late hour, and having nothing to detain us longer, +prepared for our retreat in the morning. The natives had remained with the +party during the greater part of the day, and had only left them a short +time prior to our arrival, + +When examining the creek on which we had been encamped for some days, +Mr. Hume observed a small junction; and as we knew we were almost +due N. of the marshes of the Macquarie, both of us were anxious to +ascertain whence it originated. To return to Mount Harris, by retracing +our steps up the Castlereagh, would have entailed the severest distress +upon us; we the rather preferred proceeding up this creek, and taking our +chance for a supply of water. We therefore crossed Morrisset's chain of +ponds, and encamped in the angle formed by the junction of the two creeks. + +Before we left this position, we were visited by a party of natives, +twelve in number, but not of the Darling tribe. They accompanied us a +short way, and then struck off to the right. At about a mile and a half, +we crossed Mr. Hume's track, leading westerly, which still remained +observable. The creek was, no doubt, the hollow he stated that he crossed +on that excursion, and its appearance certainly justified his opinion of +it. Its bed was choked up with bulrushes or the polygonum, and its banks +were level with the country on either side, or nearly so. We passed over +extremely rich soil the whole day, on a S.W. and by W. course, though the +timber upon it was dwarfish, and principally of the rough-gum kind. + +On the 2nd of April, we stopped in order to make some repairs upon the +dray; the wheels of which had failed us. Clayton put in four new spokes, +and we heated the tyres over again, by which means we got it once more +serviceable. + +WILD MELON. + +The soil in the creek was of the richest quality, and was found to produce +a dwarf melon, having all the habits and character of the cucumber. +The fruit was not larger than a pigeon's egg, but was extremely sweet. +There were not, however, many ripe, although the runners were covered with +flowers, and had an abundance of fruit upon them. In the morning, we sent +the tinker on horseback up the creek, to ascertain how far the next water +was from us, desiring him to keep the creek upon his right, and to follow +his own track back again. He thought fit, however, considering himself +a good bushman, to wander away to his left, and the consequence was, that +he soon lost himself. It would appear that he doubled and passed through +some thick brush at the back of the camp, and at length found himself at +dark on the banks of a considerable creek. In wandering along it, he +luckily struck upon the natives we had last seen, who, good-naturedly, led +him to the track of the dray, which his horse would not afterwards desert, +and the tinker sneaked into the tent about 3 o'clock in the morning, +having failed in his errand, and made himself the butt of the whole party. + +RETURN UP THE CREEK. + +The day succeeding this adventure, we moved up the creek, which was, for +the most part, even with the plain. The country continued the same as that +we had passed over from the junction, being subject to flood, and having +patches of bulrushes and reeds upon it. No change took place in the +timber, but the line of acacia pendula, which forms the line of +inundation, approached neater to us; nor was the mark of flood so high on +the trunks of trees as below. We halted, with abominable water, but +excellent food for the animals in the plains behind us. In continuing our +journey, we found several changes take place in the appearance of the +creek and its neighbourhood. The former diminished in size, and at length +separated into two distinct channels, choked up, for the most part, with +dead bulrushes, but having a few green reeds in patches along it. The +flats on either side became slightly timbered, and blue gum was the +prevailing tree. Crossing one of the channels, we observed every +appearance of our near approach to the marshes, the flats being +intersected by many little water-runs, such as we had noticed at the +bottom of them. About noon we struck upon a body of reeds under the wood +of eucalypti, below the second great morass, and keeping a little to our +right to avoid them, fell shortly afterwards into our old track on the +plain, upon which we continued to move, making the best of our way to the +channel which had supplied our wants on our first return from the Darling. +It was now, however, quite dry, and we were obliged to push on further, +to shorten the journey of the morrow. + +CONNECTION OF MACQUARIE AND DARLING. + +The result of our journey up the creek was particularly satisfactory, both +to myself and Mr. Hume; since it cleared up every doubt that might have +existed regarding the actual termination of the Macquarie, and enabled us +to connect the flow of waters at so interesting and particular a point. +It will be seen by a reference to the chart, that the waters of the +marshes, after trickling through the reeds, form a small creek, which +carries off the superfluous part of them into Morrisset's chain of ponds, +which latter again falls into the Castlereagh, at about eight miles to the +W.N.W. and all three join the Darling in a W. by N. direction, in lat. +30 degrees 52 minutes south and E. lon. 147 degrees 8 minutes at about +90 miles to the N.N.W. of Mount Harris, and about an equal distance to +the E.S.E. of where we struck upon the last-mentioned river. Thus it +is evident that the Darling had considerably neared the eastern ranges, +although it was still more than 150 miles from their base. It was +apparently coming from the N.E., and whether it has its sources in the +mountains behind our distant settlements, or still farther to the +northwards, is a question of curious speculation, although, as I have +already stated, I am of opinion that none but tropical rains could +supply the furious torrent that must sometimes rage in it. + +It would be presumptuous to hazard any opinion as to the nature of the +interior to the westward of that remarkable river. Its course is involved +in equal mystery, and it is a matter of equal doubt whether it makes its +way to the south coast, or ultimately exhausts itself in feeding a +succession of swamps, or falls into a large reservoir in the centre of +the island. + +RETURN TO MOUNT HARRIS. + +We reached Mount Harris on the 7th of the month, and moving leisurely up +the banks of the Macquarie, gained Mr. Palmer's first station on the 14th, +and Wellington Valley on the 21st, having been absent from that settlement +four months and two weeks. The waters of the Macquarie had diminished so +much, that its bed was dry for more than half a mile at a stretch, nor did +we observe the least appearance of a current in it, until after we had +ascended the ranges. The lower tribes were actually starving, and brought +their children to us to implore something to eat. The men attempted to +surprise the camp, but I believe they were urged from absolute necessity +to procure subsistence for themselves, and that they intended robbery +rather than personal violence. + +DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. + +We left the interior in a still more deplorable state than that in which +we found it; but it is more than probable that under other circumstances, +we should have found it impossible to traverse its distant plains, as it +is certain that unless rain fell in less than three weeks, all +communication with the Darling would have been cut off: + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + +RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Whether the discoveries that have been made during this expedition, will +ultimately prove of advantage to the colony of New South Wales, is a +question that time alone can answer. We have in the meanwhile to regret +that no beneficial consequences will immediately follow them. The further +knowledge that has been gained of the interior is but as a gleam of +sunshine over an extensive landscape. A stronger light has fallen upon the +nearer ground, but the distant horizon is still enveloped in clouds. The +veil has only as it were been withdrawn from the marshes of the Macquarie +to be spread over the channel of the Darling. Unsatisfactory, however, as +the discoveries may as yet be considered in a commercial point of view, +the objects for which the expedition had been fitted out were happily +attained. The marsh it had been directed to examine, was traversed on +every side, and the rivers it had been ordered to trace, were followed +down to their terminations to a distance far beyond where they had ceased +to exist as living streams. To many who may cast their eyes over the +accompanying chart, the extent of newly discovered country may appear +trifling; but when they are told, that there is not a mile of that +ground that was not traversed over and over again, either by Mr. Hume or +by myself, that we wandered over upwards of 600 miles more than the main +body of the expedition, on different occasions, in our constant and +anxious search for water, and that we seldom dismounted from our horses, +until long after sunset, they will acknowledge the difficulties with which +we had to contend, and will make a generous allowance for them; for, +however unsuccessful in some respects the expedition may have been, it +accomplished as much, it is to be hoped, as under such trying +circumstances could have been accomplished. It now only remains for me to +sum up the result of my own observations, and to point out to the reader, +how far the actual state of the interior, has been found to correspond +with the opinions that were entertained of it. + +MR. OXLEY'S REMARKS. + +I have already stated, in the introduction to this work, that the general +impression on the minds of those best qualified to judge was, that the +western streams discharged themselves into a central shoal sea. Mr. Oxley +thus expresses himself on the subject:-- + + +"July 3rd. Towards morning the storm abated, and at day-light, we +proceeded on our voyage. The main bed of the river was much contracted, +but very deep; the waters spreading to the depth of a foot or eighteen +inches over the banks, but all running on the same point of bearing. We +met with considerable interruptions from fallen timber, which in places +nearly choked up the channel. After going about twenty miles, we lost the +land and trees; the channel of the river, which lay through reeds, and was +from one to three feet deep, ran northerly.--This continued for three or +four miles farther, when, although there had been no previous change in +the breadth, depth, or rapidity of the stream for several miles, and I was +sanguine in my expectations of soon entering the long-sought-for +Australian sea, it all at once eluded our farther pursuit, by spreading on +every point from N.W. to N.E. among the ocean of reeds which surrounded +us, still running with the same rapidity as before. There was no channel +whatever among those reeds, and the depth varied from three to five feet. +This astonishing change (for I cannot call it a termination of the river) +of course left me no alternative but to endeavour to return to some spot +on which we could effect a landing before dark. I estimated, that during +the day, we had gone about twenty-four miles, on nearly the same point of +bearing as yesterday. To assert, positively, that we were on the margin of +the lake, or sea, into which this great body of water is discharged, might +reasonably be deemed a conclusion, which has nothing but conjecture for +its basis. But if an opinion may be permitted to be hazarded from actual +appearances, mine is decidedly in favour of our being in the immediate +vicinity of an inland sea, or lake, most probably a shoal one, and +gradually filling up by numerous depositions from the high lands, left by +the waters which flow into it. It is most singular, that the high lands on +this continent seem to be confined to the sea-coast, and not to extend to +any distance from it." + +MR. CUNNINGHAM'S REMARKS. + +In a work published at Sydney, containing an account of Mr. Allan +Cunningham's journey towards Moreton Bay, in 1828, the following remarks +occur, from which it is evident Mr. Cunningham entertained Mr. Oxley's +views of the character and nature of the Western interior. Towards the +conclusion of the narrative, the author thus observes:-- + + +"Of the probable character of the distant unexplored interior, into which +it has been ascertained ALL the rivers falling westerly from the dividing +ranges flow, some inference may be drawn from the following data. + +"Viewing, between the parallels of 34 degrees and 27 degrees, a vast area +of depressed interior, subjected in seasons of prolonged rains to partial +inundation, by a dispersion of the several waters that flow upon it from +the eastern mountains whence they originate; and bearing in mind at the +same time, that the declension of the country within the above parallels, +as most decidedly shown by the dip of its several rivers, is uniformly +to the N.N.W. and N.W., it would appear very conclusive, that either a +portion of our distant interior is occupied by a lake of considerable +magnitude, or that the confluence of those large streams, the Macquarie, +Castlereagh, Gwydir, and the Dumaresq, with the many minor interfluent +waters, which doubtless takes place upon those low levels, forms one +or more noble rivers, which may flow across the continent by an almost +imperceptible declivity of country to the north of north-west coasts, on +certain parts of which, recent surveys have discovered to us extensive +openings, by which the largest accumulations of waters might escape to the +sea." + +CHARACTER OF THE RIVERS. + +It is the characteristic of the streams falling westerly from the eastern, +or coast ranges, to maintain a breadth of channel and a rapidity of +current more immediately near their sources, that ill accords with their +diminished size, and the sluggish flow of their waters in the more +depressed interior. In truth, neither the Macquarie nor the Castlereagh +can strictly be considered as permanent rivers. The last particularly is +nothing more than a mountain torrent. The Macquarie, although it at length +ceased to run, kept up the appearance of a river to the very marshes; but +the bed of the Castlereagh might have been crossed in many places without +being noticed, nor did its channel contain so much water as was to be +found on the neighbouring plains. + +There are two circumstances upon which the magnitude, and velocity of a +river, more immediately depend. The first is the abundance of its sources, +the other the dip of its bed. If a stream has constant fountains at its +head, and numerous tributaries joining it in its course, and flows withal +through a country of gradual descent, such a stream will never fail; but +if the supplies do not exceed the evaporation and absorption, to which +every river is subject, if a river dependant on its head alone, falls +rapidly into a level country, without receiving a single addition to its +waters to assist the first impulse acquired in their descent, it must +necessarily cease to flow at one point or other. Such is the case with the +Lachlan, the Macquarie, the Castlereagh, and the Darling. Whence the +latter originates, still remains to be ascertained; but most undoubtedly +its sources have been influenced by the same drought that has exhausted +the fountains of the three first mentioned streams. + +In supporting his opinion of the probable discharge of the interior waters +of Australia upon its north-west coast, Mr. Cunningham thus remarks in the +publication from which I have already made an extract. + + +"To those remarkable parts of the north-west coast above referred to in +the parallel of 16 degrees south, the Macquarie river, which rises in +lat. 33 degrees, and under the meridian of 150 degrees east, would have a +course of 2045 statute miles throughout, while the elevation of its +source, being 3500 feet above the level of the sea as shown by the +barometer, would give its waters an average descent of twenty inches to +the mile, supposing the bed of the river to be an inclined plane. + +"The Gwydir originating in elevated land, lying in 31 degrees south, and +long. 151 degrees east, at a mean height of 3000 feet, would have to flow +2020 miles, its elevated sources giving to each a mean fall of seventeen +inches. + +"Dumaresq's river falling 2970 feet from granite mountains, in 28 1/4 +degrees under the meridian of 152 degrees, would have to pursue its course +for 2969 miles, its average fall being eighteen inches to a mile." + +As I have never been upon the banks either of the Gwydir or the Dumaresq, +I cannot speak of those two rivers; but in estimating the sources of the +Macquarie at 3500 feet above the level of the sea, Mr. Cunningham has lost +sight of, or overlooked the fact, that the fall of its bed in the first +two hundred miles, is more than 2800 feet, since the cataract, which is +midway between Wellington Valley and the marshes, was ascertained by +barometrical admeasurement, to be 680 feet only above the ocean. The +country, therefore, through which the Macquarie would have to flow during +the remainder of its course of 1700 miles, in order to gain the +N.W. coast, would not be a gradually inclined plain, but for the most part +a dead level, and the fact of its failure is a sufficient proof in itself +how short the course of a river so circumstanced must necessarily be. + +MR. OXLEY'S OPINIONS. + +Having conversed frequently with Mr. Oxley on the subject of his +expeditions, I went into the interior prepossessed in favour of his +opinions, nor do I think he could have drawn any other conclusion than +that which he did, from his experience of the terminations of the rivers +whose courses he explored. Had Mr. Oxley advanced forty, or even thirty +miles, farther than he did, to the westward of Mount Harris; nay, had he +proceeded eight miles in the above direction beyond the actual spot from +which he turned back, he would have formed other and very different +opinions of the probable character of the distant interior. But I am aware +that Mr. Oxley performed all that enterprise, and perseverance, and talent +could have performed, and that it would have been impracticable in him to +have attempted to force its marshes in the state in which he found them. +It was from his want of knowledge of their nature and extent, that he +inferred the swampy and inhospitable character of the more remote country, +a state in which subsequent investigation has found it not to be. The +marsh of the Macquarie is nothing more than an ordinary marsh or swamp in +another country. However large a space it covers, it is no more than a +concavity or basin for the reception of the waters of the river itself, +nor has it any influence whatever on the country to the westward of it, +in respect to inundation; the general features of the latter being a +regular alternation of plain and brush. These facts are in themselves +sufficient to give a fresh interest to the interior of the Australian +continent, and to increase its importance. + +CAPT. KING'S OPINIONS. + +With respect to that part of its coast at which the rivers falling from +the eastern mountains, discharge themselves, it is a question of very +great doubt. It seems that Capt. King, in consequence of some +peculiarities in the currents at its N.W. angle, supports Mr. Cunningham's +opinion as to their probable discharge in that quarter. But I fear the +internal structure of the continent is so low, as to preclude the hopes of +any river reaching from one extremity of it to the other. A variety of +local circumstances, as the contraction of a channel, a shoal sea, or +numerous islands, influence currents generally, but more especially round +so extensive a continent as that of which we are treating; nor does it +strike me that any observations made by Capt. King during his survey, can +be held to bear any connection with the eastern ranges, or their western +waters. It may, however, be said, that as the course of the Darling is +still involved in uncertainty, the question remains undecided; but it +appears to me, the discovery of that river has set aside every conjecture +(founded on previous observation) respecting the main features of the +interior lying to the westward of the Blue Mountains. Both Mr. Oxley and +Mr. Cunningham drew their conclusions from the appearances of the country +they severally explored. The ground on which those theories were built, +has been travelled over, and has not been found to realise them, but +subsequent investigation has discovered to us a river, the dip of whose +bed is to the S.W. We have every reason to believe that the sources of +this river must be far to the northward of the most distant northerly +point to which any survey has been made, as we are certain that it is far +beyond the stretch of vision from the loftiest and most westerly of the +barrier ranges; from which circumstance, it is evident that whatever +disposition the streams descending from those ranges to the westward may +show to hold a N.W. course more immediately at the base, the whole of the +interior streams, from the Macquarie to the Dumaresq, are tributaries to +the principal channel which conveys their united waters at right angles, +if not still more opposite to the direction they were supposed to take, +as far as is yet known. + +COURSE OF THE DARLING. + +The Darling River must be considered as the boundary line to all inland +discoveries from the eastward. Any judgment or opinion of the interior to +the westward of that stream, would be extremely premature and uncertain. +There is not a single feature over it to guide or to strengthen either the +one or the other. + +CHARACTER OF THE WESTERN INTERIOR. + +My impression, when travelling the country to the west and N.W. of the +marshes of the Macquarie, was, that I was traversing a country of +comparatively recent formation. The sandy nature of its soil, the great +want of vegetable decay, the salsolaceous character of its plants, the +appearance of its isolated hills and flooded tracts, and its trifling +elevations above the sea, severally contributed to strengthen these +impressions on my mind. My knowledge of the interior is, however, too +limited to justify me in any conclusion with regard to the central parts +of Australia. An ample field is open to enterprise and to ambition, and it +is to be hoped that some more decisive measures will be carried into +effect, both for the sake of the colony and of geography, to fill up the +blank upon the face of the chart of Australia, and remove from us the +reproach of indifference and inaction. + +BARBER'S STATEMENT. + +Since the above pages were written, an expedition was undertaken by +Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, to ascertain the truth of a report +brought in by a runaway convict of the name of Barber, or Clarke, who had +been at large for five years, at different times, among the natives to +the northward of Port Macquarie. This man stated that a large river, +originating in the high lands near Liverpool Plains, and the mountains to +the north of them, pursued a N.W. course to the sea. His story ran thus: +Having learnt from the natives the existence of this river, he determined +to follow it down, in hopes that he might ultimately be enabled to make +his escape from the colony. He accordingly started from Liverpool Plains, +and kept on a river called the Gnamoi, for some time, which took him N.W. +After a few days' journey, he left this river, traversed the country +northwards, and crossed some lofty ranges. Descending to the N.E. he came +to another large river, the Keindur, which again took him N.W. He +travelled 400 miles down it, when he observed a large stream joining it +upon its left bank, which he supposed to be the Gnamoi. The river he was +upon was broad and navigable. It flowed through a level country with a +dead current and muddy water, and spread into frequent lakes. He found +that it ultimately discharged itself into the sea, but was uncertain at +what distance from its sources. He was positive he never travelled to the +SOUTHWARD OF WEST. He ascended a hill near the sea, and observed an island +in the distance, from which, the natives informed him, a race of +light-coloured men came in large canoes for a scented wood; but having +failed in the immediate object of his journey, he was eventually obliged +to return. + +MAJOR MITCHELL'S REPORT. + +The following official report of Major Mitchell will sufficiently point +out the incorrectness of the preceding statement. It is most probable that +Barber merely told that which he had heard from the natives, and that +having a more than ordinary share of cunning, he made up a story upon +their vague and uncertain accounts, in hopes that it would benefit him, +as in truth it did. + + +* * * * * + + +Bullabalakit, on the River Nammoy, +in lat. 30 degrees 38 minutes 21 seconds S., +long. 149 degrees 30 minutes 20 seconds E. +23d December, 1831. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, the progress I have made in exploring the course of the interior +waters to the northward of the Colony, with reference to the letter which +I had the honour to address to Col. Lindesay, on this subject, on the +19th ult. + +On crossing Liverpool Range my object was to proceed northward, so as to +avoid the plains and head the streams which water them, and avoiding also +the mountain ranges on the east. + +I arrived accordingly, by a tolerably straight and level line, at +Walamoul, on Peel's River; this place (a cattle station of Mr. Brown) +being nearly due north from the common pass across Liverpool Range, and +about a mile-and-a-half above the spot where Mr. Oxley crossed this +river. + +PEEL'S RIVER. + +I found the general course of the Peel below Walamoul to be nearly west; +and after tracing this river downwards twenty-two miles (in direct +distance), I crossed it at an excellent ford, named Wallamburra. I then +traversed the extensive plain of Mulluba; and leaving that of Coonil on +the right, extending far to the north-east, we passed through a favourable +interval of what I considered Hardwicke's Range, the general direction of +this range being two points west of north. + +On passing through this gorge, which, from the name of a hill on the south +side, may be named Ydire, I crossed a very extensive tract of flat +country, on which the wood consisted of iron-bark and acacia pendula; this +tract being part of a valley evidently declining to the north-west, which +is bounded on the south by the Liverpool Range, and on the south-west by +the extremities from the same. On the west, at a distance of twenty-two +miles from Hardwicke's Range, there stands a remarkable isolated hill +named Bounalla; and towards the lowest part of the country, and in the +direction in which all the waters tend, there is a rocky peak named +Tangulda. On the north, a low range (named Wowa), branching westerly from +Hardwicke's Range, bounds on that side this extensive basin, which +includes Liverpool Plains. Peel's River is the principal stream, and +receives, in its course, all the waters of these plains below the junction +of Connadilly,--which I take to be York's River, of Oxley. + +THE RIVER NAMMOY. + +The stream is well known to the natives by the name Nammoy; and six miles +below Tangulda, the low extremities from the surrounding ranges close on +the river, and separate this extensive vale from the unexplored country +which extends beyond to an horizon which is unbroken between W.N.W. +and N.N.W. + + +The impracticable appearance of the mountains to the northward, induced me +to proceed thus far to the west; and on examining the country thirty miles +N.E. by N. from Tangulda, I ascended a lofty range extending westward from +the coast chain, and on which the perpendicular sides of masses of +trachyte (a volcanic rock) were opposed to my further progress even with +horses: it was therefore evident that the river supposed to rise about the +latitude of 28 degrees would not be accessible, or at least available to +the Colony, in that direction, and that in the event of the discovery of a +river beyond that range flowing to the northern or north-western shores, +it would become of importance to ascertain whether it was joined by the +Nammoy, the head of this river being so accessible that I have brought my +heavily laden drays to where it is navigable for boats, my present +encampment being on its banks six miles below Tangulda. From this station +I can perceive the western termination of the Trachytic range, and I am +now about to explore the country between it and the Nammoy, and the +further course of this river; and in the event of its continuance in a +favourable direction, I shall fix my depot on its right bank, whence I now +write, and descend the stream in the portable boats. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL + +The Hon. The Colonial Secretary. + + +* * * * * + + +Peel's River, 29th February, 1832. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to inform you, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, that I have reached the left bank of this River with my whole +party on my return from the northern interior, having explored the course +of the river referred to in my letter of 22nd December last, and others +within the 29th parallel of latitude. + +There was so much fallen timber in the Nammoy, and its waters were so low, +that the portable boats could not be used on that river with advantage, +and I proceeded by land in a north-west direction, until convinced by its +course turning more to the westward that this river joined the river +Darling. I therefore quitted its banks with the intention of exploring the +country further northward, by moving round the western extremities of the +mountains mentioned in my former letter, and which I have since +distinguished in my map by the name of the Lindesay Range. These mountains +terminate abruptly on the west, and I entered a fine open country at their +base, from whence plains (or rather open ground of gentle undulation) +extended westward as far as could be seen. On turning these mountains I +directed my course northward, and to the eastward of north, into the +country beyond them, in search of the river KINDUR; and I reached a river +flowing westward, the bed of which was deep, broad, and permanent, but in +which there was not then much water. + +THE RIVER KARAULA. + +The marks of inundation on trees, and on the adjoining high ground, proved +that its floods rose to an extraordinary height; and from the latitude, +and also from the general direction of its course, I considered this to be +the river which Mr. Cunningham named the Gwydir, on crossing it sixty +miles higher, on his route to Moreton Bay. I descended this river, and +explored the country on its left bank for about eighty miles to the +westward, when I found that its general course was somewhat to the +southward of west. This river received no addition from the mountains over +that part of its left bank traversed by me; and the heat being intense, +the stream was at length so reduced that I could step across it. The banks +had become low, and the bed much contracted, being no longer gravelly, but +muddy. I therefore crossed this river and travelled northward, on a +meridian line, until, in the latitude of 29 degrees 2 minutes, I came upon +the largest river I had yet seen. The banks were earthy and broken, the +soil being loose, and the water of a white muddy colour. Trees, washed out +by the roots from the soft soil, filled the bed of this river in many +places. There was abundance of cod-fish of a small size, as well as of the +two other kinds of fish which we had caught in the Peel, the Nammoy, and +the Gwydir. The name of this river, as well as we could make it out from +the natives, was Karaula. Having made fast one tree to top of another tall +tree, I obtained a view of the horizon, which appeared perfectly level, +and I was in hopes that we had at length found a river which would flow to +the northward and avoid the Darling. I accordingly ordered the boat to be +put together, and sent Mr. White with a party some miles down to clear +away any trees in the way. Mr. White came upon a rocky fall, and found +besides the channel so much obstructed by trees, and the course so +tortuous, that I determined to ascertain before embarking upon it, whether +the general course was in the desired direction. Leaving Mr. White with +half the party, I accordingly traced the Karaula downwards, and found that +its course changed to south, a few miles below where I had made it, and +that it was joined by the Gwydir only eight miles below where I had +crossed that river. Immediately below the junction of the Gwydir (which is +in latitude 29 degrees 30 minutes 27 seconds, longitude 148 degrees +13 minutes 20 seconds) the course of the river continues southward of +west, directly towards where Captain Sturt discovered the River Darling; +and I could no longer doubt that this was the same river. I therefore +returned to the party, determined to explore the country further +northward. + +The results of my progress thus far were sufficient, I considered, to +prove that the division of the waters falling towards the northern and +southern shores of Australia is not, as has been supposed, in the +direction of the Liverpool and Warrabangle range, but extends between Cape +Byron on the eastern shore, towards Dick Hartog's Island on the west; the +greater elongation of this country being between these points, and +intermediate between the lines of its northern and southern coasts. The +basin of the streams I have been upon must be bounded on the north by this +dividing ground or water-shed, and although no rise was perceptible in the +northern horizon, the river was traversed by several rocky dykes, over +which it fell southward; their direction being oblique to the course, and +nearly parallel to this division of the waters. I beg leave to state, that +I should not feel certain on this point without having seen more, were it +not evident from Mr. Cunningham's observations, made on crossing this +division on his way to Moreton Bay. Mr. Cunningham, on crossing the head +of this river, nearly in the same latitude, but much nearer its sources, +found the height of its bed above the sea to be 840 feet; at about +forty-five miles further northward the ground rose to upwards of +1700 feet, but immediately beyond, he reached a river flowing north-west, +the height of which was only 1400 feet above the sea. He had thus crossed +this dividing higher ground, between the parallels of 29 degrees +and 28 degrees. It appears, therefore, that all the interior rivers we +know of to the northward of the Morumbidgee, belong to the basin of the +Karaula; this stream flowing southward, and hence the disappearance of the +Macquarie and other lower rivers may be understood, for all along the +banks of the Karaula, the Gwydir, and the Nammoy, the country, though not +swampy, bears marks of frequent inundation; thus the floods occasioned by +these rivers united, cover the low country, and receive the Macquarie so +that no channel marks its further course. + +That a basin may be found to the northward receiving the waters of the +northern part of the coast range in a similar manner is extremely +probable, and that they form a better river, because the angle is more +acute between the high ground, which must bound it on the N.E. and the +watershed on the south. I therefore prepared to cross the Karaula, in +hopes of seeing the head at least of such a river, and to explore the +country two degrees further northward, but moving in a N.W. direction. +My tent was struck, and I had just launched my portable boat for the +purpose of crossing the river, when Mr. Surveyor Finch, whom I had +instructed to bring up a supply of flour, arrived with the distressing +intelligence, that two of his men had been killed by the natives, who had +taken the flour, and were in possession of everything he had brought--all +the cattle, including his horse, being also dispersed or lost. I therefore +determined not to extend my excursion further, as the party were already +on reduced rations, and on the 8th instant I retired from the Karaula, +returning by the marked line, which being cut through thick scrubs in +various places is now open, forming a tolerably direct line of +communication in a N.W. direction from Sydney, to a river, beyond which +the survey may be extended whenever His Excellency the Governor thinks +fit. + +The natives had never troubled my party on our advance; indeed I only saw +them when I came upon them by surprise, and then they always ran off. +Their first visit was received at my camp on the Karaula, during my +absence down that river, when they were very friendly, but much disposed +to steal. Various tribes followed us on coming back, but never with any +show of hostility, although moving in tribes of a hundred or more parallel +to our marked line, or in our rear; it was necessary to be ever on our +guard, and to encamp in strong positions only, arranging the drays for +defence during the night: three men were always under arms, and I have +much pleasure in stating, that throughout the whole excursion, and under +circumstances of hardship and privation, the conduct of the men was very +good. I took an armed party to the scene of pillage, and buried the bodies +of the two men, who appeared to have been treacherously murdered while +asleep by the blacks during the absence of Mr. Finch: no natives were to +be found when I visited the spot, although it appeared from columns of +smoke on hills which overlooked if, that they were watching our movements. + +The party has now arrived within a day's journey of Brown's station, +and I have instructed Assistant-Surveyor White (from whom I have received +great assistance during the whole journey) to conduct it homewards, being +desirous to proceed without delay to Sydney, and to receive the +instructions of His Excellency the Governor. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient Servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, +"&c. &c. &c." + + + + +Chapter VI. + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS + + +Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior of Australia-- +Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady intelligent +subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men requisite,--and of +cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements--Treatment of the +natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second expedition. + + +Having now had considerable experience in the fitting out and management +of expeditions in New South Wales, I cannot refrain from making some few +observations on the subject. And without presuming to lay dawn any fixed +rules, I shall only refer to those by which I have best succeeded, in +hopes that some of my remarks may prove of use to future travellers who +may venture to penetrate into the trackless deserts over so small a +portion of which I wandered. + +DIFFICULTIES OF EXPLORING AUSTRALIA. + +The great difficulty of examining the interior of Australia, is that of +carrying supplies; for increasing the number of individuals composing an +expedition is of no avail, since an additional number of men must +necessarily increase the consumption of food. In order to meet this +difficulty it has been proposed to establish depots upon which an +expedition could fall back to recruit its supplies, and in ordinary cases +this plan might answer; but I am decidedly of opinion that no party could +long remain stationary in the distant interior without some fatal +collision with the natives, which would be attended with the most +deplorable consequences; and I do think, considering all things, that the +experiment is too dangerous to be tried; for when I reached Mount Harris, +on my first retreat from the Darling, I found the party who were awaiting +me, with a supply of provisions, under very great alarm, in consequence of +the hostile proceedings of the Mount Harris tribe. The men had been +obliged to put the camp into a state of defence. The blacks had attempted +to surprise them, and would, had I not returned, have combined in some +general attack. It appears to me that the most judicious plan would be to +send a supply of provisions, with an expedition, to a distant point, under +the charge of a minor party. These provisions could replace those already +expended, and the animals that carried them could be taken back. + +SELECTION OF SUBORDINATES. + +The number of individuals of which the expedition down the banks of the +Macquarie was composed, was fourteen: that is to say, myself, Mr. Hume, +two soldiers, one free man, and seven prisoners of the crown. The latter +behaved, on all occasions, as steadily as it was possible for men to do. +Yet the circumstance of the two soldiers being with me increased my +confidence in the whole, for I was aware that their example would +influence the rest. However well disposed the prisoners of the crown may +be, (as in this instance they certainly were,) the beneficial example of +steady discipline cannot be denied. I should not have considered myself +justified in leaving the camp as I did for a week, and in detaching Mr. +Hume at the same time when at the bottom of the marshes, or in making the +last effort to maintain our position on the banks of the Darling, if I had +not reposed every confidence in the man to whom I entrusted the safety +of the camp during my absence. + +Experience, therefore, of the value of the two soldiers, whom General +Darling was good enough to permit me to take on the strength of the party, +fully bears me out in recommending that one man, at least, of general +responsibility shall be attached to all future expeditions. The success of +an expedition depends so much on the conduct of the persons of whom it is +composed, that too much attention cannot be given to the selection even of +the most subordinate. Men of active intelligent minds, of persevering +habits, and of even temper, should be preferred to mechanics who do not +possess these most requisite qualities. On the other hand, it is +impossible to do without a good carpenter, however defective he may be in +other respects. I was indebted to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of +Wellington Valley, for some excellent men, both on my first and on my +second journey, because he understood the nature of the service for which +they were required, and the characters of those whom he recommended. +But however well selected the party, or the men rather, might be, I still +consider a man of general responsibility necessary for its complete +organisation. I would have him somewhat superior to the rest in his +station in life. Him I would hold answerable for the immediate discipline +of the camp, whilst I was present, and for its safety when absent. The +assistant to the leader I would put entirely out of the question. He +has other and most important duties to perform. I would rate this man +wholly independent of him. + +DANGER OF COLLISION WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to what I have already said with regard to the natives, it +was supposed that they were so little to be apprehended, that when I went +on the first occasion into the interior, I applied for a limited number of +men only, under an impression that with a few men I could carry provisions +equal to a consumption of a greater number, and by this means be enabled +to keep the field for a greater length of time. But I do not think it +would be safe to penetrate into the distant country with fewer than +fifteen men, for although, happily, no rupture has as yet taken place with +the natives, yet, there is no security against their treachery, and it is +very certain that a slight cause might involve an expedition in +inextricable difficulty, and oblige the leader to throw himself on the +defensive, when far away from other resources than those with which he +should have provided himself, and that, perhaps, when navigating a close +and intricate river, with all the dangers and perplexities attendant on +such a situation. It is absolutely necessary to establish nightly guards, +not only for the security of the camp, but of the cattle, and at the same +time to have a force strong enough to maintain an obstinate resistance +against any number of savages, where no mercy is to be expected. It will +be borne in mind, that there is a wide difference between penetrating into +a country in the midst of its population, and landing from ships for the +purpose of communication or traffic. Yet, how few voyages of discovery +have terminated without bloodshed! Boats while landing are covered by +their ships, and have succour within view; but not so parties that go into +unknown tracts. They must depend on their immediate resources and +individual courage alone. + +PACK-OXEN, HORSES, WHEEL-CARRIAGES. + +With regard to the animals, I should recommend an equal number of horses +as of bullocks; since it has been found that the latter, though slow, +travel better over swampy ground than horses, which, on the other hand, +are preferable for expeditious journeys, to which bullocks would never be +equal. One of the colonial pack-saddles weighs fifty pounds complete, and +is preferable to those sent out from England. This, with a load of +250 lbs. is sufficient for any animal, since it enables the men to place a +part of their provisions with the general loads. The difficulty of keeping +the backs of the animals free from injury, more especially where any +blemish has before existed, is exceedingly great. They should undergo an +examination twice a-day, that is, in the morning prior to moving off, +and in the afternoon before they are turned out to feed; and measures +should then be taken to ease them as circumstances require. I never +suffered the saddles to be removed from the backs of the animals under my +charge for twenty minutes after the termination of the journey for the +day, in order to guard against the effects of the sun; and where the least +swelling appeared the saddle was altered and the place dressed. Yet, +notwithstanding all this care and attention, several both of the horses +and bullocks were at one time in a sad condition, during the first +journey,--so much so as almost to paralyse our efforts. It would be +advisable that such animals as are entirely free from blemish should be +chosen for the service of expeditions, for, with proper management they +might he kept in order. The anxiety of mind attendant on a bad state of +the animals is really quite embarrassing, for it not only causes a delay +in the movements, but a derangement in the loads. Other animals are +overburdened, and there is no knowing where the evil will stop. + +In addition to the pack-animals, I would recommend the employment of a +dray or cart under any practicable circumstances. It serves to carry +necessary comforts, gives an expedition greater facility for securing its +collections, and is of inconceivable advantage in many other respects. + +ISSUE OF PROVISIONS. + +Constant and most earnest attention should be paid to the issue of +provisions, on the discreet management of which so much depends, and the +charge of them should be committed to the second in command. The most +important articles are flour, tea, sugar, and tobacco. All should be +husbanded with extreme care, and weighed from time to time. The flour is +best carried in canvass bags, containing 100 pounds each, and should at +the termination of each day's journey, be regularly piled up and covered +with a tarpaulin. Tea, sugar and tobacco lose considerably in weight, so +that it is necessary to estimate for somewhat more than the bare supply. +With regard to the salt meat, the best mode of conveying it appears to be +in small barrels of equal weight with the bags of flour. Salt pork is +better than beef. It should be deprived of all bones and be of the very +best quality. I have heard spirits recommended, but I do not approve their +use. Tea is much more relished by the men; indeed they could not do well +without it. A small quantity of spirits would, however, of course be +necessary in the event of its being required. + +LIVE STOCK. + +Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, an enterprising and long-established settler, who +has pushed his flocks and herds to the banks of the Morumbidgee, was good +enough to present me with eight wethers as I passed his station. It may be +some gratification to Mr. O'Brien to know, that they contributed very +materially to our comforts, and he will, perhaps, accept my +acknowledgements in this place, not only for so liberal a present to +myself, but for his attention and kindness to my men as long as they +remained in his neighbourhood. It was found that the sheep gave but little +additional trouble, requiring only to be penned at night, as much to +secure them from the native dogs as to prevent them from straying away. +They followed the other animals very quietly, and soon became accustomed +to daily movements. They proved a most available stock; no waste attended +their slaughter, and they admitted of a necessary and wholesome change of +fresh food from the general salt diet, on which the men would otherwise +have had to subsist. + +The provisions should, if possible, be issued weekly, and their diminution +should be so regulated as to give an equal relief to the animals. + +For general information i have annexed a list of the supplies I took with +me on my first expedition. It may appear long, but the articles were +packed in a small compass, and their value immaterial. + +As a precautionary measure I should advise, that one of the pack animals +be kept apart for the purpose of carrying water. Two casks of equal weight +are the best for such a purpose. In long and hot marches, the men +experience great relief from having water at hand. + +INTERCOURSE WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to the natives, I hope sufficient has been said of the manner +of communicating with them to prevent the necessity of a repetition here. +The great point is not to alarm their natural timidity: to exercise +patience in your intercourse with them; to treat them kindly; and to watch +them with suspicion, especially at night. Never permit the men to steal +away from the camp, but keep them as compact as possible; and at every +station so arrange your drays and provisions that they may serve as a +defence in case of your being attacked. + +The natives appeared to me to be indifferent to our presents, in most +cases. Tomahawks, knives, pieces of iron, and different coloured ribbons +for the forehead, were most esteemed by them. They will barter and +exchange their fish for articles, and readily acquire confidence. + +I believe I have now touched on all the more important points: on minor +ones no observation I can make will be of use; men must, in many things, +be guided by circumstances. + +* * * * * + +WHALE BOAT EMPLOYED ON THE SECOND EXPEDITION. + +I may here notice that, in my second expedition, as it was anticipated +that I should require adequate provision for water conveyance, at one +stage or other of my journey down the Morumbidgee, I was furnished with a +whale-boat, the dimensions of which are given below. She was built by +Mr. Egan, the master builder of the dock-yard and a native of the colony, +and did great credit to his judgment. She carried two tons and a half of +provisions, independently of a locker, which I appropriated for the +security of the arms, occupying the space between the after-seat and the +stern. She was in the first instance put together loosely, her planks +and timbers marked, and her ring bolts, &c. fitted. She was then taken to +pieces, carefully packed up, and thus conveyed in plank into the interior, +to a distance of four hundred and forty miles, without injury. She was +admirably adapted for the service, and rose as well as could have been +expected over the seas in the lake. It was evident, however, that she +would have been much safer if she had had another plank, for she was +undoubtedly too low. The following were her dimensions:-- + +Breadth across 7th timber aft, 5 ft. 1/2 an inch outside. +Across 12th timber, 5 ft. 11 1/4 in. +Across 17th timber forward, 5 ft. +25 ft. 8 in. in length inside. +Curve of the keel No. 1, from the after side of each apron, 3 ft. 3 3/4in. +No. 2, from head to head of the dead wood, 13 1/2 in. +No. 3, from one end of keel to the other inner side, 3 in. +No. 4, round of keel from the toe of each dead wood, 7/8 1/16th. +The timbers were marked, beginning from the stern to the bow on the +starboard side, and from bow to stern on the larboard. + + + + +APPENDIX No. I. + + + +LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. + + + +By His Excellency Lieutenant General Ralph Darling, Commanding +His Majesty's Forces, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the +Territory of New South Wales, and its dependencies, and +Vice Admiral of the same, &c. &c. &c. + +TO CHARLES STURT, ESQ. CAPTAIN IN THE 39TH REGIMENT OF FOOT. + +Whereas it has been judged expedient to fit out an expedition for the +purpose of exploring the interior of New Holland, and the present dry +season affords a reasonable prospect of an opportunity of ascertaining the +nature and extent of the large marsh or marshes which stopped the progress +of the late John Oxley Esq, Surveyor General, in following the courses of +the rivers Lachlan and Macquarie in the years 1817 and 1818. And whereas I +repose full confidence in your abilities and zeal for conducting such an +expedition, I do hereby constitute and appoint you to command and take +charge of the expedition now preparing for the purpose of exploring the +interior of the country, and for ascertaining, if practicable, the nature +and extent of the marsh or marshes above mentioned. + +In the prosecution of this service, you will be guided generally by the +following instructions. + +1. You will be accompanied on this expedition by Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose +great experience in travelling through the remote parts of the Colony, +cannot fail to be highly useful to you. You will also be attended by two +soldiers and six convicts, of whom one is to understand the shoeing of +horses, one to be a carpenter, one a harness-maker and three stock-men, +and you will be provided with six horses and twelve bullocks. + +2. A small boat has been built here for the use of the expedition, and for +its conveyance, there is provided a light four-wheeled carriage to be +drawn by two bullocks. + +The deputy Commissary General has received orders for supplying the +expedition with provisions of the best quality sufficient for six months' +consumption, together with tents, blankets, clothing, pack-saddles, +utensils, instruments, tools, and necessaries of all kinds of which you +are likely to stand in need. Orders are also given for providing you with +arms and ammunition, with rockets for signals, and an ample supply of +simple medicines--You are to consider it an important duty to attend to +the providing of all these supplies, and to take care that not only every +article is of the best quality that can be procured, but also that no +article be wanting with which you may desire to be provided. + +3. Orders are given for forwarding without delay all your provisions, +stores and supplies of every kind to Wellington Valley, at which place, +you, Mr. Hume, and all your men are to rendezvous as soon as possible. +Mr Maxwell, the superintendent, will furnish you with well-trained +bullocks, and afford you all the assistance you may require in arranging +every thing for your departure from that station. + +4. After you shall have completed all your arrangements, you are to lose +no time in finally departing from Wellington Valley in prosecution of the +immediate objects of the expedition. + +5. You are first to proceed to Mount Harris, where you are to form a +temporary depot, by means of which you will have an opportunity of more +readily communicating with Mr. Maxwell. + +6. You are then to endeavour to determine the fate of the Macquarie River, +by tracing it as far as possible beyond the point to which Mr. Oxley went, +and by pushing westward, you are to ascertain if there be any high lands +in that direction, or if the country be, as it is supposed, an unbroken +level and under water. If you should fail in these objects, you will +traverse the plains lying behind our north-west boundaries, with a view to +skirt any waters by which you may have been checked to the westward; and +if you should succeed in skirting them, you are to explore the country +westward and southward as far as possible, endeavouring to discover the +Macquarie beyond the marsh of Mr. Oxley, and following it to its mouth if +at all practicable. + +7. There is some reason to believe that the over-flowing of the Macquarie +when visited by Mr. Oxley, was occasioned by heavy rains falling in the +mountains to the eastward, and that as you are to visit the same spot at a +different season of the year, you may escape such embarrassment; but +although you should get beyond the point at which Mr. Oxley stopped, it +would not be prudent to risk your own health or that of your men, by +continuing long in a swampy country. Therefore it may be advisable for you +in the first instance to leave the greater part of your men, bullocks, and +baggage, at Mount Harris, and if you should see a probability of your +being able to cross into the interior, you will then return to Mount +Harris for such additional supplies as you may judge necessary. You can +there communicate with Mr. Maxwell respecting any ulterior arrangements +which you may be desirous of making. + +8. The success of the expedition is so desirable an object, that I cannot +too strongly impress upon you the importance of perseverance in +endeavouring to skirt any waters or marshes which may check your course as +long as you have provisions sufficient for your return; but you must be +cautious not to proceed a single day's journey further than where you find +that your provisions will be barely sufficient to enable you to reach the +nearest place at which you can depend upon getting supplies. + +9. If after every endeavour you should find it totally impracticable to get +to the westward, you are still to proceed northward, keeping as westerly a +direction as possible; and when the state of your provisions will oblige +you to retreat, you will be guided by your latitude, as to the place to +which you are to make the best of your way, but you are not to make for +any place on the coast, if Wellington valley should still be nearer. + +10. You must be aware that the success of the expedition will greatly +depend upon the time for which your provisions will hold out, and +therefore you will see the great importance of observing every possible +economy in the expenditure of provisions, and preventing waste of every +kind. + +11. You are to keep a detailed account of your proceedings in a journal, +in which all observations and occurrences of every kind, with all their +circumstances, however minute, are to be carefully noted down. You are to +be particular in describing the general face of all the country through +which you pass, the direction and shape of the mountains, whether detached +or in ranges, together with the bearings and estimated distances of the +several mountains, hills, or eminences from each other. You are likewise +to note the nature of the climate, as to heat, cold, moisture, winds, +rains, &c, and to keep a register of the temperature from Fahrenheit's +thermometer, as observed at two or three periods of each day. The rivers, +with their several branches, their direction, velocity, breadth, and +depth, are carefully to be noted. It is further expected that you will, +as far as may he in your power, attend to the animal, vegetable, and +mineral productions of the country, noting down every thing that may occur +to you, and preserving specimens as far as your means will admit, +especially some of all the ripe seeds which you may discover; when the +preservation of specimens is impossible, drawings or detailed accounts of +them, are very desirable. + +12. You will note the description of the several people whom you may meet, +the extent of the population, their means of subsistence, their genius and +disposition, the nature of their amusements, their diseases and remedies, +their objects of worship, religious ceremonies, and a vocabulary of their +language. + +Lastly. On your return from your journey, you are to cause all the +journals or other written documents belonging to, and curiosities +collected by the several individuals composing the expedition, to be +carefully sealed up with your own seal and kept in that state until you +shall have made your report to me in writing of the result of the +expedition. + +Given at Sydney, this eighteenth day of November, 1828. +By Command of His Excellency the Governor, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + + + +APPENDIX No. II. + + + +LIST OF STORES SUPPLIED FOR THE EXPEDITION. + + +List of Articles delivered from His Majesty's Stores, +in charge of D. A. C. Goodsir, to Captain Sturt, viz.-- + +1 Hack saddle. 9 Harness casks. +1 Bridle. 23 Canvas bags. +2 Tents. 4 Tin cases. +14 Pack saddles. 16 Padlocks. +14 Pair hobbles. 6 Tarpaulens. +24 Sets horse shoes. 10 Haversacks. +2000 Horse nails. 113 Fathom one-inch rope. +113 Fathoms 1 1/2 inch rope. 1 Boat compass. +1 Hammer, (Blacksmith's) 1 Telescope. +1 Paring knife. 1 Spare glass for ditto. +2 Chipping do. 1 Tin case (for charts.) +2 Rasps. 100 Fish-hooks, (large.) +1 Pair pincers. 12 Fishing-lines. +1 Cutter. 10 Knives. +2lb. Pack thread. 10 Forks. +24 Needles. 10 Spoons. +1/4lb. Bristles. 2 Frying-pans. +7lbs. Leather. 2 Tinder-boxes. +1/2lb. Thread. 1 Tea-kettle, (tin.) +1 Pair of steelyards. 10 Tin dishes. +10 Tin pots. 8 Jackets. +1 Flour seive. 8 Duck frocks. +2 Felling-axes. 8 Shirts. +4 Tomahawks. 16 Trousers. +2 Hammers. 24 Pair shoes. +1 Hand-saw. 16 Blankets. +3 Bill-hooks. 16 Pair stockings. +3 Awls. 2 Bullock collars. +3 Broad hoes. 2 Do. back-bands and pipes. +4 Razors. 2 Leading cruppers. +4 Brushes. 1 Boat with sail and oars. +4 Combs. 1 Do. carriage. +3 Iron pots, (camp kettles.) 1 Canvass boat-cover. +1 Pair scissors. 3 Water breaker. + +COMMISSARIAT OFFICE, SYDNEY, NOV. 10TH, 1828. + +P.S.--l Tarpaulin. + Large Fish-hook. + 1 Tin tea-kettle. + 1 Camp kettle. + Pitch and oil. + Hemp or twine. + + + + +APPENDIX No. III. + + + +SHEEP-FARMING RETURNS, SHOWING THE INCREASE IN FOUR YEARS, +from two Breeding Flocks, consisting of 670 Ewes in Lamb. + + +(A.)--1st JUNE, 1828. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks. Breeding Ewes. Lambs. Total. Remarks. + + 2 yrs. old. 3 yrs. old. Male.-Female. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Lambs. +No. 1 330 148 149 627 Deaths 6. Incr.297 +No. 2 330 154 154 638 4 308 + ---- -- --- + * 1265 10 605 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +* The increase throughout these returns is calculated at from 270 to 290 +Lambs, to 300 Ewes, which is the usual average in N.S.W. + + +ABSTRACT. + +Purchased two Flocks of Ewes, at 84s.............................670 Ewes. +Increase of Lambs.......................................... 605 +Casual Deaths............................................... 10 + 595 + --- +Total as per Return............................................ 1265 + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(B.)--1st JUNE, 1829. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 3-yr. 327 154 154 635 Deaths 3 Incr.308 +2 4-yr. 326 155 155 636 4 310 +3 1-yr. 302 302 1 --- +4 1-yr. 302 18 320 -- 618 + ---- 8 + 1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (A) Total...............................................1265 +Increase by Lambing....................................618 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 636 +Casual Deaths......................................... 8 628 + ---- +Total as per return............................................1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(C.)--1st JUNE, 1830. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 296 133 154 562 Deaths 6 Incr.266 +2 4-yr. 325 150 155 625 2 300 +3 5-yr. 326 160 646 320 +4 2-yr. 302 27 329 --- +5 1-yr. 309 309 886 +6 1-yr. 309 309 --- + ---- 3 Rams died + 2780 12 ditto purchased +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (B) Total............................................ 1893 +Increase by Lambing....................................886 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................12 + --- + 898 +Deaths............................................... 11 887 + ---- +Total as per return......................................... 2780 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(D.)--1st JUNE, 1831. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 304 136 136 576 Deaths 5 Incr.272 +2 3-yr. 293 135 136 564 3 271 +3 5-yr. 324 156 156 636 1 312 +4 6-yr. 320 156 156 632 2 312 + Killed 4 --- +5 3-yr. 300 300 Deaths 2 1167 +6 2-yr. 308 308 1 +7 1-yr 443 443 +8 1-yr 442 442 1 +9 40 40 5 + ---- -- + 3941 20 + Purchased 12 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (C) Total............................................ 2780 +Increase by Lambing...................................1167 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 1185 +Casual deaths 20 ...Killed for use 4 ................. 24 1161 + ---- +Total as per return.......................................... 3941 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(E.)--1st JUNE, 1832. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 344 154 154 652 Deaths 6 Incr.308 +2 3-yr. 344 162 161 667 4 323 +4 3-yr. 342 164 165 671 3 329 +5 6-yr. 320 155 155 630 2 310 +6 7-yr. 300 145 145 590 2 290 +7 4-yr. 300 300 ---- + 1560 +8 3-yr 302 302 2 +9 2-yr 440 440 1 +10 1-yr 583 583 +11 1-yr 584 584 +12 45 45 5 Purch. 10 + ---- ---- ---- --- --- --- ---- + 1650 584 1625 45 780 780 5464 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (D) Total............................................ 3941 +Increase by Lambing...................................1560 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................10 + --- + 1570 +Decrease by casual death .............................. 25 +Decrease by slaughter for use ......................... 22 + --- + 1523 + ---- + Grand Total .............................. 5464 as above +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +MEMORANDUM,--The deaths have been calculated at the lowest rate under the +best management. It may be safer to assume a rate of four or five per +cent. per annum. + + + +Account of Expenditure and Income upon Sheep Stock in Australia, +appended to Returns A. B. C. D. and E. + 1st YEAR, (RETURN A.) JUNE, 1829. + +INCOME. +By 11265 fleeces, average weight 2 1/4 lbs. 284 lbs +wool at 1s. 6d. per lb. 213 9 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 1 Watchman at 20 20 0 O PROFIT. +To Hurdles, &c. 10 0 0 + -------- 90 0 0 + -------- 123 9 0 + + 2nd YEAR, (B.) JUNE, 1830. + + INCOME. +By 1893 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 4259lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 319 8 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 20 40 0 0 +To 1 Watchman 20 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 5 0 0 + --------- + 125 0 0 +To 18 Rams at 10 pounds* 180 0 0 + --------- + 305 0 0 + --------- + 14 8 6 +*The price of rams will probably fall to 5 pounds + + 3rd YEAR, (C.) JUNE, 1831. + + INCOME. +By 2780 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 6255lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 469 2 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 25 25 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 20 60 0 0 +To 2 Watchman 20 40 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 10 0 0 + --------- + 195 0 0 +To 12 Rams at 10 pounds 120 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 + --------- + 154 2 6 + + + + 4th YEAR, (D.) JUNE, 1832. + + INCOME. +By 3941 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 8867lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 665 0 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 25 75 0 0 +To 5 Ditto 20 100 0 0 +To 3 Watchman 20 60 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 20 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 +To 10 Rams at 10 pounds 100 0 0 + --------- + 415 0 0 + --------- + 507 0 0 + ---------- + Net profit by sales of wool in 5 years 1024 0 0 + +1024 0 0 divided by 5 gives 204 8 0 for annual interest on the +original capital of 2814 0 0, (about 7 1/4 percent per annum) +in addition to the accumulation of capital itself, shown by the +valuation of stock. + +These accounts are a year in advance of the sheep returns, in order to +bring them to the time at which the wool would be sold. + + + VALUATION OF SHEEP, JUNE, 1832----(RETURN E.) + +1614 Ewes from 1 to 4 years old at 3 pounds each 4842 0 O + 620 Do. 4 to 7 years old 2 1240 0 0 + 780 Female Lambs 2 1560 0 0 +2405 Wethers and Male Lambs 15s. 1803 0 0 + 45 Rams (original cost, 450l.) 400 0 0 + ---------- + 9845 0 0 + +Note.--About 500 pounds would be added to the Income on the fifth year, +by the sale of wethers of 3 and 4 years old. + +The cost of rams ought, strictly speaking, to be added to capital, and not +deducted from Income; but these returns were made out in their present +form at the request of a gentleman proceeding to the Colony with a limited +capital, and who wished to know how much he might safely invest in sheep. + + + + +APPENDIX No. IV. + + + +LIST OF GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, COLLECTED IN THE DISTANT INTERIOR DURING +THE FIRST EXPEDITION, WITH THEIR LOCALITIES AND THEIR RELATIVE DISTANCES +FROM EACH OTHER. + + +It may be necessary to observe that the height of the Cataract of the +Macquarie River above the sea, was ascertained by barometrical +admeasurement to be 650 feet. The country subsequently traversed is +considerably lower. The specimens refer only to the geological formation +of the distant interior. + +Schorl Rock.--Colour blueish grey, fine grained, extremely hard. Composed +of Tourmaline and Quartz. Forms the bed of the Macquarie at the Cataract, +75 miles to the N.W. of Wellington Valley. + +Decomposed Mica Slate.--Colour white; yields to the knife; adheres +strongly to the tongue. + +Decomposed Feldspar.--Colour pale rose-pink; very fine grained; easily +scratched with the knife; adheres strongly to the tongue. + +Both specimens immediately succeed the Schorl rock at the Cataract, in +large smooth-sided masses. + +This formation may be said to terminate the rocks connected with the +dividing ranges, since it is the last that occurs at their western base. + +A little below the Cataract, the county undergoes a remarkable change, +and becomes extremely depressed. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour dull red, with white spots, or grey with +red spots; very hard, compact, sonorous, magnetic. [See pp. 27 and 115.] +Composition of Mount Harris, a hill called by Mr. Oxley, elevated about +170 feet above the level of the plains. It lies 65 miles to the N.N.W. of +the Cataract, and is about 16 miles distant from the first of the marshes +of the Macquarie. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour grey with red spots, similar to the last. +Was not observed to affect the needle. Formation of Mount Foster. +Mount Foster is more than 200 feet in height, and lies about 5 miles to +the N.N.W. of Mount Harris. From the summit of both, Arbuthnot's range is +visible, bearing nearly due east, distant 70 miles. [See page 28.] + +Quartz Rook varieties--Slaty Quartz varieties.--Composition of the first +elevations to the Westward of the marshes of the Macquarie, called +New Year's Range, a group of five hills. The loftiest about 200 feet in +elevation; distant about 80 miles to the N.W. of Mount Harris. + +Granite.--Colour red, coarse-grained. Composed of Quartz, Feldspar, +and Mica. + + Granite, Porphyritic.--Colour light red. Both occurring in the bed of +New Year's Creek, traversing it obliquely, and are visible for a few +hundred yards only. This granite occurs about 16 miles from the Range in +a N. by E. direction. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of Oxley's Table Land, 500 feet above the +level of the plains. It is broken into two hills, that appear to have been +separated by some convulsion. [See page 81.] It bears N.W. by W. from +New Year's Range, distant 50 miles. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of D'Urban's group. The highest elevation +ascended during the expedition, being nearly 600 feet above the level of +the plain in which it rises. It lies to the S.S.W. of Oxley's Table Land, +distant 40 miles, and the rock of which it is composed is much harder +and closer. + +Breccia.--Colour pale yellow, silicious cement. Composition of some +trifling elevations to the North of New-Year's range, with which it is +doubtful whether they are connected. + +Crystallized Sulphate of Lime.--Found imbedded in the alluvial soil +forming the banks of the Darling river. Occurring in a regular vein. Soft, +yielding to the nail; not acted on by acids.--See Plate. + +Breccia.--Pale ochre colour, silicious cement, extremely hard. Cellular, +and sharp edges to the fractured pebbles. Has apparently undergone fusion. +Occurs in the bed of the Darling in one place only. + +Sandstone Varieties.--Colour dull red and muddy white; appears like burnt +bricks; light, easily frangible; adheres to the tongue; occurs in large +masses in the bed of the Darling; probably in connection with the +rock-salt of the neighbourhood, which, from the number of brine springs +discovered feeding the river, must necessarily exist. + +Variety of the same description of rock. + +Jasper and Quartz.--Showing itself above the surface of a plain, from +which D'Urban's group bore S. 40 E. distant 33 miles. + +It is a remarkable fact, that not a pebble or a stone was picked up during +the progress of the expedition, on any one of the plains; and that after +it again left Mount Harris for the Castlereagh, the only rock-formation +discovered was a small Freestone tract near the Darling river. There was +not a pebble of any kind either in the bed of the Castlereagh, or in the +creeks falling into it. + + + + +APPENDIX No. V. + + + +OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 23RD JANUARY, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to order, that the following +communication, dated the 25th of December last, from Captain Sturt, of the +39th Regiment, who is employed in an exploring expedition into the +interior of the country, be published for general information. + +By his Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +WESTERN MARSHES, 25TH DECEMBER, 1828. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to forward, for the Governor's perusal, a +copy of my journal up to the date of my arrival at Mount Harris. I should +not have directed the messenger to return so soon, had I not subsequently +advanced to Mount Foster, and surveyed the country from that eminence. I +could distinctly see Arbuthnot's Range to the eastward. From that point +the horizon appeared to me unbroken, but the country to the northward and +westward seemed to favour an attempt to penetrate into it. I did not +observe any sheet of water, and the course of the Macquarie was lost in +the woodlands below. + +Mr. Hume ascended the hill at sun-rise, and thought he could see mountains +to the north east, but at such a distance as to make it quite a matter of +uncertainty. Agreeing, however, in the prudence of an immediate descent, +we left our encampment on the morning of the 23rd, under Mount Foster, to +which we had removed from Mount Harris, and pursued a north-north-west +course to the spot on which we rest at present. We passed some fine meadow +land near the river, and were obliged to keep wide of it in consequence of +fissures in the ground. Traversing a large and blasted plain, on which the +sun's rays fell with intense heat, and on which there was but little +vegetation, we skirted the first great morass, and made the river +immediately beyond it. It is of very considerable extent, the channel of +the river passing through it. We are encompassed on every side by high +reeds, which exist in the woods as well as in the plains. Mr. Hume and +myself rode forward yesterday through the second morass, and made the +river on slightly elevated ground, at a distance of about five miles; the +country beyond appeared to favour our object, and we, to-morrow, proceed +with the party to the north-west. The river seems to bend to the +north-east; but in this level country it is impossible to speak with +certainty, or to give any decided opinion of the nature of it, beyond the +flats on which we are travelling. The reeds to the north-east and +northward extend over a circumference of fifty miles; but if Mr. Hume +really saw mountains or rising ground in the former point, the apparent +course of the Macquarie is at once accounted for. The country, however, +seems to dip to the north, though generally speaking it is level, and I am +inclined to think that the state of the atmosphere caused a deception in +this appearance. + +I regret to add, that the effects of the sun on the plain over which we +passed on the 23rd produced a return of inflammation in the eyes of the +men, I have named in my journals, and caused the same in the eyes of +several others of my party. I halted, therefore, to expedite their +recovery. They are doing well now, and we can proceed in the cool of the +morning without any fear of their receiving injury by it. One of the men, +who were to return to Wellington Valley, was attacked slightly with +dysentery, but the medicines I gave him carried it off in the course of a +day or two. I have taken every precaution with regard to the health of the +men, in preparing them for the country into which they are going; and I +have to request that you will inform the governor that the conduct of the +whole party merits my approbation, and that I have no fault to find. The +men from Sydney are not so sharp as those from Wellington Valley, but are +equally well disposed. The animals, both horses and bullocks, are in good +order, and I find the two soldiers of infinite service to me. The boat has +received some damage from exposure to intense heat, but is otherwise +uninjured. We still retain the carriage and have every prospect of +dragging it on with us. + +His Excellency, having been good enough to order a fresh supply of +provisions to Wellington Valley, I have to beg they may be forwarded to +Mount Harris, and that the person in charge thereof be instructed to +remain at that station for one month. We shall, during the interval, have +examined the country to the north-west; and, in case we are forced back, +shall require a supply to enable us to proceed to the northward, in +furtherance of the views I have already had the honor to submit for the +Governor's approval. + +I have the honor to be, Sir, +Your most obedient and humble Servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Captain, 39th Regt. + + +THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER. + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 6TH APRIL, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor is pleased to direct that the following +interesting Report which has been received from Captain Sturt, +39th Regiment, who has been employed for some months past, (as will be +seen on reference to the Government Order, No. 4, published with Captain +Sturt's First Report in the Sydney Gazette, of the 24th of January last) +in exploring the interior, be communicated for the information of the +public. + +It appears that the river Macquarie ceases to exist near the spot where +the expedition under the late Mr. Oxley terminated, which, from the state +of country at the time, being then flooded, could not be ascertained; and +that another river of no inconsiderable magnitude, fed by salt springs, +was discovered by Captain Sturt on the 2nd February last, about 100 miles +to the westward of the Macquarie, running to the southward and westward. + +By His Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 4TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to acquaint you, for the information of His +Excellency the Governor, that I returned to this eminence on Monday, +the 23rd ult. having been driven from the interior, in consequence of the +extreme drought which prevails there. + +I am to state, in reference to my former communication, that agreeably to +what I then reported, I moved, on the 26th December last, lower down the +plains of the Macquarie, but encountered a barrier of reeds, formed by the +marshes of that river, through which we in vain endeavoured to force our +way. I was in consequence obliged to make the nearest part of the river to +my left, and to take such measures as the nature of my situation required. +Here, for the first time, I set the boat afloat, deeming it essential to +trace the river, as I could not move upon its banks, and wishing also to +ascertain where it again issued from the marshes, I requested Mr. Hume to +proceed northerly, with a view to skirt them, and to descend westerly, +wherever he saw an open space. He was fortunate enough to strike upon the +channel about twelve miles north of our position, but was obstructed in +his further progress by another marsh, in consequence of which he returned +to the camp the next day; in the mean time, I had taken the boat, and +proceeded down the Macquarie, my way being at first considerably +obstructed by fallen timber: clearing this obstacle, however, I got into +a deeper channel, with fine broad reaches, and a depth of from twelve to +fifteen feet water. I had a short time previously cleared all woods and +trees, and was now in the midst of reeds of great height. After proceeding +onwards for about eight miles from the place whence I started, my course +was suddenly and unexpectedly checked; I saw reeds before me, and expected +I was about to turn an angle of the river, but I found that I had got to +the end of the channel, and that the river itself had ceased to exist. +Confounded at such a termination to a stream, whose appearance justified +the expectation that it would have led me through the heart of the marsh +to join Mr. Hume, I commenced a most minute examination of the place, and +discovered two creeks, if they deserve the name, branching, the one to the +north-west, and the other to the north-east; after tracing the former a +short distance, I reached its termination, and in order to assure myself +that such was the case, I walked round the head of it by pushing through +the reeds; it being then too dark to continue where I was, I returned to +a place on the river, at which I had rested during a shower, and slept +there. In the morning I again went to the spot to examine the +north-eastern branch, when I was equally disappointed. I then examined the +space between the two creeks, opposite to the main channel of the river, +and where the bank receives the force of the current. Here I saw water in +the reeds, but it was scarcely ankle deep, and was running off to the +north-west quicker than the waters of the river, which had almost an +imperceptible motion, I was therefore at once convinced that it was not +permanent, but had lodged there in the night, during which much rain had +fallen. I next pushed my way through the reeds into the marsh, and at +length clearly perceived that the waters which were perfectly sweet, after +running several courses, flowed off to the north, towards which point +there was an apparent declination or dip. Finding it impossible to +proceed further, I regained the boat, and thence returned to the camp, +under a conviction that I had reached the very spot, at which Mr. Oxley +lost the channel of the river in 1818. + +The next day I moved to the place where Mr. Hume had struck upon the +channel of the river, but was again doubtful in what direction to proceed. + +The marsh, at the commencement of which we now found ourselves, being the +third from Mount Foster, but the second great one, seemed to extend beyond +us to the north for many miles, but varying in breadth. In the evening I +went in the boat up the channel, and found it at first, deep and sullen, +as that of the river above. It soon however, narrowed, and the weeds +formed over its surface, so that I abandoned the boat and walked along a +path up it. I had not gone far when the channel divided; two smaller +channels came, the one from the southern, and the other from the western +parts of the marsh into it. There was an evident declination where they +were, and it was at their junction the river again rallied and formed. +On my return to the camp, Mr. Hume and I went down the river, but found +that about a mile it lost itself, and spread its waters ever the extensive +marsh before it. + +In this extremity, I knew not what movement to make, as Mr. Hume had been +checked in his progress north. I therefore determined to ascertain the +nature of the country to the eastward and to the westward, that I might +move accordingly; I proposed to Mr. Hume, to take a week's provisions, +with two attendants, and go to the north-east, in order again to turn the +marsh, but with the expectation that the angle formed by the junction of +the Castlereagh with the Macquarie would arrest its progress, as the last +was fast approaching the former. + +I myself determined to cross the river, and to skirt the marshes on the +left, and in case they turned off to the north east, as they appeared to +do, it was my intention to pursue a N.W. course into the interior, to +learn the nature of it. With these views I left the camp on the 31st of +December, and did not return until the 5th of January. Having found early +in my journey, from the change of soil and of timber, that I was leaving +the neighbourhood of the Macquarie, I followed a N.W. course, from a more +northerly one, and struck at once across the country, under an impression +that Mr. Hume would have made the river again long before my return. +I found, after travelling between twenty and thirty miles, the country +began to rise; and at the end of my journey, I made a hill of considerable +elevation, from the summit of which I had a view of other high lands; one +to the S.W. being a very fine mountain. As I had not found any water +excepting in two creeks, which I had left far behind me, and as I had got +on a soil which appeared incapable of holding it, I made this the +termination of my journey, having exceeded 100 miles in distance from the +camp, on my return to which I found Mr. Hume still absent. When he joined, +he stated to me, that not making the Castlereagh as soon as he expected, +he had bent down westerly for the Macquarie, and that he ended his journey +at some gentle hills he had made; so that it appeared we must either have +crossed each other's line of route, or that they were very near, and that +want of length must alone have prevented them from crossing; but as such +all assumption led to the conclusion that the Macquarie no longer existed, +I determined to pursue a middle course round the swamps, to ascertain the +point; as in case the river had ended, a westerly course was the one which +my instructions directed me to pursue. + +In the immediate neighbourhood of the marshes we were obliged to sink +wells for water, and it was thus early that we began to feel the want of a +regular supply. + +Having made a creek about four miles from our position by cutting through +the reeds where there was a narrow space, we pursued a westerly course +over a plain, having every appearance of frequent inundation, and for four +or five days held nearly the same direction; in the course of which we +crossed both our tracks on the excursions we had made, which had +intersected each other in a dense oak brush; thus renewing the few doubts, +or rather the doubt we had as to the fate of the Macquarie, whose course +we had been sent to trace. Indeed, had I not felt convinced that that +river had ceased, I should not have moved westward without further +examination, but we had passed through a very narrow part of the marshes, +and round the greater part of them, and had not seen any hollow that could +by any possible exaggeration be construed into or mistaken for the channel +of a river. + +It appears, then, that the Macquarie, flowing as it does for so many +miles, through a bed, and not a declining country, and having little water +in it, except in times of flood, loses its impetus long ere it reaches the +formidable barrier that opposes its progress northwards; the soil in which +the reeds grow being a stiff clay. Its waters consequently spread, until +a slight declivity giving them fresh impulse, they form a channel again, +but soon gaining a level, they lose their force and their motion together, +and spread not only over the second great marsh, but over a vast extent +of the surrounding country, the breadth of ground thus subject to +inundation being more than twenty miles, and its length considerably +greater; around this space there is a gentle rise which confines the +waters, while small hollows in various directions lead them out of the +marshes over the adjacent plains, on which they eventually subside. On my +return from the interior, I examined those parts round which I had not +been, with particular attention, partly in company with Mr. Hume, and this +statement was confirmed by what we saw. Thus, at a distance of about +twenty-five miles from Mount Foster to the N.N.W. the river Macquarie +ceases to exist, in any shape as a river, and at a distance of between +fifty and sixty, the marshes terminate, though the country subject to +inundation from the river is of a very considerable extent, as shown by +the withered bulrushes, wet reeds, and shells, that are scattered over +its surface. + +Having executed the first part of the instructions with which I had been +honoured, I determined on pursuing a west, or north-west coarse into the +interior, to ascertain the nature of it, in fulfilment of the second, but +in doing this I was obliged to follow creeks, and even on their banks had +to carry a supply of water, so uncertain was it that we should meet with +any at the termination of our day's journey, and that what we did find +would be fit to drink. Our course led us over plains immediately bordering +the lower lands of the Macquarie, alternating with swamp oak, acacia +pendula, pine, box, eucalyptus, and many other trees of minor growth, the +soil being inclined to a red loam, while the plains were generally covered +with a black scrub, though in some places they had good grass upon them. +We crossed two creeks before we made the hills Mr. Hume had ascended, and +which he called New Year's Range. Around these hills the country appeared +better--they are gentle, picturesque elevations, and are for the most +part, covered with verdure, and have, I fancy, a whinstone base, the rock +of which they are composed being of various substances. I place New Year's +Range in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes, long. 146 degrees 3 minutes +30 seconds. Our course next lying north-west along a creek, led us to +within twenty miles of the hill that had terminated my excursion, and as I +hoped that a more leisurely survey of the country from its summit would +open something favourable to our view, I struck over for it, though +eventually obliged to return. From it Mr. Hume and I rode to the S.W. +mountain, a distance of about forty miles, without crossing a brook or a +creek, our way leading through dense acacia brushes, and for the most part +over a desert. We saw high lands from this mountain, which exceeds 1,300 +feet in elevation, and is of sandstone formation, and thickly covered with +stunted pine, in eight different points--the bearings of which are as +follows:-- + +Oxley'a Table Land, N. 4O E., distant 40 miles. +Kengall Hill, due E. very distant. +Conical Hill, S. 6O E. +Highland, S.E. distance 30 miles. +Highland, S. 30 E. distance 25 miles. +Long Range, S. 16 E. distance 60 miles. +Long Range, S. 72 W. distance 60 miles. +Distant Range, S. 25 W. supposed. + +It was in vain, however, that we looked for water. The country to the +north-west, was low and unbroken, and alternated with wood and plain. + +The country from New Year's Range to the hill I had made, and which I +called Oxley's Table Land, had been very fair, with good soil in many +places, but with a total want of water, except in the creeks, wherein the +supply was both bad and uncertain; on our second day's journey from the +former, we came to the creek on which we were moving, where it had a +coarse granite bottom. The country around it improved very much in +appearance, and there was abundance of good grass on the surface of it, in +spite of the drought. On the right of this creek, a large plain stretches +parallel to it for many miles, varying in quality of soil. Near Oxley's +Table Land, we passed over open forest, the prevailing timber of which was +box. I have placed Oxley's Table Land in latitude 29 degrees 57 minutes +30 seconds, longitude 145 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds. + +Finding it impracticable to move westward from the hill I again descended +on the creek, whose general course was to the north-west, in which +direction we at length struck upon a river whose appearance raised our +most sanguine expectations. It flowed round an angle from the north-east +to the north-west, and extended in longitude five reaches as far as we +could see. At that place it was about sixty yards broad, with banks of +from thirty to forty feet high, and it had numerous wild fowl and many +pelicans on its bosom, and seemed to be full of fish, while the paths of +the natives on both sides, like well-trodden roads, showed how numerous +they were about it. On tasting its waters, however, we found them +perfectly salt, and useless to us, and as our animals had been without +water the night before, this circumstance distressed us much; our first +day's journey led us past between sixty and seventy huts in one place, and +on our second we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives, having +previously seen some between two creeks before we made New-Year's Range. +At some places the water proved less salt than at others; our animals +drank of it sparingly: we found two small fresh-water holes, which served +us as we passed. After tracing the river for a considerable distance, we +came on brine springs in the bed of it, the banks having been encrusted +with salt from the first; and as the difficulty of getting fresh water was +so great, I here foresaw an end to our wanderings. And as I was resolved +not to involve my party in greater distress, I halted it, on overtaking +the animals, and the next morning turned back to the nearest fresh-water, +at a distance of eighteen miles from us. Unwilling, however, to give up +our pursuit, Mr. Hume and I started with two men on horseback, to trace +the river as far as we could, and to ascertain what course it took; in the +hopes also that we should fall on some creek, or get a more certain supply +of drinkable water. We went a distance to which the bullocks could not +have been brought, and then got on a red sandy soil, which at once +destroyed our hopes; and on tasting the river water we found it salter +than ever, our supply being diminished to two pints. Our animals being +weak and purged, and having proceeded at least forty miles from the camp, +I thought it best to yield to circumstances, and to return, though I trust +I shall be believed when I add, it was with extreme reluctance I did so; +and had I followed the wishes of my party, should still have continued +onwards. Making a part of the river where we had slept, we stayed to +refresh, and in consequence of the heat of the weather were obliged to +drink the water in it, which made us sick. While here, a tribe of blacks +came to us and behaved remarkably well. At night we slept on a plain +without water, and the next day we regained the camp, which had been +visited by the natives during our absence. + +We found the river held a south-west course, and appeared to be making for +the central space between a high land, which I called Dunlop's Range, at +Mr. Hume's request, and a lofty range to the westward. It still continued +its important appearance, having gained in breadth and in the height of +its banks, while there were hundreds of pelicans and wild-fowl on it. +Flowing through a level country with such a channel, it may be presumed +that this river ultimately assumes either a greater character, or that it +adds considerably to the importance of some other stream. It had a clay +bottom, generally speaking, in many places semi-indurated and fast forming +into sandstone, while there was crystallized sulphate of lime running in +veins through the soil which composed the bank. + +This river differs from most in the colony, in having a belt of barren +land of from a quarter of a mile to two miles in breadth in its immediate +neighbourhood, and which is subject to overflow. This belt runs to the +inland plains, where a small elevation checks the further progress of the +flood. There is magnificent blue gum on both sides the river, but the +right bank is evidently the most fertile, and I am mistaken greatly if +there is not a beautiful country north of it. + +Of the country over which we have passed, it is impossible for me to have +formed a correct opinion under its present melancholy circumstances. It +has borne the appearance of barrenness, where in even moderate rain, it +might have shown very differently, though no doubt we passed over much of +both good and bad land; our animals on the whole, have thrived on the food +they have had, which would argue favourably for the herbage. Generally +speaking, I fear the timber is bad--the rough-gum may be used for knees, +and such purposes, and we may have seen wood for the wheelwright and +cabinet-maker, specimens of which I have procured, but none for general or +household purposes. + +The creeks we have traced are different in character from those in the +settled districts, inasmuch as that, like the river, they have a belt of +barren land near then and but little grass--they have all of them been +numerously frequented by the natives, as appeared from the number of +muscle-shells on their banks, but now having scarcely any water in them, +the fish having either been taken, or are dead, and the tribes gone +elsewhere for food, while the badness of the river water has introduced a +cutaneous disease among the natives of that district, which is fast +carrying them off. Our intercourse with these people was incessant from +the time we first met them, and on all occasions they behaved remarkably +well, nor could we have seen less than than two hundred and fifty of them. + +Our return is to be attributable to the want of water alone, and it is +impossible for me to describe the effects of the drought on animal as well +as vegetable nature. The natives are wandering in the desert, and it is +melancholy to reflect on the necessity which obliges them to drink the +stinking and loathsome water they do--birds sit gasping in the trees and +are quite thin--the wild dog prowls about in the day-time unable to avoid +us, and is as lean as he can be in a living state, while minor vegetation +is dead, and the very trees are drooping. I have noticed all these things +in my Journal I shall have the honour of submitting through you, for the +Governor's perusal and information, on my return. Finally, I fear our +expedition will not pave the way to any ultimate benefit; although it has +been the means by which two very doubtful questions,--the course of the +Macquarie, and the nature of the interior, have been solved; for it is +beyond doubt, that the interior for 250 miles beyond its former known +limits to the W.N.W., so far from being a shoal sea, has been ascertained +not only to have considerable elevations upon it, but is in itself a table +land to all intents and purposes, and has scarcely water on its surface to +support its inhabitants. + +I beg you will inform His Excellency the Governor, that I have on all +occasions received the most ready and valuable assistance from Mr, Hume. +His intimate acquaintance with the manners and customs of the natives, +enabled him to enter into intercourse with them, and chiefly contributed +to the peaceable manner in which we have journeyed, while his previous +experience put it in his power to be of real use to me. I cannot but say +he has done an essential service to future travellers, and to the colony +at large, by his conduct on all occasions since he has been with me; nor +should I be doing him justice, if I did not avail myself of the first +opportunity of laying my sentiments before the Governor, through you. I am +happy to add that every individual of the party deserves my warmest +approbation, and that they have, one and all, borne their distresses, +trifling certainly, but still unusual, with cheerfulness, and that they +have at all times been attentive to their duty, and obedient to their +orders. The whole are in good health, and are eager again to start. + +I have the honor to be, +Sir +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 5TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--It having appeared to me, that after discovering such a river as the +one I have described in my letter of yesterday, His Excellency the +Governor would approve of my endeavouring to regain it. There being a +probability that it ultimately joins the Southern Waters, I thought of +turning my steps to the southward and westward; and with a view to learn +the nature of the country, I despatched Mr. Hume in that direction on +Saturday last. He returned in three days, after having gone above forty +miles from the river, and states, that he crossed two creeks, the one +about twenty-five miles, the other about thirty-two distance, evidently +the heads of the creeks we passed westward of the marshes of the +Macquarie. He adds, that, to the second creek the land was excellent, but +that on crossing it, he got onto red soil, on which he travelled some +miles further, until he saw a range of high land, bearing from him S.W.. +by W., when, knowing from the nature of the country around him, and from +the experience of our late journey, that he could not hope to find a +regular supply of water in advance, and that in the present dry state of +the low lands, a movement such as I had contemplated would be +impracticable, he returned home. I do myself the honour, therefore, to +report to you, for His Excellency's information, that I shall proceed on +Saturday next in a N.E. direction towards the Castlereagh, intending to +trace that river down, and afterwards to penetrate as far to the northward +and westward as possible; it being my wish to get into the country north +of the more distant river, where I have expectations that there is an +extensive and valuable track of country, but that in failure of the above, +I shall examine the low country behind our N.W. boundaries, if I can find +a sufficiency of water to enable me to do so. + +I am to inform you that in this neighbourhood the Macquarie has ceased to +flow, and that it is now a chain of shallow ponds. The water is fast +diminishing in it, and unless rain descends in a few weeks it will be +perfectly dry. + +I am also to report, that the natives attempted the camp with the supplies +before my arrival at Mount Harris, but that on the soldier with the party +firing a shot, after they had thrown a stone and other of the weapons, +they fled. It was in consequence of their fires, which I saw at a distance +of forty miles, and which they never make on so extensive a scale, except +as signals when they want to collect, and are inclined to be mischievous, +that I made forced marches up, and I am led to believe my arrival was very +opportune. The natives have visited us since, and I do not think they will +now attempt to molest either party when we separate. + +I have the honour to be, +Sir, +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + + +END OF VOLUME I + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt + diff --git a/old/xpss111.zip b/old/xpss111.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7097d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss111.zip diff --git a/old/xpss112.txt b/old/xpss112.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f9f7b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss112.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7771 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt +#1 in our series by Charles Sturt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colc@gutenberg.net.au. + + + + + +TWO EXPEDITIONS INTO THE INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA DURING THE YEARS +1828,1829,1830,1831 WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE SOIL, CLIMATE AND GENERAL +RESOURCES OF THE COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. + +IN TWO VOLUMES + +VOLUME I. + + +"For though most men are contented only to see a river as it runs by +them, and talk of the changes in it as they happen; when it is troubled, +or when clear; when it drowns the country in a flood, or forsakes it in a +drought: yet he that would know the nature of the water, and the causes of +those accidents (so as to guess at their continuance or return), must find +out its source, and observe with what strength it rises, what length it +runs, and how many small streams fall in, and feed it to such a height, +as make it either delightful or terrible to the eye, and useful or +dangerous to the country about it."...SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S NETHERLANDS. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HON. +THE EARL OF RIPON, +VISCOUNT GODERICH, +Lord Privy Seal +&c. &c. &c. + + + +MY LORD, + +The completion of this Work affords me the opportunity I have long desired +of thanking your Lordship thus publicly, for the kindness with which you +acceded to my request to be permitted to dedicate it to you. + +The encouragement your Lordship was pleased to give me has served to +stimulate me in the prosecution of a task, which would, I fear, have been +too great for me to have accomplished in my present condition, under any +ordinary views of ambition. Indeed, labouring as I have been for many +months past, under an almost total deprivation of sight, (the effect of +exposure and anxiety of mind in the prosecution of geographical +researches,) I owe it to the casual assistance of some of my friends, that +I am at length enabled to lay these results before your Lordship and the +public. + +While I feel a painful conviction that many errors must necessarily +pervade a work produced under such unfavourable circumstances, it affords +me no small consolation to reflect that Your Lordship has been aware of my +situation, and will be disposed to grant me every reasonable indulgence. + +I have the honor to be, +With the highest respect, +My Lord, +Your Lordship's +Very obedient and humble servant, + +CHARLES STURT +London, June, 1833. + + + + +CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE MACQUARIE RIVER, AND INTO THE WESTERN INTERIOR +IN 1828 AND 1829. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach the +Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck upon it. + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +CHAPTER V. + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Concluding Remarks--Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior +of Australia--Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady +intelligent subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men +requisite,--and of cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements-- +Treatment of the natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second +expedition. + + +APPENDIX. + +No. I. Letter of Instructions +No. II. List of Stores supplied for the Expedition +No. III. Sheep-farming Returns +No. IV. List of Geological Specimens +No. V. Official Report to the Colonial Government, (Jan. 1829.) +No. VI. Ditto (April 1829.) + + +ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE FIRST VOLUME +(Not included in this etext) + +Native Burial Place near Budda +Vice Admiral Arthur Phillip +Cataract of the Macquarie +A Selenite +Chrystallized Sulphate of Lime + + + + +PRELIMINARY CHAPTER + + + +Purpose of this Chapter--Name of Australia--Impressions of its early +Visitors--Character of the Australian rivers--Author's first view of Port +Jackson--Extent of the Colony of New South Wales--its rapid advances in +prosperity--Erroneous impressions--Commercial importance of Sydney--Growth +of fine wool--Mr. M'Arthur's meritorious exertions--Whale-fishery--Other +exports--Geographical features--Causes of the large proportion of bad +soil--Connection between the geology and vegetation--Geological features-- +Character of the soil connected with the geological formation--County of +Cumberland--Country westward of the Blue Mountains--Disadvantages of the +remote settlers--Character of the Eastern coast--Rich tracts in the +interior--Periodical droughts--The seasons apparently affected by the +interior marshes--Temperature--Fruits--Emigrants: Causes of their success +or failure--Moral disadvantages--System of emigration recommended--Hints +to emigrants--Progress of inland discovery--Expeditions across the Blue +Mountains--Discoveries of Mr. Evans, Mr. Oxley, and others--Conjectures +respecting the interior. + + +PURPOSE OF THIS PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. + + +When I first determined on committing to the press a detailed account of +the two expeditions, which I conducted into the interior of the Australian +continent, pursuant to the orders of Lieutenant General Darling, the late +Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, it was simply with a view of +laying their results before the geographical world, and of correcting the +opinions that prevailed with regard to the unexplored country to the +westward of the Blue Mountains. I did not feel myself equal either to the +task or the responsibility of venturing any remarks on the Colony of New +South Wales itself. I had had little time for inquiry, amidst the various +duties that fell to my lot in the ordinary routine of the service to which +I belonged, when unemployed by the Colonial Government in the prosecution +of inland discoveries. My observations had been in a great measure +confined to those points which curiosity, or a desire of personal +information, had prompted me to investigate. I did not, therefore, venture +to flatter myself that I had collected materials of sufficient importance +on general topics to enable me to write for the information of others. +Since my return to England, however, I have been strenuously urged to give +a short description of the colony before entering upon my personal +narrative; and I have conversed with so many individuals whose ideas of +Australia are totally at variance with its actual state, that I am +encouraged to indulge the hope that my observations, desultory as they +are, may be of some interest to the public. I am strengthened in this hope +by the consideration that some kind friends have enabled me to add much +valuable matter to that which I had myself collected. It is not my +intention, however, to enter at any length on the commercial or +agricultural interests of New South Wales. It may be necessary for me to +touch lightly on those important subjects, but it is my wish to connect +this preliminary chapter, as much as possible with the subjects treated of +in the body of the work, and chiefly to notice the physical structure, the +soil, climate, and productions of the colony, in order to convey to the +reader general information on these points, before I lead him into the +remote interior. + +NAME OF AUSTRALIA. + +It may be worthy of remark that the name "Australia," has of late years +been affixed to that extensive tract of land which Great Britain possesses +in the Southern Seas, and which, having been a discovery of the early +Dutch navigators, was previously termed "New Holland." The change of name +was, I believe, introduced by the celebrated French geographer, Malte +Brun, who, in his division of the globe, gave the appellation of +Austral Asia and Polynesia to the new discovered lands in the southern +ocean; in which division he meant to include the numerous insular groups +scattered over the Pacific. + +IMPRESSIONS OF ITS EARLY VISITORS. + +Australia is properly speaking an island, but it is so much larger than +every other island on the face of the globe, that it is classed as a +continent in order to convey to the mind a just idea of its magnitude. +Stretching from the 115th to the 153rd degree of east longitude, and from +the 10th to the 37th of south latitude, it averages 2700 miles in length +by 1800 in breadth; and balanced, as it were, upon the tropic of that +hemisphere in which it is situated, it receives the fiery heat of the +equator at one extremity, while it enjoys the refreshing coolness of the +temperate zone at the other. On a first view we should be led to expect +that this extensive tract of land possessed more than ordinary advantages; +that its rivers would be in proportion to its size; and that it would +abound in the richest productions of the inter-tropical and temperate +regions. Such, indeed, was the impression of those who first touched upon +its southern shores, but who remained no longer than to be dazzled by the +splendour and variety of its botanical productions, and to enjoy for a +few days the delightful mildness of its climate. But the very spot which +had appeared to Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks an earthly paradise, was +abandoned by the early settlers as unfit for occupation; nor has the +country generally been fount to realize the sanguine expectations of those +distinguished individuals, so far as it has hitherto been explored. + +CHARACTER OF AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. + +Rivers which have the widest mouths or the most practicable entrances, +are, in Europe or America, usually of impetuous current, or else contain +such a body of water as to bear down all opposition to their free course; +whilst on the other hand, rivers whose force is expended ere they reach +the sea, have almost invariably a bar at their embouchure, or where they +mingle their waters with those of the ocean. This last feature +unfortunately appears to characterize all rivers of Australia, or such of +them at least as are sufficiently known to us. Falling rapidly from the +mountains in which they originate into a level and extremely depressed +country; having weak and inconsiderable sources, and being almost wholly +unaided by tributaries of any kind; they naturally fail before they reach +the coast, and exhaust themselves in marshes or lakes or reach it so +weakened as to be unable to preserve clear or navigable months, or to +remove the sand banks that the tides throw up before them. On the other +hand the productions of this singular region seem to be peculiar to it, +and unlike those of any other part of the world; nor have any indigenous +fruits of any value as yet been found either in its forests or on its +plains. + +He who has never looked on any other than the well-cultured fields of +England, can have little idea of a country that Nature has covered with an +interminable forest. Still less can he estimate the feelings with which +the adventurer approaches a shore that has never (or perhaps only lately) +been trodden by civilized man. + +FIRST VIEW OF PORT JACKSON. + +It was with feelings peculiar to the occasion, that I gazed for the first +time on the bold cliffs at the entrance of Port Jackson, as our vessel +neared them, and speculated on the probable character of the landscape +they hid; and I am free to confess, that I did not anticipate anything +equal to the scene which presented itself both to my sight and my +judgment, as we sailed up the noble and extensive basin we had entered, +towards the seat of government. A single glance was sufficient to tell me +that the hills upon the southern shore of the port, the outlines of which +were broken by houses and spires, must once have been covered with the +same dense and gloomy wood which abounded every where else. The contrast +was indeed very great--the improvement singularly striking. The labour and +patience required, and the difficulties which the first settlers +encountered effecting these improvements, must have been incalculable. But +their success has been complete: it is the very triumph of human skill and +industry over Nature herself. The cornfield and the orchard have +supplanted the wild grass and the brush; a flourishing town stands over +the ruins of the forest; the lowing of herds has succeeded the wild whoop +of the savage; and the stillness of that once desert shore is now broken +by the sound of the bugle and the busy hum of commerce. + +EXTENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND DIVISIONS OF THE COLONY. + +The Colony of New South Wales is situated upon the eastern coast of +Australia; and the districts within which land has been granted to +settlers, extends from the 36th parallel of latitude to the 32nd, that is +say, from the Moroyo River to the south of Sydney on the one hand, and to +the Manning River on the other, including Wellington Valley within its +limits to the westward. Thus it will appear that the boundaries of the +located parts of the colony have been considerably enlarged, and some fine +districts of country included within them. In consequence of its extent +and increasing population, it has been found convenient to divide it into +counties, parishes, and townships; and indeed, every measure of the +Colonial Government of late years, has had for its object to assimilate +its internal arrangements as nearly as possible, to those of the mother +country. Whether we are to attribute the present flourishing state of the +colony to the beneficial influence of that system of government which has +been exercised over it for the last seven years it is not for me to say. +That the prosperity of a country depends, however, in a great measure, +on the wisdom of its legislature, is as undoubted, as that within the +period I have mentioned the colony of N. S. Wales has risen +unprecedentedly in importance and in wealth, and has advanced to a state +of improvement at which it could not have arrived had its energies been +cramped or its interests neglected. + +ITS ADVANCES IN PROSPERITY. + +There is a period in the history of every country, during which it will +appear to have been more prosperous than at any other. I allude not to the +period of great martial achievements, should any such adorn its pages, but +to that in which the enterprise of its merchants was roused into action, +and when all classes of its community seem to have put forth their +strength towards the attainment of wealth and power. + +ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS. + +In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far +advanced. The conduct of its merchants is marked by the boldest +speculations and the most gigantic projects. Their storehouses are built +on the most magnificent scale, and with the best and most substantial +materials. Few persons in England have even a remote idea of its present +flourishing condition, or of the improvements that are daily taking place +both in its commerce and in its agriculture. I am aware that many object +to it as a place of residence, and I can easily enter into their feelings +from the recollection of what my own were before I visited it. I cannot +but remark, however, that I found my prejudices had arisen from a natural +objection to the character of a part of its population; from the +circumstance of its being a penal colony, and from my total ignorance of +its actual state, and not from any substantial or permanent cause. On the +contrary I speedily became convinced of the exaggerated nature of the +reports I had heard in England, on some of the points just adverted to; +nor did any thing fall under my observation during a residence in it of +more than six years to justify the opinion I had been previously led to +entertain of it. I embarked for New South Wales, with strong prejudices +against it: I left it with strong feelings in its favour, and with a deep +feeling of interest in its prosperity. It is a pleasing task to me, +therefore, to write of it thus, and to have it in my power to contribute +to the removal of any erroneous impressions with regard to its condition +at the present moment. + +COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SYDNEY. + +I have already remarked, that I was not prepared for the scene that met my +view when I first saw Sydney. The fact was, I had not pictured to myself; +nor conceived from any thing that I had ever read or heard in England, +that so extensive a town could have been reared in that remote region, in +so brief a period as that which had elapsed since its foundation. It is +not, however, a distant or cursory glance that will give the observer a +just idea of the mercantile importance of this busy capital. In order to +form an accurate estimate of it, he should take a boat and proceed from +Sydney Cove to Darling Harbour. He would then be satisfied, that it is not +upon the first alone that Australian commerce has raised its storehouse +and wharfs, but that the whole extent of the eastern shore of the last +more capacious basin, is equally crowded with warehouses, stores, +dockyards, mills, and wharfs, the appearance and solidity of which would +do credit even to Liverpool. Where, thirty years ago, the people flocked +to the beach to hail an arrival, it is not now unusual to see from thirty +to forty vessels riding at anchor at one time, collected there from every +quarter of the globe. In 1832, one hundred and fifty vessels entered the +harbour of Port Jackson, from foreign parts, the amount of their tonnage +being 31,259 tons. + +The increasing importance of Sydney must in some measure be attributed to +the flourishing condition of the colony itself, to the industry of its +farmers, to the successful enterprise of its merchants, and to particular +local causes. It is foreign to my purpose, however, to enter largely into +an investigation of these important points. To do so would require more +space than I can afford for the purpose, and might justly be considered as +irrelevant in a work of this kind. Without attempting any lengthened +detail, it may be considered sufficient if I endeavour merely to point out +the principal causes of the present prosperity (and, as they may very +probably prove) of the eventual progress of our great southern colony to +power and independence. + +STAPLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. + +The staple of our Australian colonies, but more particularly of New South +Wales, the climate and the soil of which are peculiarly suited to its +production,--is fine wool. There can be no doubt that the growth of this +article has mainly contributed to the prosperity of the above mentioned +colony and of Van Diemen's Land. + +At the close of the last century, wool was imported into England from +Spain and Germany only, and but a few years previously from Spain alone. +Indeed, long after its introduction from the latter country, German wool, +obtained but little consideration in the London market; and in like +manner, it may be presumed that many years will not have elapsed +before the increased importation of wool from our own possessions in +the southern hemisphere, will render us, in respect to this commodity, +independent of every other part of the world. The great improvements +in modern navigation are such, that the expense of sending the fleece +to market from New South Wales is less than from any part of Europe. +The charges for instance on Spanish and German wool, are from +fourpence to fourpence three farthings per pound; whereas the entire +charge, after shipment from New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, does +not exceed threepence three farthings,--and in this the dock and landing +charges, freight, insurance, brokerage, and commission, are included. + +GROWTH OF FINE WOOL. MR. M'ARTHUR'S EXERTIONS. + +As some particulars respecting the introduction of this source of national +wealth into Australia may prove interesting to the public, I have put +together the following details of it, upon the authenticity of which they +may rely. The person who foresaw the advantage to be derived from the +growth of fine wool in New South Wales, and who commenced the culture of +it in that colony, was Mr. John M'Arthur. So far back, I believe, as the +year 1793, not long after the establishment of the first settlement at +Sydney, this gentleman commenced sheep-farming, and about two years +afterwards he obtained a ram and two ewes from Captain Kent, of the royal +navy, who had brought them, with some other stock for the supply of the +settlement, from the Cape of Good Hope, to which place a flock of these +sheep had been originally sent by the Dutch government. Sensible of the +importance of the acquisition, Mr. M'Arthur began to cross his +coarse-fleeced sheep with Merino blood; and, proceeding upon a system, he +effected a considerable improvement in the course of a few years. So +prolific was the mixed breed, that in ten years, a flock which originally +consisted of not more than seventy Bengal sheep, had increased in number +to 4,000 head, although the wethers had been killed as they became fit for +slaughter. It appears, however, that as the sheep approached to greater +purity of blood, their extreme fecundity diminished. + +TO REAR MERINO FLOCKS. + +In 1803, Mr. M'Arthur revisited England; and there happening at the time +to be a committee of manufacturers in London from the clothing districts, +he exhibited before them samples of his wool, which were so much approved, +that the committee represented to their constituents the advantages which +would result from the growth of fine wool, in one of the southern +dependencies of the empire. In consequence of this a memorial was +transmitted to His Majesty's government, and Mr. M'Arthur's plans having +been investigated by a Privy Council, at which he was present, they were +recommended to the government as worthy of its protection. With such +encouragement Mr. M'Arthur purchased two ewes and three rams, from the +Merino flock of His Majesty King George the Third. He embarked with them +on his return to New South Wales in 1806, on board a vessel named by him +"the Argo," in reference to the golden treasure with which she was +freighted. On reaching the colony he removed his sheep to a grant of land +which the Home Government had directed he should receive in the Cow +Pastures. To commemorate the transaction, and to transmit to a grateful +posterity the recollection of the nobleman who then presided over the +colonies, the estate, together with the district in which it is situated, +was honoured by the name of Camden. + +EXPORT OF WOOL TO ENGLAND. + +Since that time the value of New South Wales wool has been constantly on +the increase, and the colony are indebted to Mr. M'Arthur for the +possession of an exportable commodity which has contributed very +materially to its present wealth and importance. Such general attention is +now paid to this interesting branch of rural economy, that the importation +of wool into England from our Australian colonies, amounted, in 1832, to +10,633 bales, or 2,500,000 lbs. It has been sold at as high a price as +10s. per lb.; but the average price of wool of the best flocks vary from +1s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. at the present moment. The number of sheep in New South +Wales alone was calculated in the last census at 536,891 head. The +ordinary profits on this kind of stock may be extracted from the Table +given in the Appendix to the first volume of this work. + +WHALE FISHERY. + +Among the various speculations undertaken by the merchants of Sydney, +there is not one into which they have entered with so much spirit as in +the South Sea Fishery. The local situation of Port Jackson gives them an +advantage over the English and the American merchants, since the distance +of both these from the field of their gains, must necessarily impede them +greatly; whereas the ships that leave Sydney on a whaling excursion, +arrive without loss of time upon their ground, and return either for fresh +supplies or to repair damages with equal facility. The spirit with which +the colonial youth have engaged in this adventurous and hardy service, is +highly to their credit. The profits arising from it may not be (indeed I +have every reason to think are not) so great as might be supposed, or such +as might reasonably be expected; but the extensive scale on which it is +conducted, speaks equally for the energy and perseverance of the parties +concerned, in the prosecution of their commercial enterprises. It has +enabled them to equip a creditable colonial marine, and given great +importance to their mercantile interests in the mother country. + +In the year 1831, the quantity of sperm and black oil, the produce of the +fisheries exported from New South Wales, amounted to 2,307 tons, and was +estimated, together with skins and whalebone, to be worth 107,971 pounds +sterling. The gross amount of all other exports during that year, did not +exceed 107,697 pounds sterling. Of these exports, the following were the +most considerable: + + +Timber 7,410 pounds +Butter and Cheese 2,376 +Mimosa bark 40 +Hides 7,333 +Horses 7,302 +Salt provisions 5,184 +Wool 66,112 + + +The above is exclusive of 61,000 pounds value of British manufactures +re-exported to the various ports and islands in the Southern Seas. + +OTHER EXPORTS. + +In this scale, moreover, tobacco is not mentioned; but that plant is now +raised for the supply of every private establishment, and will assuredly +form an article of export, as soon as its manufacture shall be well +understood. Neither can it be doubted but that the vine and the olive +will, in a short time, be abundantly cultivated; and that a greater +knowledge of the climate and soil of the more northern parts of the +colony, will lead to the introduction of fresh sources of wealth. + +GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. + +Having taken this hasty review of the commercial interests of the colony, +we may now turn to a brief examination of its internal structure and +principal natural features. + +I have already given a cursory sketch of the geographical features of the +whole continent. Of the vast area which its coasts embrace, the east part +alone has been fully explored. + +A range of hills runs along the eastern coast, from north to south, which, +in different quarters, vary in their distance from the sea; at one place +approaching it pretty nearly, at another, receding from it to a distance +of forty miles. It is a singular fact, that there is no pass or break in +these mountains, by which any of the rivers of the interior can escape in +an easterly direction. Their spine is unbroken. The consequence is, that +there is a complete division of the eastern and western waters, and that +streams, the heads of which are close to each other, flow away in opposite +directions; the one to pursue a short course to the sea; the other to fall +into a level and depressed interior, the character of which will be +noticed in its proper place. + +GREAT PROPORTION OF BAD SOIL. + +The proportion of bad soil to that which is good in New South Wales, is +certainly very great: I mean the proportion of inferior soil to such as is +fit for the higher purposes of agriculture. Mr. Dawson, the late +superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company's possessions, has +observed, as a singular fact, that the best soil generally prevails on the +summits of the hills, more especially where they are at all level. He +accounts for so unusual a circumstance by the fact, that elevated +positions are less subject to the effects of fire or floods than their +valleys or flanks, and attributes the general want of vegetable mould over +the colony chiefly to the ravages of the former element, whereby the +growth of underwood, so favourable in other countries to the formation of +soil, is wholly prevented. Undoubtedly this is a principal cause for the +deficiency in question. There is no part of the world in which fires +create such havoc as in New South Wales and indeed in Australia +generally. The climate, on the one hand, which dries up vegetation, and +the wandering habits of the natives on the other, which induce them to +clear the country before them by conflagration, operate equally against +the growth of timber and underwood. + +CAUSE OF THIS. + +But there is another circumstance that appears to have escaped +Mr. Dawson's observation; which is the actual property of the trees +themselves, as to the quantity of vegetable matter they produce in decay. +Being a military man, I cannot be supposed to have devoted much of my time +to agricultural pursuits; but it has been obvious to me, as it must have +been to many others, that in New South Wales, the fall of leaves and the +decay of timber, so far from adding to the richness of its soil, actually +destroy minor vegetation. This fact was brought more home to me in +consequence of its having been my lot to spend some months upon Norfolk +Island, a distant penal settlement attached to the Government of Sydney. +There the abundance of vegetable decay was as remarkable as the want of it +on the Australian Continent. I have frequently sunk up to my knees in a +bed of leaves when walking through its woods; and, often when I placed my +foot on what appeared externally to be the solid trunk of a tree, I have +found it yield to the pressure, in consequence of its decomposition into +absolute rottenness. But such is not the case in New South Wales. There, +no such accumulations of vegetable matter are to be met with; but where +the loftiest tree of the forest falls to the ground, its figure and length +are marked out by the total want of vegetation within a certain distance +of it, and a small elevation of earth, resembling more the refuse or +scoria of burnt bricks than any thing else, is all that ultimately remains +of the immense body which time or accident had prostrated. Thus it would +appear, that it is not less to the character of its woods than to the +ravages of fire that New South Wales owes its general sterility. + +CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GEOLOGY AND VEGETATION. + +Whilst prosecuting my researches in the interior of the colony, I could +not but be struck with the apparent connection between its geology and +vegetation; so strong, indeed, was this connection, that I had little +difficulty, after a short experience, in judging of the rock that formed +the basis of the country over which I was travelling, from the kind of +tree or herbage that flourished in the soil above it. The eucalyptus +pulv., a species of eucalyptus having a glaucus-coloured leaf, of +dwarfish habits and growing mostly in scrub, betrayed the sandstone +formation, wherever it existed, This was the case in many parts of the +County of Cumberland, in some parts of Wombat Brush, at the two passes on +the great south road, over a great extent of country to the N.W. of Yass +Plains, and at Blackheath on the summit of the Blue Mountains. On the +other hand, those open grassy and park-like tracts, of which so much has +been said, characterise the secondary ranges of granite and porphyry. The +trees most usual on these tracts, were the box, an unnamed species of +eucalyptus, and the grass chiefly of that kind, called the oat or forest +grass, which grows in tufts at considerable distances from each other, +and which generally affords good pasturage. On the richer grounds the +angophora lanceolata, and the eucalyptus mammifera more frequently point +out the quality of the soil on which they grow. The first are abundant on +the alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury and the Hunter; the +latter on the limestone formation of Wellington Valley and in the better +portions of Argyle; whilst the cupressus calytris seems to occupy sandy +ridges with the casuarina. It was impossible that these broad features +should have escaped observation: it was naturally inferred from this, that +the trees of New South Wales are gregarious; and in fact they may, in a +great measure, be considered so. The strong line that occasionally +separates different species, and the sudden manner in which several +species are lost at one point, to re-appear at another more distant, +without any visible cause for the break that has taken place, will furnish +a number of interesting facts in the botany of New South Wales. + +It was observed both on the Macquarie river and the Morumbidgee, that the +casuarinae ceased at a particular point. On the Macquarie particularly, +these trees which had often excited our admiration from Wellington Valley +downwards, ceased to occupy its banks below the cataract, nor were they +again noticed until we arrived on the banks of the Castlereagh. The +blue-gum trees, again, were never observed to extend beyond the secondary +embankments of the rivers, occupying that ground alone which was subject +to flood and covered with reeds. These trees waved over the marshes of the +Macquarie, but were not observed to the westward of them for many miles; +yet they re-appeared upon the banks of New-Year's Creek as suddenly as +they had disappeared after we left the marshes, and grew along the line +of the Darling to unusual size. But it is remarkable, that, even in the +midst of the marshes, the blue-gum trees were strictly confined to the +immediate flooded spaces on which the reeds prevailed, or to the very beds +of the water-courses. Where the ground was elevated, or out of the reach +of flood, the box (unnamed) alone occupied it; and, though the branches of +these trees might be interwoven together, the one never left its wet and +reedy bed, the other never descended from its more elevated position. The +same singular distinction marked the acacia pendula, when it ceased to +cover the interior plains of light earth, and was succeeded by another +shrub of the same species. It continued to the banks of New-Year's Creek, +a part of which it thickly lined. To the westward of the creek, another +species of acacia was remarked for the first time. Both shrubs, like the +blue-gum and the box, mixed their branches together, but the creek formed +the line of separation between them. The acacia pendula was not afterwards +seen, but that which had taken its place, as it were, was found to cover +large tracts of country and to form extensive brushes. Many other +peculiarities in the vegetation of the interior are noticed in the body +of this work, but I have thought that these more striking ones deserved +to be particularly remarked upon. + +GEOLOGICAL FEATURES. + +If we strike a line to the N.W. from Sydney to Wellington Valley, we shall +find that little change takes place in the geological features of the +country. The sand-stone of which the first of the barrier ranges is +composed, terminates a little beyond Mount York, and at Cox's River is +succeeded by grey granite. The secondary ranges to the N.W. of Bathurst, +are wholly of that primitive rock; for although there are partial changes +of strata between Bathurst and Moulong Plains, granite is undoubtedly the +rock upon which the whole are based: but at Moulong Plains, a military +station intermediate between Bathurst and Wellington Valley, limestone +appears in the bed of a small clear stream, and with little interruption +continues to some distance below the last-mentioned place. The accidental +discovery of some caves at Moulong Plains, led to the more critical +examination of the whole formation, and cavities of considerable size were +subsequently found in various parts of it, but more particularly in the +neighbourhood of Wellington Valley. The local interest which has of late +years been taken in the prosecution of geological investigations, led many +gentlemen to examine the contents of these caverns; and among the most +forward, Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, must justly be considered, +to whose indefatigable perseverance the scientific world is already so +much indebted. + +The caves into which I penetrated, did not present anything particular to +my observation; they differed little from caves of a similar description +into which I had penetrated in Europe. Large masses of stalactites hung +from their roofs, and a corresponding formation encrusted their floors. +They comprised various chambers or compartments, the most remote of which +terminated at a deep chasm that was full of water. A close examination of +these caves has led to the discovery of some organic remains, bones of +various animals embedded in a light red soil; but I am not aware that the +remains of any extinct species have been found, or that any fossils have +been met with in the limestone itself. There can, however, be little doubt +but that the same causes operated in depositing these mouldering remains +in the caves of Kirkdale and those of Wellington Valley. + +About twenty miles below the junction of the Bell with the Macquarie, +free-stone supersedes the limestone, but as the country falls rapidly from +that point, it soon disappears, and the traveller enters upon a flat +country of successive terraces. A schorl rock, of a blue colour and fine +grain, composed of tourmaline and quartz, forms the bed of the Macquarie +at the Cataract; and, in immediate contact with it, a mass of mica slate +of alternate rose, pink, and white, was observed, which must have been +covered by the waters of the river when Mr. Oxley descended it. + +From the Cataract of the Macquarie, a flat extends to the marshes in which +that river exhausts itself. From the midst of this flat Mount Foster and +Mount Harris rise, both of which are porphyritic: but as I have been +particular in describing these heights in their proper place, any minute +notice of them here may be considered unnecessary. We will rather extend +our enquiries to those parts of the colony upon which we shall not be +called upon to remark in the succeeding pages. + +Returning to the coast, we may mark the geological changes in a line to +the S.W. of Sydney; and as my object is to extend the information of my +readers, I shall notice any particular district on either side of the line +I propose to touch upon, which may be worthy of notice. It would appear +that the first decided break in the sandstone formation which penetrates +into the county of Camden, is at Mittagong Range. It is there traversed by +a dike of whinstone, of which that range is wholly composed. The change of +soil and of vegetation are equally remarkable at this place; the one being +a rich, greasy, chocolate-coloured earth, the other partaking greatly of +the intertropical character. In wandering over them, I noticed the wild +fig and the cherry-tree, growing to a much larger size than I had seen +them in any other part of the colony. Upon their branches, the satin bird, +the gangan, and various kinds of pigeons were feeding. Birds unknown to +the eastward of the Blue Mountains, were numerous in the valleys; and +there was an unusual appearance of freshness and moisture in the +vegetation. + +These signs of improvement, however, vanish the moment Mittagong range is +crossed, and sand-stone again forms the basis of the country to a +considerable distance beyond Bong-bong. At a small farm called the +Ploughed Ground, it is again traversed by a dike of whinstone, and a rich +but isolated spot is thus passed over. With occasional and partial +interruption, however, the sand-stone formation continues to an abrupt +pass, from which the traveller descends to the county of Argyle. This pass +is extremely abrupt, and is covered with glaucus, the low scrub I have +noticed as common to the sand-stone formation. A small but lively stream, +called Paddy's River, runs at the bottom of this pass, and immediately to +the S.W. of it, an open forest country of granite base extends for many +miles, on which the eucalyptus manifera is prevalent, and which affords +the best grazing tracts in Argyle. At Goulburn Plains, however, a vein of +limestone occurs, which is evidently connected with that forming the +ShoalHaven Gully, which is perhaps the most remarkable geological feature +in the colony of New South Wales. It is a deep chasm of about a quarter of +a mile in breadth, and 1200 feet in depth. The country on either side is +perfectly level, so much so that the traveller approaches almost to its +very brink before he is aware of his being near so singular an abyss. A +small rivulet flows through the Gully, and discharges itself into the sea +at ShoalHaven; but this river is hardly perceptible, from the summit of +the cliffs forming the sides of the Gully, which are of the boldest and +most precipitous character. The ground on the summit is full of caves of +great depth, but there has been a difficulty in examining them, in +consequence of the violent wind that rushes up them, and extinguishes +every torch. + +The open and grassy forests of Argyle are terminated by another of those +abrupt sand-stone passes I have just described, and the traveller again +falls considerably from his former level, previously to his entering on +Yass Plains, to which this pass is the only inlet. + +From Yass Plains the view to the S. and S.W. is over a lofty and broken +country: mountains with rounded summits, others with towering peaks, and +others again of lengthened form but sharp spine, characterise the various +rocks of which they are composed. The ranges decline rapidly from east to +west, and while on the one hand the country has all the appearance of +increasing height, on the other it sinks to a dead level; nor on the +distant horizon to the N. W. is there a hill or an inequality to be seen. + +From Yass Plains to the very commencement of the level interior, every +range I crossed presented a new rock-formation; serpentine quartz in +huge white masses, granite, chlorite, micaceous schist, sandstone, +chalcedony, quartz, and red jasper, and conglomerate rocks. + +It was however, out of my power, in so hurried a journey as that which I +performed down the banks of the Morumbidgee River, to examine with the +accuracy I could have wished, either the immediate connection between +these rocks or their gradual change from the one to the other. I was +content to ascertain their actual succession, and to note the general +outlines of the ranges; but the defect of vision under which I labour, +prevents me from laying them before the public. + +CHARACTER OF THE SOIL CONNECTED WITH GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. + +From what has been advanced, however, it will appear that the physical +structure of the southern parts of the colony is as varied, as that of the +western interior is monotonous, and we may now pursue our original +observations on the soil of the colony with greater confidence. + +In endeavouring to account for the poverty of the soil in New South Wales, +and in attributing it in a great degree to the causes already mentioned, +it appears necessary to estimate more specifically the influence which the +geological formation of a country exercises on its soil, and how much the +quality of the latter partakes of the character of the rock on which it +reposes. And although I find it extremely difficult to explain myself as +I should wish to do, in the critical discussion on which I have thus +entered, yet as it is material to the elucidation of an important subject +in the body of the work, I feel it incumbent on me to proceed to the best +of my ability. + +I have said that the soil of a country depends much upon its geological +formation. This appears to be particularly the case in those parts of the +colony with which I am acquainted, or those lying between the parallels of +30 degrees and 35 degrees south. Sandstone, porphyry, and granite, +succeed each other from the coast to a very considerable distance into the +interior, on a N. W. line. The light ferruginous dust that is distributed +over the county of Cumberland, and which annoys the traveller by its +extreme minuteness, to the eastward of the Blue Mountains, is as different +from the coarse gravelly soil on the secondary ranges to the westward of +them, as the barren scrubs and thickly-wooded tracts of the former +district are to the grassy and open forests of the latter. + +As soon as I began to descend to the westward it became necessary to pay +strict and earnest attention to the features of the country through which +I passed, in order to determine more accurately the different appearances +which, as I was led to expect, the rivers would assume. In the course of +my examination I found, first, that the broken country through which I +travelled, was generally covered with a loose, coarse, and sandy soil; +and, secondly, that the ranges were wholly deficient in that peat +formation which fills the valleys, or covers the flat summits of the hills +or mountains, in the northern hemisphere. The peculiar property of this +formation is to retain water like a sponge; and to this property the +regular and constant flow of the rivers descending from such hills, may, +in a great measure, be attributed. In New South Wales on the contrary, the +rains that fall upon the mountains drain rapidly through a coarse and +superficial soil, and pour down their sides without a moment's +interruption. The consequence is that on such occasions the rivers are +subject to great and sudden rises, whereas they have scarcely water enough +to support a current in ordinary seasons. At one time the traveller will +find it impracticable to cross them: at another he may do so with ease; +and only from the remains of debris in the branches of the trees high +above, can he judge of the furious torrent they must occasionally +contain. + +This seeming deviation on the part of Nature from her usual laws will no +longer appear such, if we consider its results for a moment. The very +floods which swell the rivers to overflowing, are followed by the most +beneficent effects; and, rude and violent as the means are by which she +accomplishes her purpose, they form, no doubt, a part of that process by +which she preserves the balance of good and evil. Vast quantities of the +best soil have been thus washed down from the mountains to accumulate in +more accessible places. From frequent depositions, a great extent of +country along the banks of every river and creek has risen high above the +influence of the floods, and constitutes the richest tracts in the colony. +The alluvial flats of the Nepean, the Hawkesbury, and the Hunter, are +striking instances of the truth of these observations; to which the plains +of O'Connell and Bathurst must be added. The only good soil upon the two +latter, is in the immediate neighbourhood of the Macquarie River: but, +even close to its banks, the depositions are of little depth, lying on a +coarse gravelly soil, the decomposition of the nearer ranges. The former +is found to diminish in thickness, according to the concavity of the +valley through which the Macquarie flows, and at length becomes mixed with +the coarser soil. This deposit is alone fit for agricultural purposes; +but it does not necessarily follow that the distant country is unavailable +since it is admitted, that the best grazing tracts are upon the secondary +ranges of granite and porphyry. These ranges generally have the appearance +of open forest, and are covered with several kinds of grasses, among which +the long oat-grass is the most abundant. + +COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND. + +If we except the valley of the Nepean, the banks of the South Creek, the +Pennant Hills near Parramatta, and a few other places, the general soil of +the county of Cumberland, is of the poorest description. It is superficial +in most places, resting either upon a cold clay, or upon sandstone; and +is, as I have already remarked, a ferruginous compound of the finest dust. +Yet there are many places upon its surface, (hollows for instance,) in +which vegetable decay has accumulated, or valleys, into which it has been +washed, that are well adapted for the usual purposes of agriculture, and +would, if the country was more generally cleared, be found to exist to a +much greater extent than is at present imagined. I have frequently +observed the isolated patches of better land, when wandering through the +woods, both on the Parramatta River, and at a greater distance from the +coast. And I cannot but think, that it would be highly advantageous to +those who possess large properties in the County of Cumberland to let +Portions of them. The concentration of people round their capital, +promotes more than anything else the prosperity of a colony, by creating +a reciprocal demand for the produce both of the country and the town, +since the one would necessarily stimulate the energy of the farmer, as the +other would rouse the enterprise of the merchant. The consideration, +however, of such a subject is foreign to my present purpose. + +It must not be supposed, that because I have given a somewhat particular +description of the County of Cumberland, I have done so with a view to +bring it forward as a specimen of the other counties, or to found upon it +a general description of the colony. It is, in fact, poorer in every +respect than any tract of land of similar extent in the interior, and is +still covered with dense forests of heavy timber, excepting when the trees +have been felled by dint of manual labour, and the ground cleared at an +expense that nothing but its proximity to the seat of government could +have justified. But experience has proved, that neither the labour nor the +the expense have been thrown away. Many valuable farms and extensive +gardens chequer the face of the country, from which the proprietors +derive a very efficient income. + +COUNTRY WEST OF BLUE MOUNTAINS. + +To the westward of the Blue Mountains, the country differs in many +respects from that lying between those ranges and the coast; and although, +its aspect varies in different places, three principal features appear +more immediately to characterise it. These are, first, plains of +considerable extent wholly destitute of timber; secondly, open undulating +woodlands; and, thirdly, barren unprofitable tracts. The first almost +invariably occur in the immediate neighbourhood of some river, as the +Plains of Bathurst, which are divided by the Macquarie; Goulburn Plains, +through which the Wallandilly flows; and Yass Plains, which are watered by +a river of the same name. The open forests, through which the horseman may +gallop in perfect safety, seem to prevail over the whole secondary ranges +of granite, and are generally considered as excellent grazing tracts. Such +is the country in Argyleshire on either side of the Lachlan, where that +river crosses the great southern road near Mr. Hume's station; such also +are many parts of Goulburn and the whole extent of country lying between +Underaliga and the Morumbidgee River. The barren tracts, on the other +hand, may be said to occupy the central spaces between all the principal +streams. With regard to the proportion that these different kinds of +country bear to each other, there can be no doubt of the undue +preponderance of the last over the first two; but there are nevertheless +many extensive available tracts in every part of the colony. + +MEANS OF INLAND TRANSPORT. + +The greatest disadvantage under which New South Wales labours, is the want +of means for conveying inland produce to the market, or to the coast. The +Blue Mountains are in this respect a serious bar to the internal +prosperity of the colony. By this time, however, a magnificent +road will have been completed across them to the westward, over parts of +which I travelled in 1831. Indeed the efforts of the colonial government +have been wisely directed, not only to the construction of this road, +which the late Governor, General Darling commenced, but also in +facilitating the communication to the southern districts, by an almost +equally fine road over the Razor Back Range, near the Cow Pastures; so +that as far as it is possible for human efforts to overcome natural +obstacles, the wisdom and foresight of the executive have ere this been +successful. + +DISADVANTAGES OF DISTANT SETTLERS. + +The majority of the settlers in the Bathurst country, and in the more +remote interior, are woolgrowers; and as they send their produce to the +market only once a year, receiving supplies for home consumption, on the +return of their drays or carts from thence, the inconvenience of bad +roads is not so much felt by them. But to an agriculturist a residence to +the westward of the Blue Mountains is decidedly objectionable, unless he +possess the means with which to procure the more immediate necessaries of +life, otherwise than by the sale of his grain or other produce, and can be +satisfied to cultivate his property for home consumption, or for the +casual wants of his neighbours. Under such circumstances, a man with a +small private income would enjoy every rational comfort. But of course, +not only in consequence of the loss of labour, but the chance of accidents +during a long journey, the more the distance is increased from Sydney, as +the only place at which the absolute necessaries of life can be purchased, +the greater becomes the objection to a residence in such a part of the +country; and on this account it is, that although some beautiful locations +both as to extent and richness, are to be found to the westward of +Bathurst, equally on the Bell, the Macquarie and the Lachlan, it is not +probable they will be taken up for many years, or will only be occupied as +distant stock stations. + +CHARACTER OF EASTERN COAST. + +Since, therefore, it appears from what has been advanced, that it is not +to the westward the views of any settlers should he directed, excepting +under particular circumstances, it remains for us to consider what other +parts of the colony hold out, or appear to hold out, greater advantages. +The eye naturally turns to the south on the one hand, and to +Port Macquarie northerly on the other. It is to be remarked that the +eastern shores of Australia partake of the same barren character that +marks the other three. it is generally bounded to a certain extent by a +sandy and sterile tract. There are, however, breaks in so prolonged a +line, as might have been expected, where, from particular local causes, +both the soil and vegetation are of a superior kind. At Illawarra for +instance, the contiguity of the mountains to the coast leaves no room for +the sandy belt we have noticed, but the debris from them reaches to the +very shore. Whether from reflected heat, or from some other peculiarity of +situation, the vegetation of Illawarra is of an intertropical character, +and birds that are strangers to the county of Cumberland frequent its +thickets. There is no part of Australia where the feathered race are more +beautiful, or more diversified. The most splendid pigeon, perhaps, that +the world produces, and the satin bird, with its lovely eye, feed there +upon the berries of the ficus (wild fig,) and other trees: and a numerous +tribe of the accipitrine class soar over its dense and spacious forests. + +PORT MACQUARIE AND FIVE ISLANDS. + +We again see a break in the sandy line of the coast at Broken Bay, at +Newcastle, and still further north at Port Macquarie; at which places the +Hawkesbury, the Hunter, and the Hastings severally debouche. Of Port +Macquarie, as a place of settlement, I entertain a very high opinion, in +consequence of its being situated under a most favourable parallel +latitude. I am convinced it holds out many substantial advantages. One of +the most important of these is the circumstance of its having been much +improved when occupied as a penal settlement. And since the shores of the +colony are how navigated by steam-boats, the facility of water +communication would be proportionably great. + +I believe the Five Islands or Illawarr district is considered peculiarly +eligible for small settlers. The great drawback to this place is the +heavy character of its timber and the closeness of its thickets, which vie +almost with the American woods in those respects. The return, however, is +adequate to the labour required in clearing the ground. Between the Five +Islands and Sydney, a constant intercourse is kept up by numerous small +craft; and a communication with the interior, by branch roads from the +great southern line to the coast, would necessarily be thrown open, if the +more distant parts of it were sufficiently peopled. + +RICH TRACTS IN THE INTERIOR. + +Recent surveys have discovered to us rich and extensive tracts in the +remote interior between Jervis Bay and Bateman's Bay, and southwards upon +the western slope of the dividing range. The account given by Messrs. +Hovel and Hume is sufficient to prove that every valley they crossed was +worthy of notice, and that the several rivers they forded were flanked by +rich and extensive flats. + +The distance of Moneroo Plains, and of the Doomot and Morumbidgee Rivers +from Sydney, alarms the settler, who knows not the value of those +localities; but men whose experience has taught them to set this obstacle +at nought, have long depastured their herds on the banks of the last two. +The fattest cattle that supply the Sydney market are fed upon the rich +flats, and in the grassy valleys of the Morumbidgee; and there are several +beautiful farms upon those of the Doomot. Generally speaking, the persons +who reside in those distant parts, pay little attention to the comfort of +their dwellings, or to the raising of more grain than their establishments +may require; but there can be no doubt this part of the interior ought to +be the granary of New South Wales; its climate and greater humidity being +more favourable than that of Sydney for the production of wheat. + +PERIODICAL DROUGHTS; THE SEASONS AFFECTED BY THE MARSHES. + +The most serious disadvantages under which the colony of New South Wales +labours, is in the drought to which it is periodically subject. Its +climate may be said to be too dry; in other respects it is one of the most +delightful under heaven; and experience of the certainty of the recurrence +of the trying seasons to which I allude, should teach men to provide +against their effects. Those seasons, during which no rain falls, appear, +from the observations of former writers, to occur every ten or twelve +years; and it is somewhat singular that no cause has been assigned for +such periodical visitations. Whether the state of the interior has +anything to do with them, and whether the wet or dry condition of the +marshes at all regulate the seasons, is a question upon which I will not +venture to give my decisive opinion. But most assuredly, when the interior +is dry, the seasons are dry, and VICE VERSA. Indeed, not only is this the +case, but rains, from excessive duration in the first year after a +drought, decrease gradually year after year, until they wholly cease for a +time. It seems not improbable, therefore, that the state of the interior +does, in some measure, regulate the fall of rain upon the eastern ranges, +which appears to decrease in quantity yearly as the marshes become +exhausted, and cease altogether, when they no longer contain any water. A +drought will naturally follow until such time as the air becomes +surcharged with clouds or vapour from the ocean, which being no longer +able to sustain their own weight, descend upon the mountains, and being +conveyed by hundreds of streams into the western lowlands, again fill the +marshes, and cause the recurrence of regular seasons. + +TEMPERATURE OF THE CLIMATE. + +The thermometer ranges during the summer months, that is, from September +to March, from 36 degrees to 106 degrees of Fahrenheit, but the mean +of the temperature during the above period is 70 degrees. The instrument +in the winter months ranges from 27 degrees to 98 degrees, with a mean of +66 degrees. However great the summer heat may appear, it is certain that +the climate of New South Wales has not the relaxing and enfeebling effect +upon the constitution, which renders a residence in India or other parts +of the south so intolerable. Neither are any of the ordinary occupations +of business or of pleasure laid aside at noon, or during the hottest part +of the day. The traveller may cast himself at length under the first tree +that invites him, and repose there as safely as if he were in a palace. +Fearless of damps, and unmolested by noxious insects, his sleep is as +sound as it is refreshing, and he rises with renewed spirits to pursue his +journey. Equally so may the ploughman or the labourer seek repose beside +his team, and allow them to graze quietly around him. The delicious +coolness of the morning and the mild temperature of the evening air, in +that luxurious climate, are beyond the power of description. It appears to +have an influence on the very animals, the horses and the cattle being +particularly docile; and I cannot but think it is is some degree the same +happy effect upon some of the hardened human beings who are sent thither +from the old world. + +FRUITS. + +As I have before observed, it has not yet been discovered whether there +are any indigenous fruits of any value in Australia. In the colony of New +South Wales there certainly are none; yet the climate is peculiarly +adapted for the growth of every European and of many tropical productions. +The orange, the fig, the citron, the pomegranate, the peach, the apple, +the guava, the nectarine, the pear, and the loquette, grow side by side +together. The plantain throws its broad leaves over the water, the vine +encircles the cottages, and the market of Sydney is abundantly supplied +with every culinary vegetable. + +In a climate, therefore, so soft that man scarcely requires a dwelling, +and so enchanting that few have left it but with regret, the spirits must +necessarily be acted upon,--and the heart feel lighter. Such, indeed, I +have myself found to be the case; nor have I ever been happier than when +roving through the woods or wandering along one of the silent and +beautiful bays for which the harbour of Port Jackson is so celebrated. I +went to New South Wales as I have already remarked, highly prejudiced +against it, both from the nature of the service, and the character of the +great body of its inhabitants. My regiment has since quitted its shores, +but I am aware there are few of them who would not gladly return. The +feeling I have in its favour arises not, therefore, from the services in +which I was employed, but from circumstances in the colony itself; and I +yet hope to form one of its community and to join a number of valuable and +warm-hearted friends whom I left in that distant part of the world. + +REMARKS ON EMIGRATION. + +On the subject of emigration, it is not my intention to dwell at any +length. My object in these preliminary remarks has been to give the reader +a general idea of the country, in the interior recesses of which I am +about to lead him. Still, however, it may be useful to offer a few general +observations on a topic which has, of late years, become so interesting to +the British public. + +The main consideration with those who, possessing some capital, propose to +emigrate as the means of improving their condition, is, the society likely +to he found in the land fixed on for their future residence. One of the +first questions I have been asked, when conversing on the subject of +emigration, has consequently related to this important matter. I had only +then to observe in reply, that the civil and military establishments in +New South Wales, form the elements of as good society as it is the lot of +the majority to command in Great Britain. + +The houses of the settlers are not scattered over a greater surface than +the residences of country gentlemen here, and if they cannot vie with them +in size, they most assuredly do in many other more important respects; and +if a substantial cottage of brick or stone has any claim to the rank of a +tenantable mansion, there are few of them which do not posses all the +means of exercising that hospitality for which young communities are +remarkable. + +But to sever the links of kindred, and to abandon the homes of our fathers +after years of happy tranquillity, is a sacrifice the magnitude of which +is unquestionable. The feelings by which men are influenced under such +circumstances have a claim to our respect. Indeed, no class of persons can +have a stronger hold upon our sympathies than those whom unmerited adverse +fortune obliges to seek a home in a distant country. + +Far, therefore, be it from me to dispute a single expression of regret to +which they may give utterance. It must, however, he remembered that the +deepest feelings of anguish are providentially alleviated in time. Our +heaviest misfortunes are frequently repaired by industry and caution. The +sky clears up, as it were: new interests engage the attention, and the +cares of a family or the improvement of a newly acquired property engross +those moments which would otherwise be spent in vain and unprofitable +regrets. + +DESCRIPTION OF IMMIGRANTS; MOST LIKELY TO PROSPER. + +It cannot be doubted that persons such as I have described, whose conduct +has hitherto been regulated by prudence, and whose main object is to +provide for their children, are the most valuable members of every +community, whether young or old. To such men few countries hold out +greater prospects of success than New South Wales; for the more we extend +our enquiries, the more we shall find that the success of the emigrant in +that colony depends upon his prudence and foresight rather than on any +collateral circumstance of climate or soil; and to him who can be +satisfied with the gradual acquirement of competency, it is the land of +promise. Blessed with a climate of unparalleled serenity, and of unusual +freedom from disease, the settler has little external cause of anxiety, +little apprehension of sickness among his family or domestics, and little +else to do than to attend to his own immediate interests. I should wish to +illustrate the observations by two or three instances of their practical +bearing and tendency. + +CASES OF EMIGRANTS; CAUSES OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE. + +It was on my return from my second expedition, that I visited +Lieut. ****** who resides in the southern parts of the colony. The day +after my arrival, he took me round his property, and explained the various +improvements he had made, considering the small means with which he had +commenced. At this part of our conversation, we came within view of his +house, a substantial weather-board cottage. "I trust," said I, turning +to him, "you will excuse the question I am about to ask; for your +frankness emboldens me to propose it, and on your answer much of the +effect of what you have been saying will depend. In effecting these +various improvements, and in the building of that house, have you been +obliged to embarrass yourself, or are they free from incumbrance?"--"Your +question," he said, "is a reasonable one, and I will answer it with the +frankness you are kind enough to ascribe to me. I have ever made it a rule +not to exceed my income. Mrs. ****** bore our first trials with so much +cheerfulness, and contributed so much to my happiness and my prosperity, +that I felt myself bound to build her a good house with the first money +I had to spare." I confess this answer raised my host in my estimation, +and it was a gratifying proof to me of the success that attends industry +and perseverance. + +But let us look at another case. Mr. *** had a property to the N.W. of +Sydney, and having considerable funded means when he arrived in the +colony, he soon put his property into a state of progressive improvement, +and being in truth an excellent practical farmer, it assumed the +appearance of regularity and order. Had Mr. *** stopped at this moment, +he would have been in the enjoyment of affluence and of every rational +comfort. But instead of exercising prudent rules of hospitality, he gave +way to the natural generosity of his disposition, entered into expenses he +could not afford, and was ultimately obliged to part with his estate. Now +it is deeply to be regretted, that one whose energies and abilities +particularly fitted him for the life he had chosen, should have failed +through such conduct; and it is more than probable, that if he had +commenced with smaller means, and had gradually improved his property, his +fate would have been very different. + +I shall leave these cases without any further comment, convinced as I am, +that each of them furnishes matter for serious consideration, and that +they are practical illustrations of the causes of success or failure of +those who emigrate to the colony of New South Wales. And although I do not +mean to affirm, that the majority follow Mr. ***'s example, I must venture +to assert that thoughtlessness--useless expenditure in the first +instance--waste of time and other circumstances, lead to equally ruinous +consequences. + +MORAL OBJECTIONS TO THE COLONY. + +One of the greatest objections which families have to New South Wales, is +their apprehension of the moral effects that are likely to overwhelm them +by bad example, and for which no success in life could compensate. In a +colony constituted like that of New South Wales, the proportion of crime +must of course be great. Yet it falls less under the notice of private +families than one might at first sight have been led to suppose. +Drunkenness, as in the mother country, is the besetting sin; but it is +confined chiefly to the large towns in consequence of the difficulty of +procuring spirits in the country. There are, no doubt, many incorrigible +characters sent to settle in the interior, and it is an evil to have these +men, even for a single day, to break the harmony of a previously well +regulated establishment, or to injure its future prospects by the +influence of evil example. They are men who are sent upon trial, from on +board a newly arrived ship, and they generally terminate their misconduct +either on the roads or at a penal settlement, being thus happily removed +from the mass of the prisoners. Frequently, however, men remain for years +under the same master. They become attached to their occupations, their +hearts become softened by kindness, and they atone as much as they +possibly can for previous error. + +SYSTEM OF IMMIGRATION RECOMMENDED; ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EMIGRATION. + +Still there can be no doubt, but that the evil complained of is +considerable. It is from this reason, and from my personal knowledge of +the southern parts of the colony, that I should rejoice to see its flats +and its valleys filled with an industrious population of a better +description of farmers. A hope might then be reasonably indulged, that the +Home Government would not be backward in recognising, and in acting upon +a principle, the soundness of which has been felt and acknowledged in all +ages, but the chief difficulty of which rests in its judicious +application. I allude to a system of emigration. Sure I am that if it were +well organized, and care were taken to profit by the experience of the +past in similar attempts, it could not fail to be attended with ultimate +success. The evils resulting from a surplus population in an old +community, were never more seriously felt than in Great Britain at the +present moment. Assuming that the amount of surplus population is +2,000,000, the excess of labour and competition thus occasioned by +diminishing profits and wages, creates, it has been said, an indirect tax +to the enormous extent of 20,000,000 pounds per annum. It has appeared +to many experienced persons, that it is in emigration, we should best find +the means of relief from this heavy pressure; particularly if the +individuals encouraged to go out to the colonies were young persons of +both sexes, from the industrious classes of the community. Even if no +more than three couples were induced to emigrate from each parish in +England in ten years, the relief to the springs of industry would be very +great. Besides, the funds necessary for this purpose would revert to the +country by a thousand indirect channels. Persons unacquainted with our +Australian colonies, whether Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales, can +form little idea of the increasing demand for, and consumption in them of +every species of British manufacture. The liberal encouragement given by +government to every practicable scheme of emigration, and the sum advanced +by it towards the expenses of the voyage to the labouring classes, +sufficiently indicate the light in which the subject is viewed by the +legislature; and the fact that no private family taking out servants to +Sydney, has in any one instance been able to retain them, on account of +offers more advantageous from other quarters, shows clearly the great +demand for labour in the colony. If I might judge of the feelings of the +majority of respectable individuals there, from the assurances of the few, +they would willingly defray any parochial expenses attendant on the +voyage, provided the services of such individuals could be secured to them +for a time sufficiently long to remunerate them for such pavement. The +tide of emigration should be directed to Sydney, Van Dieman's Land, or +Western Australia, upon condition of the labourer's receiving a certain +sum in wages, and his daily subsistence from his employer, with an +understanding, however, that he must consider himself bound for two years +to such employer. Surely there are hundreds of our indigent countrymen, +who would gladly seek a land of such plenty, and cast away the natural, +but unavailing regret of leaving home to secure to themselves and their +families, the substantial comforts of life on such easy conditions. + +COMMITTEE FOUND AT SYDNEY. + +It is not, perhaps, generally known that a committee has been formed in +Sydney, to advise settlers as to the best mode of proceeding on arrival +there. Such a plan is one of obvious utility; and if those who may find +themselves at a loss for information would apply to this committee for +advice, rather than to individuals with whom they may become casually +acquainted, they would further their own interests, and in all probability +ensure success. Still there are some broad rules upon which every man +ought to act, which I shall endeavour to point out, and it will give me no +ordinary satisfaction, if I should be the means of directing any one to +the road of prosperity and comfort. + +HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. + +It is to be feared that those who emigrate to New South Wales, generally +anticipate too great facility in their future operations and certainty of +success in conducting them; but they should recollect that competency +cannot be obtained without labour. Every trade--every profession in this +respect, is subject to the same law--the lawyer, the physician, the +tradesman, and the mechanic. This labour is required at our hands, even in +an old community; how much more then is it called for in a new, where the +ingenuity of men is put to trial to secure those means of accomplishing +their ends which here are abundant. Now, it appears to me but consistent, +that he who is obliged to leave his native country from want of means to +hold his station there, can hardly expect to find, or rather to secure, +abundance elsewhere without some exertion. Every man who emigrates should +proceed with a conviction on his mind, that he is about to encounter years +of labour and privation. He will not then be disappointed at partial +reverses, and will be more thankful for unexpected prosperity. I feel +persuaded the tone of mind has a great deal to do with success, because it +influences the conduct of the individual. Supposing, however, that an +emigrant has taken this rational view of his situation, he should +determine on his pursuits, and allow nothing but absolute certainty of +better fortune to turn him aside. Men, however, landing at Sydney, in +their eagerness for information get bewildered, give up their original +plans, adopt new and uncertain speculations, trifle away both their time +and their money, and ultimately ruin themselves. An individual who goes to +New South Wales for the purpose of settling, should not remain in Sydney +a day longer than is necessary for the arrangement of his affairs. Every +shilling spent there is thrown away. The greatest facility is given by the +different departments of the Colonial Government to the settlers; and it +is entirely his own fault if he trifles away his time in search of +information elsewhere than at the fountainhead, or if he trusts to any +other opinion than his own, supposing him experienced as to the quality of +the land he may fix upon. Let him be speedy in his selection, and fix +himself upon his allotment as soon as possible. Instead of overstocking +his farm, or employing more labourers than he can afford to keep, let him +be satisfied with a gradual increase of his stock, and wait patiently till +he can better afford to employ labour; above all, let him avoid +embarrassing himself by the purchase of any superfluous or unnecessary +comfort. I consider that man has already failed, who runs into debt in the +first instance, or who exhausts his means in the purchase of large herds, +from the vain expectation that their increase will clear him. The time was +when those idle speculations were occasionally attended with success, but +such is not now the case. The energies of the agriculturist are directed +to their proper channel, and if the few are unable to make rapid fortunes, +the many have escaped inevitable ruin. No farm in a state of nature can be +expected to yield any return of consequence for the first year. It is +incumbent on a settler to provide for his establishment, or to retain the +means of providing for it as circumstances may require. + +Farming implements are as cheap in Sydney as in England. Horses and cattle +are cheaper. It requires little, therefore, to stock a farm in a +reasonable manner. On the other hand, the climate is so mild that the want +of a house is scarcely felt, and a temporary residence easily constructed. +On the whole I am convinced, that a man who regulates his conduct by +prudence, and who perseveringly follows up his occupations, who behaves +with kindness to those around him, and performs his social and moral +duties with punctuality, will ultimately secure to himself a home that +will make up for the one he has quitted in the land of his fathers, and +place him in as respectable and as happy a situation as that which he +there enjoyed. + + +***** + + +PROGRESS OF INLAND DISCOVERY. + +Having thrown out the foregoing remarks for the information of the general +reader, and of persons who look to Australia with the more earnest views +of selecting a colonial home, I now return to the immediate object of +these volumes; but before entering on the narrative of my own expeditions, +I think it necessary to advert cursorily to the discoveries previously +accomplished. + +The journeys of Mr. Oxley, far into the western interior of Australia, +gave rise to various and conflicting opinions as to the character of the +more central parts of that extensive continent, of which the colony of New +South Wales forms but a small portion. I feel, therefore, called upon +briefly to advert to the conclusions which that able and intelligent +officer drew from his personal observation of the country into which he +penetrated, as an acquaintance with his opinions will not only tend to +throw a clearer light on the following details, but will, also, convey +much necessary information to those of my readers who may not have +perused his journals. It is necessary, however, in order to divest the +subject of all obscureness, to trace, in the first instance, the progress +of inland discovery, in New South Wales, from the first foundation of the +colony to the period when Mr. Oxley's exertions attracted the public +attention. + +In the year 1788, the British Government took formal possession of the +eastern coast of Australia, by the establishment of a penal colony at Port +Jackson. The first settlers, under Governor Phillips, had too many +difficulties to contend with to submit themselves to be thwarted from +pursuits essential to their immediate safety and comfort, by the prospect +of remote and uncertain advantages. It was by perseverance and toil alone +that they first established and ultimately spread themselves over that +part of the territory, which, flanked by the ocean on the one hand, and +embraced as it were by the Nepean River on the other, is now entitled the +County Of Cumberland. For many years, this single district supplied the +wants of the settlers. Upon it they found ample pasture for their herds, +and sufficient employment for themselves. Nor was it until a succession of +untoward seasons, and the rapid increase of their stock pointed out to +them the necessity of seeking for more extensive pasturage, that they +contemplated surmounting that dark and rugged chain of mountains, which, +like the natural ramparts of Spain and Italy, rose high over the nether +forest, and broke the line of the western horizon. + +MR. CALEY'S ATTEMPT. + +A Mr. Caley is said to have been the first who attempted to scale the Blue +Mountains: but he did not long persevere in struggling with difficulties +too great for ordinary resolution to overcome. It appears that he retraced +his steps, after having penetrated about sixteen miles into their dark and +precipitous recesses; and a heap of stones, which the traveller passes +about that distance from Erne Ford, on the road to Bathurst, marks the +extreme point reached by the first expedition to the westward of the +Nepean river. + +LIEUT. LAWSON'S EXPEDITION. + +Shortly after the failure of this expedition, the sad effects of a long +protracted drought called forth a more general spirit of enterprise and +exertion among the settlers; and Mr. Oxley makes honorable mention of the +perseverance and resolution with which Lieut. Lawson, of the 104th +regiment, accompanied by Messrs. Blaxland and Wentworth, conducted an +expedition into the Blue Mountains. Their efforts were successful: and +the objects of their enterprise would have been completely attained, but +for the failure of their provisions at a moment when their view of the +distant interior was such as to convince them that they had overcome the +most formidable obstacles to their advance, and that in their further +progress few impediments would have presented themselves. + +MR. EVANS' DISCOVERIES. + +The success of this undertaking induced Governor Macquarie to further the +prosecution of inland discovery, and of attempts to ascertain the nature +of the country of which Mr. Lawson only obtained a glimpse. An expedition +was accordingly dispatched under Mr. Evans, the Deputy Surveyor-General, +to follow the route taken by the former one, and to penetrate as far as +practicable into the western interior. The result was the discovery of the +Macquarie river, and of Bathurst Plains. The report of Mr. Evans was so +favourable, that orders were immediately issued for the construction of a +line of road across the mountains. When that was completed, the Governor +went in person to fix the site of a future town on Bathurst Plains. From +thence Mr. Evans, who accompanied the Governor on the occasion, was +directed to proceed to the southward and westward, to ascertain the nature +of the country in that direction. He discovered another considerable +river, flowing, like the Macquarie, to the west, to which he gave the name +of the Lachlan. The promising appearance of these two streams, and the +expectation of all parties that they would be found to water rich and +extensive tracts of country, led to the fitting out of a more important +expedition than any which had before been contemplated. + +MR. OXLEY'S DISCOVERIES. + +Mr. Oxley, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, was appointed chief of this +expedition, and was directed to trace the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers, as +far as practicable, with a view to ascertain their capabilities and the +nature of the country they watered. In 1817, Mr. Oxley directed his +attention to the former river, and continued to follow its windings, until +it appeared that its waters were lost in successive marshes and it ceased +to be a river. In the following year he turned towards the Macquarie, and +traced it, in like manner, until he was checked by high reeds that covered +an extensive plain before him, amidst which the channel of the river was +lost. + +From what he observed of the country, on both these occasions, he was led +to infer that beyond the limits of his advance the interior had a uniform +level, and was, for the most part, uninhabitable and under water. Its +features must have been strongly marked to have confirmed such an opinion +in the mind of the late Surveyor-General. It stands recorded on the pages +of his journal, that he travelled over a country of many miles in extent, +after clearing the mountains, which so far from presenting any rise of +ground to the eye, bore unequivocal marks of frequent and extensive +inundation. He traced two rivers of considerable size, and found that, at +a great distance from each other, they apparently terminated in marshes, +and that the country beyond them was low and unbroken. In his progress +eastward, he crossed a third stream (the Castlereagh), about forty-five +miles from the Macquarie, seemingly not inferior to it in size, +originating in the mountains for which he was making, and flowing nearly +parallel to the other rivers into a level country like that which he had +just quitted. + +DISCOVERIES OF MESSRS. MECHAN, HUME, HOVEL AND CUNNINGHAM. + +Mr. Evans, moreover, who accompanied Mr. Oxley on these journeys, and who +had been detached by his principal from Mount Harris, to ascertain the +nature of the country in the line which the expedition was next to pursue, +having crossed the Castlereagh considerably below the place at which the +party afterwards effected a passage, reported that the river was then +running through high reeds. The inference naturally drawn by Mr. Oxley, +was, that it terminated as the Lachlan and the Macquarie had done; and +that their united waters formed an inland sea or basin. It is evident that +Mr. Oxley had this impression on his mind, when he turned towards the +coast; but the wet state of the lowlands prevented him from ascertaining +its correctness or error. Doubt, consequently, still existed as to the +nature of the country he had left behind him; a question in which the best +interests of the colony were apparently involved. Subsequently to these +discoveries, Mr. Surveyor Mechan, accompanied by Mr. Hamilton Hume, a +colonist of considerable experience, explored the country more to the +southward and westward of Sydney, and discovered most of the new country +called Argyle, and also Lake Bathurst. + +Mr. Hume was afterwards associated with a Mr. Hovel, in an excursion to +the south coast, under the auspices of Sir Thomas Brisbane. After a most +persevering and laborious journey, they reached the sea; but it is +uncertain whether they made Port Philips, or Western Port. Mr. Hume, whose +practical experience will yield to that of no man, entertains a conviction +that it was to the former they descended from the neighbouring ranges; but +Mr. Hovel, I believe supports a contrary opinion. In the early stage of +their journey, they passed over York or Yass Plains; and, after crossing +the Morumbidgee, were generally entangled among mountain ranges that +increased in height to the east and south-east. They crossed three +considerable rivers, falling westerly, which they named the Goulburn, the +Hume, and the Ovens; and found a beautiful and well-watered country in the +vicinity of the coast. + +In 1826, Mr. Allan Cunningham, Botanical Collector to his late Majesty, +traversed a considerable portion of the interior to the north of Bathurst, +and, with a laudable zeal, devoted his labours to the acquisition of +general information, as well as to his more immediate professional +pursuits. In 1827, this gentleman again bent his steps towards the +northward, and succeeded in gaining the 28th parallel of latitude; and, +on a subsequent occasion, having taken his departure from Moreton Bay, he +connected his former journey with that settlement, and thus contributed +largely to our knowledge of the mountain country between it and the +capital. Mr. Cunningham, who, independently of his individual excursions, +had not only circumnavigated the Australian Continent with Capt. King, +but had formed also one of the party with Mr. Oxley, in the journeys +before noticed, had adopted this gentleman's opinion with regard to the +swampy and inhospitable character of the distant interior. Its depressed +appearance from the high ground on which Mr. Cunningham subsequently +moved, tended to confirm this opinion, which was moreover daily gaining +strength from the reports of the natives, who became more frequent in +their intercourse with the whites, and who reported that there were large +waters to the westward, on which the natives had canoes, and in which +there were fish of great size. + +It became, therefore, a current opinion, that the western interior of New +Holland comprehended an extensive basin, of which the ocean of reeds which +had proved so formidable to Mr. Oxley, formed most probably the outskirts; +and it was generally thought that an expedition proceeding into the +interior, would encounter marshes of vast extent, which would be extremely +difficult to turn, and no less dangerous to enter. + +It remained to be proved, however, whether these conjectures were founded +in fact. The chief difficulty lay in the character of the country, and in +providing the necessary means to ensure success. Those which were resorted +to will be found in the succeeding chapter. Whether they would have been +found sufficient and applicable had the interior been wholly under water, +is doubtful; and my impression on this point induced me to make more +efficient arrangements on the second expedition. + + + + + +EXPEDITION DOWN THE BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER in 1828 and 1829. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure +from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at +Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions down +the river--Its termination-- Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic +affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the northward-- +Journey across the plain--Second great marsh--Perplexities--Situation of +the exploring party--Consequent resolutions. + + +The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful +droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of New South Wales +is periodically subject. It continued during the two following years with +unabated severity. The surface of the earth became so parched up that +minor vegetation ceased upon it. Culinary herbs were raised with +difficulty, and crops failed even in the most favourable situations. +Settlers drove their flocks and herds to distant tracts for pasture and +water, neither remaining for them in the located districts. The interior +suffered equally with the coast, and men, at length, began to despond +under so alarming a visitation. It almost appeared as if the Australian +sky were never again to be traversed by a cloud. + +OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION. + +But, however severe for the colony the seasons had proved, or were likely +to prove, it was borne in mind at this critical moment, that the wet and +swampy state of the interior had alone prevented Mr. Oxley from +penetrating further into it, in 1818. Each successive report from +Wellington Valley, the most distant settlement to the N. W., confirmed the +news of the unusually dry state of the lowlands, and of the exhausted +appearance of the streams falling into them. It was, consequently, hoped +that an expedition, pursuing the line of the Macquarie, would have a +greater chance of success than the late Surveyor General had; and that the +difficulties he had to contend against would be found to be greatly +diminished, if not altogether removed. The immediate fitting out of an +expedition was therefore decided upon, for the express purpose of +ascertaining the nature and extent of that basin into which the Macquarie +was supposed to fall, and whether any connection existed between it and +the streams falling westerly. As I had early taken a great interest in the +geography of New South Wales, the Governor was pleased to appoint me to +the command of this expedition. + +JOURNEY FROM SYDNEY TO EMU PLAINS. + +In the month of September, 1828, I received his Excellency's commands to +prepare for my journey; and by the commencement of November, had organised +my party, and completed the necessary arrangements. On the 9th of that +month, I waited on the Governor, at Parramatta, to receive his definitive +instructions. As the establishments at Sydney had been unable to supply me +with the necessary number of horses and oxen, instructions had been +forwarded to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of Wellington Valley, to +train a certain number for my use; and I was now directed to push for that +settlement without loss of time. I returned to Sydney in the afternoon of +the 9th, and on the 10th took leave of my brother officers, to commence a +journey of very dubious issue; and, in company with my friend, +Staff-surgeon M'Leod, who had obtained permission to accompany me to the +limits of the colony, followed my men along the great western road. We +moved leisurely over the level country, between the coast and the Nepean +River, and availed ourselves of the kind hospitality of those of our +friends whose property lay along that line of road, to secure more +comfortable places of rest than the inns would have afforded. + +We reached Sheane, the residence of Dr. Harris, on the 11th, and were +received by him with the characteristic kindness with which friends or +strangers are ever welcomed by that gentleman, He had accompanied +Mr. Oxley as a volunteer in 1818, and his name was then given to the +mount which formed the extreme point to which the main body of the first +expedition down the banks of the Macquarie penetrated, in a westerly +direction. + +The general appearance of the property of Dr. Harris, showed how much +perseverance and labour had effected towards its improvement. Many acres +of ground bore a promising crop, over which a gloomy forest had once +waved. The Doctor's farming establishment was as complete as his husbandry +seemed to be prosperous; but he did not appear to be satisfied with the +extent of his dwelling, to which he was making considerable additions, +although I should have thought it large enough for all ordinary purposes +of residence or hospitality. The rewards of successful industry were +everywhere visible. + +FROM EMU PLAINS TO WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +On the 13th, we gained Regent's Ville, the more splendid mansion of Sir +John Jamieson, which overlooks the Nepean River, and commands the most +beautiful and extensive views of the Blue Mountains. Crossing the ford on +the 14th, we overtook the men as they were toiling up the first ascent of +those rugged bulwarks, which certainly gave no favourable earnest of the +road before us; and, as we could scarcely hope to reach the level country +to the westward without the occurrence of some accident, I determined to +keep near the drays, that I might be on hand should my presence be +required. We gained O'Connell's plains on the 20th November, and arrived +at Bathurst on the 22nd, with no other damage than the loss of one of the +props supporting the boat which snapped in two as we descended Mount York. +On examination, it was found that the boat had also received a slight +contusion, but it admitted of easy repair. + +I was detained at Bathurst longer than I intended, in consequence of +indisposition, and during my stay there experienced many proofs of the +kind hospitality of the settlers of that promising district: nor was I +ever more impressed with the importance of the service upon which I was +employed, or more anxious as to the issue, than while contemplating the +rapid advance of agriculture upon its plains, and the formidable bar to +its prosperity which I had left behind me, in the dark and gloomy ranges +which I had crossed. + +On the 27th, Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose experience well qualified him for +the task, and who had been associated with me in the expedition, having +joined me, we proceeded on our journey, and reached Wellington Valley +about the end of the month. + +WELLINGTON VALLEY. + +I wished to push into the interior without any delay, or at least, so soon +as we should have completed our arrangements and organized the party; but, +although Mr. Maxwell had paid every attention to the training of the +cattle, he was of opinion that they could not yet be wholly relied upon, +and strongly recommended that they should be kept at practice for another +week. As we could not have left the settlement under the most favourable +circumstances in less than four days, the further delay attendant on this +measure was considered immaterial, and it was, accordingly, determined +upon. Mr. Hume undertook to superintend the training of the animals, and +this left me at leisure to gather such information as would be of use to +us in our progress down the river. + +In his description of Wellington Valley, Mr. Oxley has not done it more +than justice. It is certainly a beautiful and fertile spot, and it was now +abundant in pasturage, notwithstanding the unfavourable season that had +passed over it. + +The settlement stands upon the right bank of the Bell, about two miles +above the junction of that stream with the Macquarie. Its whitewashed +buildings bore outward testimony to the cleanliness and regularity of the +inhabitants; and the respectful conduct of the prisoners under his charge, +showed that Mr. Maxwell had maintained that discipline by which alone he +could have secured respect to himself and success to his exertions, at +such a distance from the seat of government. + +The weather was so exceedingly hot, during our stay, that it was +impossible to take exercise at noon; but in the evening, or at an early +hour in the morning, we were enabled to make short excursions in the +neighbourhood. + +Mr. Maxwell informed me that there were three stations below the +settlement, the first of which, called Gobawlin, belonging to Mr. Wylde, +was not more than five miles from it; the other two, occupied by Mr. +Palmer, were at a greater distance, one being nineteen, the other +thirty-four miles below the junction of the Bell. He was good enough to +send for the stockman (or chief herdsman), in charge of the last, to give +me such information of the nature of the country below him, as he could +furnish from personal knowledge or from the accounts of the natives. + +LOW STATE OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER. + +Mr. Maxwell pointed out to me the spot on which Mr. Oxley's boats had been +built, close upon the bank of the Macquarie; and I could not but reflect +with some degree of apprehension on the singularly diminished state of the +river from what it must then have been to allow a boat to pass down it. +Instead of a broad stream and a rapid current, the stream was confined to +a narrow space in the centre of the channel, and it ran so feebly amidst +frequent shallows that it was often scarcely perceptible. The Bell, also, +which Mr. Oxley describes as dashing and rippling along its pebbly bed, +had ceased to flow, and consisted merely of a chain of ponds. + +On the 3rd of Dec, the stockman from below arrived; but the only +information we gathered from him was the existence of a lake to the left +of the river, about three days' journey below the run of his herds, on the +banks of which he assured us, the native companions, a species of stork, +stood in rows like companies of soldiers. + +He brought up a nest of small paroquets of the most beautiful plumage, as +a present to Mr. Maxwell, and affirmed that they were common about his +part of the river. The peculiarity of the seasons had also brought a +parrot into the valley which had never before visited it. This delicate +bird was noticed by Captain Cook upon the coast, and is called +PSITTACUS NOVAE HOLLANDIAE, or New Holland Parrot, by Mr. Brown. It had +not, however, been subsequently seen until the summer of 1828, when it +made its appearance at Wellington Valley in considerable numbers, together +with a species of merops or mountain bee-eater. + +DEPARTURE FOR THE INTERIOR. + +On the 5th, our preparations being wholly completed, and the loads +arranged, the party was mustered, and was found to consist of myself and +Mr. Hume, two soldiers and eight prisoners of the crown, two of whom were +to return with dispatches. Our animals numbered two riding, and seven +pack, horses, two draft, and eight pack, bullocks, exclusive of two +horses of my own, and two for the men to be sent back. + +BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE. + +The morning of the 7th December, the day upon which we were to leave the +valley, was ushered in by a cloudless sky, and that heated appearance in +the atmosphere which foretells an oppressively sultry day. I therefore put +off the moment of our departure to the evening, and determined to proceed +no further than Gobawlin. I was the more readily induced to order this +short journey because the animals had not been practised to their full +loads, and I thought they might have given some trouble at starting with +an unusual weight. They moved off however very quietly, and as if they had +been accustomed to their work by a long course of training. We took our +departure from the settlement at 3 p.m. and, crossing to the right bank of +the Macquarie, a little above its junction with the Bell, reached Mr +Wylde's station about half-past five. Thus we commenced our journey under +circumstances as favorable as could have been wished. In disengaging +ourselves on the following day from the hills by which Wellington Valley +is encompassed on the westward, with a view to approach Mr. Palmer's first +station, we kept rather wide of the river, and only occasionally touched +on its more projecting angles. The soil at a distance from the stream was +by no means so good as that in its immediate vicinity, nor was the timber +of the same description. On the rich and picturesque grounds near the +river the angophora prevailed with the flooded gum, and the scenery upon +its banks was improved by the casuarinae that overhung them. On the +latter, inferior eucalypti and cypresses were mixed together. The country +was broken and undulating, and the hills stony, notwithstanding which, +they appeared to have an abundance of pasture upon them. Mr. Hume rode +with me to the summit of a limestone elevation, from which I thought it +probable we might have obtained such a view as would have enabled us to +form some idea of the country into which we were about to descend. But in +following the river line, the eye wandered over a dark and unbroken +forest alone. The ranges from which we were fast receding formed an +irregular and beautiful landscape to the southward; and contrasted +strongly with the appearance of the country to the N. W., in which +direction it was rapidly assuming a level. + +We reached Mr. Palmer's at a late hour in the afternoon, in consequence of +a delay we experienced in crossing a gully, and encamped upon a high bank +immediately opposite to the mouth of Molle's rivulet which here joins the +Macquarie from the southward. The cattle had consumed all the food, and +the ground on both sides of the river looked bare and arid. + +No doubt, however, the face of the country in ordinary seasons wears a +very different appearance. Its general elevation continued high; nor did +the Macquarie assume any change of aspect. Mountain debris and rounded +pebbles of various kinds formed its bed, which was much encumbered with +timber. + +DIBILAMBLE. + +We had been unable to persuade any of the natives of Wellington Valley to +accompany us as guides, on our leaving that settlement. Even Mr. Maxwell's +influence failed; for, notwithstanding the promises of several, when they +saw that we were ready to depart, they either feigned sickness or stated +that they were afraid of the more distant natives. The fact is, that they +were too lazy to wander far from their own district, and too fond of +Maxwell's beef to leave it for a precarious bush subsistence. Fortunately +we found several natives with Mr. Palmer's stockmen, who readily undertook +to conduct us by the nearest route to the cataract, which we considered to +be midway between Wellington Valley and Mount Harris. We started under +their guidance for Dibilamble, Mr. Palmer's second station, and reached it +about half-past 4 p.m. The distance between the two is sixteen miles. The +country for some miles differs in no material point from that through +which we had already passed. The same rich tracts of soil near the river +and the same inferiority in the tracks remote from it. Near Dibilamble, +however, the limestone formation terminates, and gives place to barren +stony ridges, upon which the cypress callities is of close and stunted +growth. The ridges themselves were formed of a coarse kind of freestone +in a state of rapid decomposition. The Tabragar (the Erskine of Mr. Oxley) +falls into the Macquarie at Dibilamble. It had long ceased to flow, being +a small mountain torrent whose source, if we judge from the shingly nature +of its bed, cannot be very distant. Our descent was considerable during +the day; the rapids were frequent in the river, but it underwent no change +in its general appearance. Its waters were hard and transparent, and its +banks, in many places, extremely lofty; with a red sandy loam and gravel +under the alluvial deposits. It generally happened that where the bank was +high on the one side it was low and subject to flood, to a limited extent +at least, on the other. Upon these low grounds the blue-gum trees were of +lofty growth, but on the upper levels box prevailed. + +SCENERY NEAR THE RIVER. + +The views upon the river were really beautiful, and varied at every turn; +nor is it possible for any tree to exceed the casuarina in the graceful +manner in which it bends over the stream, or clings to some solitary rock +in its centre. + +It here became necessary for us to cross to the left bank of the river, +not only to avoid its numerous windings, and thus to preserve as much as +possible the direct line to Mount Harris; but also, because the travelling +was much better on the south side. We therefore availed ourselves of a +ford opposite to the ground on which the tents had stood; and then pursued +our journey, in a south-westerly course, over a country of a description +very inferior to that of any we had previously noticed. + +Iron-bark and cypresses generally prevailed along our line of route on a +poor and sandy soil, which improved after we passed Elizabeth Burn, a +small creek mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +TAYLOR'S RIVULET. + +We approached the river again early in the day, and pitched our tent on +the summit of a sloping bank that overlooked one of its long still +reaches. We were protected from the sun by the angophora trees, which +formed a hanging wood around us, and, with its bright green foliage, gave +a cheerfulness to the scene that was altogether unusual. The opposite side +of the river was rather undulated, and the soil appeared to be of the +finest description. The grass, although growing in tufts, afforded +abundance of pasture for the cattle; and, on the whole, this struck me as +a most eligible spot for a station, and I found it occupied as such on the +return of the expedition. We had encamped about a quarter of a mile from +Taylor's Rivulet, which discharges itself into the Macquarie from the +N. E., and is the first stream, upon the right bank, below the Wellington +Valley. + +Immediately after receiving it the river sweeps away to the southward, in +consequence of which it became again necessary for us to cross it. Our +guides, who were intelligent lads, led the cattle to a ford, a little +below the junction of Taylor's Rivulet, at which we effected a passage +with some difficulty; the opposite bank being very steep, and we were +obliged to force our way up a gully for some eighty or a hundred yards +before we could extricate the team. Pursuing our journey, in a N. W. +direction, we soon left the rich and undulating grounds bordering the +river behind us. A poor, level, and open country, succeeded them. The +soil changed to a light red, sandy loam, on which eucalypti, cypresses, +and casuarinae, were intermixed with minor shrubs; of which latter, the +cherry tree (exocarpus cupressiformis) was the most prevalent. + +At about seven miles from the river we passed some barren freestone +ridges, near which Mr. Hume killed the first kangaroo we had seen. At +mid-day we passed a small creek, at which the cattle were watered; and +afterwards continued our journey through a country similar to that over +which we had already made our way. + +As we neared the stream we noticed the acacia pendula for the first +time,--an indication of our approach to the marshes. The weather still +continued extremely hot. Our journey this day was unusually long, and our +cattle suffered so much, and moved so slowly, that it was late when we +struck upon the Macquarie, at a part where its banks were so high that we +had some difficulty in finding a good watering place. + +SURPRISE SOME NATIVES. + +Being considerably in front of the party, with one of our guides, when we +neared the river, I came suddenly upon a family of natives. They were much +terrified, and finding that they could not escape, called vehemently to +some of their companions, who were in the distance. By the time Mr. Hume +came up, they had in some measure recovered their presence of mind, but +availed themselves of the first favourable moment to leave us. I was +particular in not imposing any restraint on these men, in consequence of +which they afterwards mustered sufficient resolution to visit us in our +camp. We now judged that we were about ten miles from the cataract, and +that, according to the accounts of the stockman, we could not be very +distant from the lake he had mentioned. + +NATIVE BURIAL PLACE. + +As I was unwilling to pass any important feature of the country without +enquiry or examination, I requested Mr. Hume to interrogate the strangers +on the subject. They stated that they belonged to the lake tribe, that the +lake was a short day's journey to the eastward, and that they would guide +us to it if we wished. The matter was accordingly arranged. They left us +at dusk, but returned to the camp at the earliest dawn; when we once more +crossed the river, and, after traversing a very level country for about +nine miles, arrived at our destination. We passed over the dried beds of +lagoons, and through coppices of cypresses and acacia pendula, or open +forest, but did not observe any of the barren stony ridges so common to +the N.E. About a mile, or a mile and a half, from the lake we examined a +solitary grave that had recently been constructed. It consisted of an +oblong mound, with three semicircular seats. A walk encompassed the whole, +from which three others branched off for a few yards only, into the +forest. Several cypresses, overhanging the grave, were fancifully carved +on the inner side, and on one the shape of a heart was deeply engraved. + +BUDDAH LAKE. + +We were sadly disappointed in the appearance of the lake, which the +natives call the Buddah. It is a serpentine sheet of fresh water, of +rather more than a mile in length, and from three to four hundred yards in +breadth. Its depth was four fathoms; but it seemed as if it were now five +or six feet below the ordinary level. No stream either runs into it or +flows from it; yet it abounds in fish; from which circumstance I should +imagine that it originally owed its supply to the river during some +extensive inundation. Notwithstanding that we had crossed some rich tracts +of land in our way to it, the neighbourhood of the lake was by no means +fertile. The trees around it were in rapid decay, and the little +vegetation to be seen appeared to derive but little advantage from its +proximity to water. + +EXTREME HEAT OF THE WEATHER. + +We had started at early dawn; and the heat had become intolerable long ere +the sun had gained the meridian. It was rendered still more oppressive +from the want of air in the dense bushes through which we occasionally +moved. At 2 p.m. the thermometer stood at 129 degrees of Fahrenheit, in +the shade; and at 149 degrees in the sun; the difference being exactly 20 +degrees. It is not to be wondered at that the cattle suffered, although +the journey was so short. The sun's rays were too powerful even for the +natives, who kept as much as possible in the shade. In the evening, when +the atmosphere was somewhat cooler, we launched the boat upon the lake, +in order to get some wild fowl and fish; but although we were tolerably +successful with our guns, we did not take anything with our hooks. + +The natives had, in the course of the afternoon, been joined by the rest +of the tribe, and they now numbered about three and twenty. They were +rather distant in their manner, and gazed with apparent astonishment at +the scene that was passing before them. + +If there had been other proof wanting, of the lamentably parched and +exhausted state of the interior, we had on this occasion ample evidence of +it, and of the fearful severity of the drought under which the country was +suffering. As soon as the sun dipped under the horizon, hundreds of birds +came crowding to the border of the lake, to quench the thirst they had +been unable to allay in the forest. Some were gasping, others almost too +weak to avoid us, and all were indifferent to the reports of our guns. + +CATARACT OF THE MACQUARIE. + +On leaving the Buddah, eleven only of the natives accompanied us. We +reached the river again about noon, on a north-half-east course, where it +had a rocky bed, and continued to journey along it, until we reached the +cataract at which we halted. We travelled over soil generally inferior to +that which we had seen on the preceding day, but rich in many places. The +same kind of timber was observed, but the acacia pendula was more +prevalent than any other, although near the river the flooded gum and +Australian apple-tree were of beautiful growth. + +It had appeared to me that the waters of the Macquarie had been +diminishing in volume since our departure from Wellington Valley, and I +had a favourable opportunity of judging as to the correctness of this +conclusion at the cataract, where its channel, at all times much +contracted, was particularly so on the present occasion. So little force +was there in the current, that I began to entertain doubts how long it +would continue, more especially when I reflected on the level character of +the country we had entered, and the fact of the Macquarie not receiving +any tributary between this point and the marshes. I was in consequence +led to infer that result, which, though not immediately, eventually took +place. + +As they were treated with kindness, the natives who accompanied us soon +threw off all reserve, and in the afternoon assembled at the pool below +the fall to take fish. They went very systematically to work, with short +spears in their hands that tapered gradually to a point, and sank at once +under water without splash or noise at a given signal from an elderly man. +In a short time, one or two rose with the fish they had transfixed; the +others remained about a minute under water, and then made their +appearance near the same rock into the crevices of which they had driven +their prey. Seven fine bream were taken, the whole of which they insisted +on giving to our men, although I am not aware that any of themselves had +broken their fast that day. They soon, however, procured a quantity of +muscles, with which they sat down very contentedly at a fire. My +barometrical admeasurement gave the cataract an elevation of 680 feet +above the level of the sea; and my observations placed it in east +longitude 148 degrees 3 minutes and in latitude 31 degrees 50 minutes +south. + +It became an object with us to gain the right bank of the Macquarie as +soon as possible; for it was evident that the country to the southward of +it was much more swampy than it was to the north: but for some distance +below the cataract, we found it impossible to effect our purpose. The +rocks composing the bed of the river at the cataract, which are of trapp +formation, disappeared at about eight miles below it, when the river +immediately assumed another character. Its banks became of equal height, +which had not before been the case, and averaged from fifteen to eighteen +feet. They were composed entirely of alluvial soil, and were higher than +the highest flood-marks. Its waters appeared to be turbid and deep, and +its bed was a mixture of sand and clay. The casuarina, which had so often +been admired by us, entirely disappeared and the channel in many places +became so narrow as to be completely arched over by gum-trees. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +On the 16th, we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives who joined our +train after the very necessary ceremonies of an introduction had passed, +and when added to those who still accompanied us, amounted to fifty-three. +On this occasion I was riding somewhat in front of the party, when I came +upon them. They were very different in appearance from those whom we had +surprised at the river; and from the manner in which I was received, I was +led to infer that they had been informed of our arrival, and had +purposely assembled to meet us. I was saluted by an old man, who had +stationed himself in front of his tribe, and who was their chief. Behind +him the young men stood in a line, and behind them the warriors were +seated on the ground. + +CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES. + +I had a young native with me who had attached himself to our party, and +who, from his extreme good nature and superior intelligence, was +considered by us as a first-rate kind of fellow. He explained who and what +we were, and I was glad to observe that the old chief seemed perfectly +reconciled to my presence, although he cast many an anxious glance at the +long train of animals that were approaching. The warriors, I remarked, +never lifted their eyes from the ground. They were hideously painted with +red and yellow ochre, and had their weapons at their sides, while their +countenances were fixed, sullen, and determined. In order to overcome this +mood, I rode up to them, and, taking a spear from the nearest, gave him +my gun to examine; a mark of confidence that was not lost upon them, for +they immediately relaxed from their gravity, and as soon as my party +arrived, rose up and followed us. That which appeared most to excite their +surprise, was the motion of the wheels of the boat carriage. The young +native whom I have noticed above, acted as interpreter, and, by his +facetious manner, contrived to keep the whole of us in a fit of laughter +as we moved along. He had been named Botheri by some stockman. + + +In consequence of our wish to cross the river, we kept near it, and +experienced considerable delay from the frequent marshes that opposed +themselves to our progress. In one of these we saw a number of ibises and +spoonbills; and the natives succeeded in killing two or three snakes. Our +view to the westward was extremely limited; but to the eastward the +country appeared in some places to expand into plains. + +CROSSING OF THE RIVER. + +After travelling some miles down the banks of the river, finding that they +still retained their steep character, we turned back to a place which Mr. +Hume had observed, and at which he thought we might, with some little +trouble, cross to the opposite side. And, however objectionable the +attempt was, we found ourselves obliged to make it. We descended, +therefore, into the channel of the river, and unloaded the animals and +boat-carriage. In order to facilitate the ascent of the right bank, some +of the men were directed to cut steps up it. I was amused to see the +natives voluntarily assist them; and was surprised when they took up bags +of flour weighing 100 pounds each, and carried them across the river. We +were not long in getting the whole of the stores over. The boat was then +hoisted on the shoulders of the strongest, and deposited on the top of the +opposite bank; and ropes being afterwards attached to the carriage, it was +soon drawn up to a place of safety. The natives worked as hard as our own +people, and that, too, with a cheerfulness for which I was altogether +unprepared, and which is certainly foreign to their natural habits. We +pitched our tents as soon as we had effected the passage of the river; +after which, the men went to bathe, and blacks and whites were mingled +promiscuously in the stream. I did not observe that the former differed in +any respect from the natives who frequent the located districts. They were +generally clean limbed and stout, and some of the young men had pleasing +intelligent countenances. They lacerate their bodies, inflicting deep +wounds to raise the flesh, and extract the front teeth like the Bathurst +tribes; and their weapons are precisely the same. They are certainly a +merry people, and sit up laughing and talking more than half the night. + +BAROMETER BROKEN. + +During the removal of the stores my barometer was unfortunately broken, +and I had often, in the subsequent stages of the journey, occasion to +regret the accident. I apprehend that the corks in the instrument, placed +to steady the tube, are too distant from each other in most cases; and +indeed I fear that barometers as at present constructed, will seldom be +carried with safety in overland expeditions. + +DESERTED BY THE NATIVES. + +Nine only of the natives accompanied us on the morning succeeding the day +in which we crossed the river. Botheri was, however, at the head of them; +and, as we journeyed along, he informed me that he had been promised a +wife on his return from acting as our guide, by the chief of the last +tribe. The excessive heat of the weather obliged us to shorten our +journey, and we encamped about noon in some scrub after having traversed a +level country for about eleven miles. + +Several considerable plains were noticed to our right, stretching east and +west, which were generally rich in point of soil; but we passed through +much brushy land during the day. It was lamentable to see the state of +vegetation upon the plains from want of moisture. Although the country +had assumed a level character, and was more open than on the higher +branches of the Macquarie, the small freestone elevations, backing the +alluvial tracts near the river, still continued upon our right, though +much diminished in height, and at a great distance from the banks. They +seemed to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood, but dwarf-box and the +acacia pendula prevailed along the plains; while flooded-gum alone +occupied the lands in the immediate neighbourhood of the stream, which was +evidently fast diminishing, both in volume and rapidity; its bed, however, +still continuing to be a mixture of sand and clay. + +The cattle found such poor feed around the camp that they strayed away in +search of better during the night. On such an occasion Botheri and his +fraternity would have been of real service; but he had decamped at an +early hour, and had carried off an axe, a tomahawk, and some bacon, +although I had made him several presents. I was not at all surprised at +this piece of roguery, since cunning is the natural attribute of a savage; +but I was provoked at their running away at a moment when I so much +required their assistance. + +Left to ourselves, I found Mr. Hume of the most essential service in +tracking the animals, and to his perseverance we were indebted for their +speedy recovery, They had managed to find tolerable feed near a serpentine +sheet of water, which Mr. Hume thought it would be advisable to examine. +We directed our course to it as soon as the cattle were loaded, moving +through bush, and found it to be a very considerable creek that receives a +part of the superfluous waters of the Macquarie, and distributes them, +most probably, over the level country to the north. It was much wider than +the river, being from fifty to sixty yards across, and is resorted to by +the natives, who procure muscles from its bed in great abundance. We were +obliged to traverse its eastern bank to its junction with the river, at +which it fortunately happened to be dry. We had, however, to cut roads +down both its banks before we could cross it; and, consequently, made but +a short day's journey. The soil passed over was inferior to the generality +of soil near the river, but we encamped on a tongue of land on which both +the flooded-gum and the grass were of luxuriant height. We found a +quantity of a substance like pipe-clay in the bed of the river, similar to +that mentioned by Mr. Oxley. + +GREAT HEAT. + +The heat, which had been excessive at Wellington Valley, increased upon us +as we advanced into the interior. The thermometer was seldom under 114 +degrees at noon, and rose still higher at 2 p.m. We had no dews at night, +and consequently the range of the instrument was trifling in the +twenty-four hours. The country looked bare and scorched, and the plains +over which we journeyed had large fissures traversing them, so that the +earth may literally be said to have gasped for moisture. The country, +which above the cataract had borne the character of open forest, excepting +on the immediate banks of the river, where its undulations and openness +gave it a park-like appearance, or where the barren stony ridges prevailed +below that point, generally exhibited alternately plain and brush, the +soil on both of which was good. On the former, crested pigeons were +numerous, several of which were shot. We had likewise procured some of the +rose-coloured and grey parrots, mentioned by Mr. Oxley, and a small +paroquet of beautiful plumage; but there was less of variety in the +feathered race than I expected to find, and most of the other birds we had +seen were recognised by me as similar to specimens I had procured from +Melville Island, and were, therefore, most probably birds of passage. + +ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE RIVER. + +As we neared Mount Harris, the Macquarie became more sluggish in its flow, +and fell off so much as scarcely to deserve the name of a river. In +breadth, it averaged from thirty-five to forty-five yards, and in the +height of its banks, from fifteen to eighteen. Mr. Hume had succeeded in +taking some fish at one of the stock stations; but if I except those +speared by the natives, we had since been altogether unsuccessful with the +hook, a circumstance which I attribute to the lowness of the river itself. + +About thirty miles from the cataract the country declines to the north as +a medium point, and again changes somewhat in its general appearance. To +the S. and S.W. it appeared level and wooded, while to the N. the plains +became more frequent, but smaller, and travelling over them was extremely +dangerous, in consequence of the large fissures by which they were +traversed. The only trees to be observed were dwarf-box and the acacia +pendula, both of stunted growth, although flooded-gum still prevailed upon +the river. + +On the 20th we travelled on a N.W. course, and in the early part of the +day passed over tolerably good soil. It was succeeded by a barren scrub, +through which we penetrated in the direction of Welcome Rock, a point we +had seen from one of the Plains and had mistaken for Mount Harris. + +ARRIVAL AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +On a nearer approach, however, we observed our error, and corrected it by +turning more to the left; and we ultimately encamped about a mile to the +W.S.W. of the latter eminence. On issuing from the scrub we found +ourselves among reeds and coarse water-grass; and, from the appearance of +the country, we were led to conclude that we had arrived at a part of the +interior more than ordinarily subject to overflow. + +As soon as the camp was fixed, Mr. Hume and I rode to Mount Harris, over +ground subject to flood and covered for the most part by the polygonum, +being too anxious to defer our examination of its neighbourhood even for a +few hours. + +VESTIGES OF MR. OXLEY'S ENCAMPMENT. + +Nearly ten years had elapsed since Mr. Oxley pitched his tents under the +smallest of the two hills into which Mount Harris is broken. There was no +difficulty in hitting upon his position. The trenches that had been cut +round the tents were still perfect, and the marks of the fire-places +distinguishable; while the trees in the neighbourhood had been felled, +and round about them the staves of some casks and a few tent-pegs were +scattered. Mr. Oxley had selected a place at some distance from the river, +in consequence of its then swollen state. I looked upon it from the same +ground, and could not discern the waters in its channel; so much had they +fallen below their ordinary level. He saw the river when it was +overflowing its banks; on the present occasion it had scarcely sufficient +water to support a current. On the summit of the greater eminence, which +we ascended, there remained the half-burnt planks of a boat, some clenched +and rusty nails, and an old trunk; but my search for the bottle Mr. Oxley +had left was unsuccessful. + +A reflection naturally arose to my mind on examining these decaying +vestiges of a former expedition, whether I should be more fortunate than +the leader of it, and how far I should be enabled to penetrate beyond the +point which had conquered his perseverance. Only a week before I left +Sydney I had followed Mr. Oxley to the tomb. A man of uncommon quickness, +and of great ability, the task of following up his discoveries was not +less enviable than arduous; but, arrived at that point at which his +journey may be said to have terminated and mine only to commence, I knew +not how soon I should be obliged, like him, to retreat from the marshes +and exhalations of so depressed a country. My eye instinctively turned to +the North-West, and the view extended over an apparently endless forest. +I could trace the river line of trees by their superior height; but saw no +appearance of reeds, save the few that grew on the banks of the stream. + +Mount Foster, somewhat higher than Mount Harris, on the opposite side of +the river, alone broke the line of the horizon to the North N.W. at a +distance of five miles. From that point all round the compass, the low +lands spread, like a dark sea, before me; except where a large plain +stretching from E. to W., and lying to the S.E. broke their monotony; +and if there was nothing discouraging, there certainly was nothing +cheering, in the prospect. + +ILLNESS OF TWO OF THE MEN. + +On our return to the camp, I was vexed to find two of the men, Henwood and +Williams, with increased inflammation of the eyes, of which they had +previously been complaining, and I thought it advisable to bleed the +latter. + +In consequence of the indisposition of these men, we remained stationary +on the 21st, which enabled me to pay a second visit to Mount Harris. On +ascending the smaller hill, I was surprised to find similar vestiges on +its summit to those I had noticed on the larger one; in addition to which, +the rollers still continued on the side of the hill, which had been used +to get the boat up it. [Mr. Oxley had two boats; one of which he dragged +to the top of each of these hills, and left them turned bottom upwards, +buryinq a bottle under the head of the larger boat, which was conveyed to +the more distant hill.] + +Mount Harris is of basaltic formation, but I could not observe any +columnar regularity in it, although large blocks are exposed above the +ground. The rock is extremely hard and sonorous. + +MOUNT FOSTER AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. + +We moved leisurely towards Mount Foster, on the 22nd, and arrived opposite +to it a little before sunset. The country between the two is mostly open, +or covered only with the acacia pendula and dwarf-box. The soil, although +an alluvial deposit, is not of the best; nor was vegetation either fresh +or close upon it. As soon as the party stopped, I crossed the river, and +lost no time in ascending the hill, being anxious to ascertain if any +fresh object was visible from its summit, I thought that from an eminence +so much above the level of the surrounding objects, I might obtain a view +of the marshes, or of water; but I was wholly disappointed. The view was +certainly extensive, but it was otherwise unsatisfactory. Again to the +N.W. the lowlands spread in darkness before me; there were some +considerable plains beyond the near wood; but the country at the foot of +the hill appeared open and promising. Although the river line was lost in +the distance, it was as truly pointed out by the fires of the natives, +which rose in upright columns into the sky, as if it had been marked by +the trees upon its banks. + +To the eastward, Arbuthnot's range rose high above the line of the +horizon, bearing nearly due East, distant seventy miles. The following +sketch of its outlines will convey a better idea of its appearance from +Mount Foster than any written description. + +[small sketch here--not shown in etext] + +I stayed on the mount until after sunset, but I could not make out any +space that at all resembled the formidable barrier I knew we were so +rapidly approaching. I saw nothing to check our advance, and I therefore +returned to the camp, to advise with Mr. Hume upon the subject. Not having +been with me on Mount Foster, he took the opportunity to ascend it on the +following morning; and on his return concurred with me in opinion, that +there was no apparent obstacle to our moving onwards. As the men were +considerably better, I had the less hesitation in closing with the +marshes. We left our position, intending to travel slowly, and to halt +early. + +The first part of our journey was over rich flats, timbered sufficiently +to afford a shade, on which the grass was luxuriant; but we were obliged +to seek more open ground, in consequence of the frequent stumbling of the +cattle. + +We issued, at length, upon a plain, the view across which was as dreary as +can be imagined; in many places without a tree, save a few old stumps +left by the natives when they fired the timber, some of which were still +smoking in different parts of it. Observing some lofty trees at the +extremity of the plain, we moved towards them, under an impression that +they indicated the river line. But on this exposed spot the sun's rays +fell with intense power upon us, and the dust was so minute and +penetrating, that I soon regretted having left the shady banks of the +river. + +About 2.p.m. we neared the trees for which we had been making, over ground +evidently formed by alluvial deposition, and were astonished to find that +reeds alone were growing under the trees as far as the eye could +penetrate. It appeared that we were still some distance from the river, +and it was very doubtful how far we might be from water, for which the +men were anxiously calling. I therefore halted, and sent Fraser into the +reeds towards some dead trees, on which a number of spoonbills were +sitting. He found that there was a small lake in the centre of the reeds, +the resort of numerous wild fowl; but although the men were enabled to +quench their thirst, we found it impossible to water the animals. We were +obliged, therefore, to continue our course along the edge of the reeds; +which in a short time appeared in large masses in front of us, stretching +into a vast plain upon our right; and it became evident that the whole +neighbourhood was subject to extensive inundation. + +ENCAMP AMIDST REEDS. + +I was fearful that the reeds would have checked us; but there was a +passage between the patches, through which we managed to force our way +into a deep bight, and fortunately gained the river at the bottom of it +much sooner than we expected. We were obliged to clear away a space for +the tents; and thus, although there had been no such appearance from Mount +Foster, we found ourselves in less than seven hours after leaving it, +encamped pretty far in that marsh for which we had so anxiously looked +from its summit, and now trusting to circumstances for safety, upon +ground on which, in any ordinary state of the river, it would have been +dangerous to have ventured. Indeed, as it was, our situation was +sufficiently critical, and would not admit of hesitation on my part. + +NATURE OF THE COUNTRY. + +After the cattle had been turned out, Mr. Hume and I again mounted our +horses, and proceeded to the westward, with a view to examine the nature +of the country before us, and to ascertain if it was still practicable to +move along the river side. For, although it was evident that we had +arrived at what might strictly be called the marshes of the Macquarie, I +still thought we might be at some distance from the place where Mr. Oxley +terminated his journey. + +There was no indication in the river to encourage an idea that it would +speedily terminate; nor, although we were on ground subject to extensive +inundation, could we be said to have reached the heart of the marshes, as +the reeds still continued in detached bodies only. We forced a path +through various portions of them, and passed over ground wholly subject to +flood, to a distance of about six miles. We then crossed a small rise of +ground, sufficiently high to have afforded a retreat, had necessity +obliged us to seek for one; and we shortly afterwards descended on the +river, unaltered in its appearance, and rather increased than diminished +in size. A vast plain extended to the N.W., the extremity of which we +could not discern; though a thick forest formed its northern boundary. + +It was evident that this plain had been frequently under water, but it was +difficult to judge from the marks on the trees to what height the floods +had risen. The soil was an alluvial deposit, superficially sandy; and many +shells were scattered over its surface. To the south, the country appeared +close and low; nor do I think we could have approached the river from that +side, by reason of the huge belts of reeds that appeared to extend as far +as the the eye could reach. + +MEN ATTACKED WITH OPHTHALMIA. + +The approach of night obliged us to return to the camp. On our arrival, +we found that the state of Henwood and Williams would prevent our stirring +for a day or two. Not only had they a return of inflammation, but several +other of the men complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, which +were dreadfully blood-shot and weak. I was in some measure prepared for a +relapse in Henwood, as the exposure which he necessarily underwent on the +plain was sufficient to produce that effect; but I now became apprehensive +that the affection would run through the party. + +Considering our situation in its different bearings, it struck me that the +men who were to return to Wellington Valley with an account our our +proceedings for the Governor's information, had been brought as far as +prudence warranted. There was no fear of their going astray, as long as +they had the river to guide them; but in the open country which we were to +all appearance approaching, or amidst fields of reeds, they might wander +from the track, and irrecoverably lose themselves. I determined, +therefore, not to risk their safety, but to prepare my dispatches for +Sydney, and I hoped most anxiously, that ere they were closed, all +symptoms of disease would have terminated. + +In the course of the day, however, Spencer, who was to return with Riley +to Wellington Valley, became seriously indisposed, and I feared that he +was attacked with dysentery. Indeed, I should have attributed his illness +to our situation, but I did not notice any unusual moisture in the +atmosphere, nor did any fogs rise from the river. I therefore the rather +attributed it to exposure and change of diet, and treated him accordingly. +To my satisfaction, when I visited the men late in the evening, I found a +general improvement in the whole of them. Spencer was considerably +relieved, and those of the party who had inflammation of the eyes no +longer felt that painful irritation of which they had before complained. +I determined, therefore, unless untoward circumstances should prevent it, +to send Riley and his companion homewards, and to move the party without +loss of time. + +We had not seen any natives for many days, but a few passed the camp on +the opposite side of the river on the evening of the 25th. They would not, +however, come to us; but fled into the interior in great apparent alarm. + +DEPARTURE OF TWO MEN FOR WELLINGTON. + +On the morning of the 26th, the men were sufficiently recovered to pursue +their journey. Riley and Spencer left us at an early hour; and about +7 a.m. we pursued a N.N.W. course along the great plain I have noticed, +starting numberless quails, and many wild turkeys, by the way. Leaving +that part of the river on which Mr. Hume and I had touched considerably to +the left, we made for the point of a wood, projecting from the river line +of trees into the plain. The ground under us was an alluvial deposit, and +bore all the marks of frequent inundation. + +The soil was yielding, blistered, and uneven; and the claws of cray-fish, +together with numerous small shells, were every where collected in the +hollows made by the subsiding of the waters, between broad belts of reeds +and scrubs of polygonum. + +CONSULTATION. + +On gaining the point of the wood, we found an absolute check put to our +further progress. We had been moving directly on the great body of the +marsh, and from the wood it spread in boundless extent before us. It was +evidently lower than the ground on which we stood; we had therefore, a +complete view over the whole expanse; and there was a dreariness and +desolation pervading the scene that strengthened as we gazed upon it. +Under existing circumstances, it only remained for us either to skirt +the reeds to the northward, or to turn in again upon the river; and as I +considered it important to ascertain the direction of the Macquarie at so +critical and interesting a point, I thought it better to adopt the latter +measure. We, accordingly, made for the river, and pitched our tents, as at +the last station, in the midst of reeds. + +There were two points at this time, upon which I was extremely anxious. +The first was as to the course of the river; the second, as to the extent +of the marshes by which we had been checked, and the practicability of the +country to the northward. + +In advising with Mr. Hume, I proposed launching the boat, as the surest +means of ascertaining the former, and he, on his part, most readily +volunteered to examine the marshes, in any direction I should point out. +It was therefore, arranged, that I should take two men, and a week's +provision with me in the boat down the river; and that he should proceed +with a like number of men on an excursion to the northward. + +After having given directions as to the regulations of camp during our +absence, we separated, on the morning of the 26th for the first time, in +furtherance of the objects each had in view. + +BOAT EXCURSION. + +In pulling down the river, I found that its channel was at first extremely +tortuous and irregular, but that it held a general N.W. course, and bore +much the same appearance as it had done since our descent from Mount +Foster. + +We had a laborious task in lifting the boat over the trunks of trees that +had fallen into the channel of the river or that had been left by the +floods, and at length we stove her in upon a sunken log. The injury she +received was too serious not to require immediate repair; and we, +therefore, patched her up with a tin plate. This accident occasioned some +delay, and the morning was consumed without our having made any +considerable progress. At length, however, we got into a more open +channel. + +The river suddenly increased in breadth to thirty-five or forty-five +yards, with a depth of from twelve to twenty feet of water. Its banks +shelved perpendicularly down, and were almost on a level with the surface +of the stream; and the flood mark was not more than two feet high on the +reeds by which they were lined. We had hitherto passed under the shade of +the flooded gum, which still continued on the immediate banks of the +river; but, the farther we advanced, the more did we find these trees in a +state of decay, until at length they ceased, or were only rarely met with. + +TERMINATION OF THE RIVER. + +About 2 p.m. I brought up under a solitary tree, in consequence of heavy +rain: this was upon the left bank. In the afternoon, however, we again +pushed forward, and soon lost sight of every other object amidst reeds of +great height. The channel of the river continued as broad and as deep as +ever, but the flood mark did not show more than a foot above the banks, +which were now almost on a level with the water; and the current was so +sluggish as to be scarcely perceptible. These general appearances +continued for about three miles, when our course was suddenly, and most +unexpectedly, checked. The channel, which had promised so well, without +any change in its breadth or depth, ceased altogether; and whilst we were +yet lost in astonishment at so abrupt a termination of it, the boat +grounded. It only remained for us to examine the banks, which we did with +particular attention. Two creeks were then discovered, so small as +scarcely to deserve the name, and which would, under ordinary +circumstances, have been overlooked. The one branched off to the +north--the other to the west. We were obliged to get out of the boat to +push up the former, the leeches sticking in numbers to our legs. The creek +continued for about thirty yards, when it was terminated; and, in order +fully to satisfy myself of the fact, I walked round the head of it by +pushing through the reeds. Night coming on, we returned to the tree at +which we had stopped during the rain, and slept under it. The men cut away +the reeds, or we should not have had room to move. At 2 a.m. it commenced +raining, with a heavy storm of thunder and lightning; the boat was +consequently hauled ashore, and turned over to afford us a temporary +shelter. The lightning was extremely vivid, and frequently played upon +the ground, near the firelocks, for more than a quarter of a minute at a +time. + +It is singular, that Mr. Oxley should, under similar circumstances, have +experienced an equally stormy night, and most probably within a few yards +of the place on which I had posted myself. Notwithstanding that the +elements were raging around me, as if to warn me of the danger of my +situation, my mind turned solely on the singular failure of the river. I +could not but encourage hopes that this second channel that remained to +be explored would lead us into an open space again; and as soon as the +morning dawned we pursued our way to it. In passing some dead trees upon +the right bank, I stopped to ascend one, that, from an elevation, I might +survey the marsh, but I found it impossible to trace the river through it. +The country to the westward was covered with reeds, apparently to the +distance of seven miles; to the N.W. to a still greater distance; and to +the north they bounded the horizon. + +The whole expanse was level and unbroken, but here and there the reeds +were higher and darker than at other places, as if they grew near constant +moisture; but I could see no appearance of water in any body, or of high +lands beyond the distant forest. + +As soon as we arrived at the end of the main channel, we again got out of +the boat, and in pushing up the smaller one, soon found ourselves under a +dark arch of reeds. It did not, however, continue more than twenty yards +when it ceased, and I walked round the head of it as I had done round that +of the other. We then examined the space between the creeks, where the +bank receives the force of the current, which I did not doubt had formed +them by the separation of its eddies. Observing water among the reeds, I +pushed through them with infinite labour to a considerable distance. The +soil proved to be a stiff clay; the reeds were closely embodied, and from +ten to twelve feet high; the waters were in some places ankle deep, and in +others scarcely covered the surface. They were flowing in different +points, with greater speed than those of the river, which at once +convinced me that they were not permanent, but must have lodged in the +night during which so much rain had fallen. They ultimately appeared to +flow to the northward, but I found it impossible to follow them, and it +was not without difficulty that, after having wandered about at every +point of the compass, I again reached the boat. + +CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE RIVER. + +The care with which I had noted every change that took place in the +Macquarie, from Wellington Valley downwards, enabled me, in some measure, +to account for its present features. I was led to conclude that the waters +of the river being so small in body, excepting in times of flood, and +flowing for so many miles through a level country without receiving any +tributary to support their first impulse, became too sluggish, long ere +they reached the marshes, to cleave through so formidable a barrier; and +consequently spread over the surrounding country--whether again to take +up the character of a river, we had still to determine. Unless, however, +a decline of country should favour its assuming its original shape, it was +evident that the Macquarie would not be found to exist beyond this marsh, +of the nature and extent of which we were still ignorant. The loss of my +barometer was at this time severely felt by me, since I could only guess +at our probable height above the ocean; and I found that my only course +was to endeavour to force my way to the northward, to ascertain, if I +could, from the bottom of the marshes; then penetrate in a westerly +direction beyond them, in order to commence my survey of the S.W. +interior. I was aware of Mr. Hume's perseverance, and determined, +therefore, to wait the result of his report ere I again moved the camp, to +which we returned late in the afternoon of the second day of our +departure. We found it unsufferably hot and suffocating in the reeds, and +were tormented by myriads of mosquitoes, but the waters were perfectly +sweet to the taste, nor did the slightest smell, as of stagnation, proceed +from them. I may add that the birds, whose sanctuary we had invaded, as +the bittern and various tribes of the galinule, together with the frogs, +made incessant noises around us, There were, however, but few water-fowl +on the river; which was an additional proof to me that we were not near +any very extensive lake. + +MR. HUME'S REPORT. + +Mr. Hume had returned before me to the camp, and had succeeded in finding +a serpentine sheet of water, about twelve miles to the northward; which he +did not doubt to be the channel of the river. He had pushed on after this +success, in the hope of gaining a further knowledge of the country; but +another still more extensive marsh checked him, and obliged him to retrace +his steps. He was no less surprised at the account I gave of the +termination of the river, than I was at its so speedily re-forming, and it +was determined to lose no time in the further examination of so singular a +region. + +FALSE CHANNEL; PERPLEXITIES. + +On the morning of the 28th therefore we broke up the camp, and proceeded +to the northward, under Mr. Hume's guidance, moving over ground wholly +subject to flood, and extensively covered with reeds; the great body of +the marsh lying upon our left. After passing the angle of a wood, upon our +right, from which Mount Foster was distant about fourteen miles, we got +upon a small plain, on which there was a new species of tortuous box. This +plain was clear of reeds, and the soil upon it was very rich. Crossing in +a westerly direction we arrived at the channel found by Mr. Hume, who must +naturally have concluded that it was a continuation of the river. The boat +was immediately prepared, and I went up it in order to ascertain the +nature of its formation. For two miles it preserved a pretty general width +of from twenty to thirty yards; but at that distance began to narrow, and +at length it became quite shallow and covered with weeds. We were +ultimately obliged to abandon the boat, and to walk along a native path. +The country to the westward was more open than I had expected. About a +quarter of a mile from where we had left the boat, the channel separated +into two branches; to which I perceived it owed its formation, coming, as +they evidently did, direct from the heart of the marsh. The wood through +which I had entered it on the first occasion bore south of me, to which +one of the branches inclined; as the other did to the S.W. An almost +imperceptible rise of ground was before me, which, by giving an impetus to +the waters of the marsh, accounted to me for the formation of the main +channel. It was too late, on my return to the camp, to prosecute any +further examination of it downwards; but in the morning, Mr. Hume +accompanied me in the boat, to ascertain to what point it led; and we +found that at about a mile it began to diminish in breadth, until at +length it was completely lost in a second expanse of reeds. We passed a +singular scaffolding erected by the natives, on the side of the channel, +to take fish; and also found a weir at the termination of it for the like +purpose so that it was evident the natives occasionally ventured into +the marshes. + +There was a small wood to our left which Mr. Hume endeavoured to gain, but +he failed in the attempt. He did, however, reach a tree that was +sufficiently high to give him a full view of the marsh, which appeared to +extend in every direction, but more particularly to the north, for many +miles. We were, however, at fault, and I really felt at a loss what step +to take. I should have been led to believe from the extreme flatness of +the country, that the Macquarie would never assume its natural shape, but +from the direction of the marshes I could not but indulge a hope that it +would meet the Castlereagh, and that their united waters might form a +stream of some importance. Under this impression I determined on again +sending Mr. Hume to the N.E. in order to ascertain the nature of the +country in that direction. + +EXCURSION TO THE NORTH-WEST. + +The weather was excessively hot, and as my men were but slowly recovering, +I was anxious while those who were in health continued active, to give the +others a few days of rest. I proposed, therefore, to cross the river, and +to make an excursion into the interior, during the probable time of +Mr. Hume's absence; since if, as I imagined, the Macquarie had taken a +permanent northerly course, I should not have an opportunity of examining +the distant western country. Mr. Hume's experience rendered it unnecessary +for me to give him other than general directions. + +A PLAIN ON FIRE. + +On the last day of the year we left the camp, each accompanied by two men. +I had the evening previously ordered the horses I intended taking with me +across the channel, and at an early hour of the morning I followed them. +Getting on a plain, immediately after I had disengaged myself from the +reeds on the opposite side of the river, which was full of holes and +exceedingly treacherous for the animals, I pushed on for a part of the +wood Mr. Hume had endeavoured to gain from the boat, with the intention of +keeping near the marsh. On entering it, I found myself in a thick brush of +eucalypti, casuarinae and minor trees; the soil under them being mixed +with sand. I kept a N.N.W. course through it, and at the distance of +three miles from its commencement, ascended a tree, to ascertain if I was +near the marshes; when I found that I was fast receding from them. I +concluded, therefore, that my conjecture as to their direction was right, +and altered my course to N.W., a direction in which I had observed a dense +smoke arising, which I supposed had been made by some natives near water. +At the termination of the brush I crossed a barren sandy plain, and from +it saw the smoke ascending at a few miles' distance from me. Passing +through a wood, at the extremity of the plain, I found myself at the +outskirts of an open space of great extent, almost wholly enveloped in +flames. The fire was running with incredible rapidity through the rhagodia +shrubs with which it was covered. Passing quickly over it, I continued my +journey to the N.W. over barren plains of red sandy loam of even surface, +and bushes of cypresses skirted by acacia pendula. It was not until after +sunset that we struck upon a creek, in which the water was excellent; and +we halted on its banks for the night, calculating our distance at +twenty-nine miles from the camp. The creek was of considerable size, +leading northerly. Several huts were observed by us, and from the heaps of +muscle-shells that were scattered about, there could be no doubt of its +being much frequented by the natives. The grass being fairly burnt up, our +animals found but little to eat, but they had a tolerable journey. and did +not attempt to wander in search of better food. I shot a snipe near the +creek, much resembling the painted snipe of India; but I had not the means +with me of preserving it. + +A TRIBE OF NATIVES. + +Continuing our journey on the following morning, we at first kept on the +banks of the creek, and at about a quarter of a mile from where we had +slept, came upon a numerous tribe of natives. A young girl sitting by the +fire was the first to observe us as we were slowly approaching her. She +was so excessively alarmed, that she had not the power to run away; but +threw herself on the ground and screamed violently. We now observed a +number of huts, out of which the natives issued, little dreaming of the +spectacle they were to behold. But the moment they saw us, they started +back; their huts were in a moment in flames, and each with a fire-brand +ran to and fro with hideous yells, thrusting them into every bush they +passed. I walked my horse quietly towards an old man who stood more +forward than the rest, as if he intended to devote himself for the +preservation of his tribe. I had intended speaking to him, but on a nearer +approach I remarked that he trembled so violently that it was impossible +to expect that I could obtain any information from him, and as I had not +time for explanations, I left him to form his own conjectures as to what +we were, and continued to move towards a thick brush, into which they did +not venture to follow us. + +CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY. + +After a ride of about eighteen miles, through a country of alternate plain +and brush, we struck upon a second creek leading like the first to the +northward. The water in it was very bitter and muddy, and it was much +inferior in appearance to that at which we had slept. After stopping for +half-an-hour upon its banks, to rest our animals, we again pushed forward. +We had not as yet risen any perceptible height above the level of the +marshes, but had left the country subject to overflow for a considerable +space behind us. The brushes through which we had passed were too sandy to +retain water long, but the plains were of such an even surface, that they +could not but continue wet for a considerable period after any fall of +rain. They were covered with salsolaceous plants, without a blade of +grass; and their soil was generally a red sandy loam. There were +occasional patches that appeared moist, in which the calystemma was +abundant, and these patches must, I should imagine, form quagmires in the +wet season. + +On leaving the last-mentioned creek, we found a gently rising country +before us; and about three or four miles from it we crossed some stony +ridges, covered with a new species of acacia so thickly as to prevent our +obtaining any view from them. As the sun declined, we got into open forest +ground; and travelled forwards in momentary expectation, from appearances, +of coming in sight of water; but we were obliged to pull up at sunset on +the outskirts of a larger plain without having our expectation realized. +The day had been extremely warm, and our animals were as thirsty as +ourselves. Hope never forsakes the human breast; and thence it was that, +after we had secured the horses, we began to wander round our lonely +bivouac. It was almost dark, when one of my men came to inform me that he +had found a small puddle of water, to which be had been led by a pigeon. + +It was, indeed, small enough, probably the remains of a passing shower; it +was, however, sufficient for our necessities, and I thanked Providence for +its bounty to us. We were now about sixty miles from the Macquarie, in a +N.W. by W. direction, and the country had proved so extremely +discouraging, that I intimated to my men my intention of retracing my +steps, should I not discover any change in it before noon on the morrow. +A dense brush of acacia succeeded to the plain on which we had slept, +which we entered, and shortly afterwards found ourselves in an open space, +of oblong shape, at the extremity of which there was a shallow lake. The +brush completely encircled it, and a few huts were upon its banks. About +10 p.m. we got into an open forest track of better appearance than any +over which we had recently travelled. + +ISOLATED HILL. + +There was a visible change in the country, and the soil, although red, was +extremely rich and free from sand. A short time afterwards we rose to the +summit of a round hill, from which we obtained an extensive view on most +points of the compass. We had imperceptibly risen considerably above the +general level of the interior. + +VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT. + +Beneath us, to the westward, I observed a broad and thinly wooded valley; +and W. by S., distant apparently about twenty miles, an isolated mountain, +whose sides seemed almost perpendicular, broke the otherwise even line of +the horizon; but the country in every other direction looked as if it was +darkly wooded. Anticipating that I should find a stream in the valley, I +did not for a moment hesitate in striking down into it. Disappointed, +however, in this expectation, I continued onwards to the mountain, which I +reached just before the sun set. Indeed, he was barely visible when I +gained its summit; but my eyes, from exposure to his glare, became so +weak, my face was so blistered, and my lips cracked in so many places, +that I was unable to look towards the west, and was actually obliged to +sit down behind a rock until he had set. + +Perhaps no time is so favourable for a view along the horizon as the +sunset hour; and here, at an elevation of from five to six hundred feet +above the plain, the visible line of it could not have been less than from +thirty-five to forty-five miles. The hill upon which I stood was broken +into two points; the one was a bold rocky elevation; the other had its +rear face also perpendicular, but gradually declined to the north, and at +a distance of from four to five miles was lost in an extensive and open +plain in that direction. In the S.E. quarter, two wooded hills were +visible, which before had appeared to be nothing more than swells in the +general level of the country. A small hill, similar to the above, bore +N.E. by compass; and again, to the west, a more considerable mountain than +that I had ascended, and evidently much higher, reflected the last beams +of the sun as he sunk behind them. I looked, however, in vain for water. +I could not trace either the windings of a stream, or the course of a +mountain torrent; and, as we had passed a swamp about a mile from the +hill, we descended to it for the night, during which we were grievously +tormented by the mosquitoes. + +RESULTS OF THE EXCURSION. + +I had no inducement to proceed further into the interior. I had been +sufficiently disappointed in the termination of this excursion, and the +track before me was still less inviting. Nothing but a dense forest, and a +level country, existed between me and the distant hill. I had learnt, by +experience, that it was impossible to form any opinion of the probable +features of so singular a region as that in which I was wandering, from +previous appearances, or to expect the same result, as in other countries, +from similar causes. In a geographical point of view, my journey had been +more successful, and had enabled me to put to rest for ever a question of +much previous doubt. Of whatever extent the marshes of the Macquarie might +be, it was evident they were not connected with those of the Lachlan. I +had gained knowledge of more than 100 miles of the western interior, and +had ascertained that no sea, indeed that little water, existed on its +surface; and that, although it is generally flat, it still has elevations +of considerable magnitude upon it. + +Although I had passed over much barren ground, I had likewise noticed soil +that was far from poor, and the vegetation upon which in ordinary seasons +would, I am convinced, have borne a very different aspect. + +Yet, upon the whole, the space I traversed is unlikely to become the haunt +of civilized man, or will only become so in isolated spots, as a chain of +connection to a more fertile country; if such a country exist to the +westward. + +The hill which thus became the extreme of my journey, is of sandstone +formation, and is bold and precipitous. Its summit is level and lightly +timbered. As a tribute of respect to the late Surveyor-General, I called +it Oxley's Table Land, and I named the distant hills D'Urban's Group, +after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, in compliance with a previous request of my +friend Lieut. De la Condamine, that I would so name any prominent feature +of the interior that I might happen to come upon. + +RETURN TO THE CAMP. + +In returning to the camp, I made a circuit to the N.E., and reached the +Macquarie late on the evening of the 5th of January; having been absent +six days, during which we could not have ridden less than 200 miles. Yet +the horses were not so fatigued as it was natural to expect they would +have been. + +My servant informed me that a party of natives had visited the camp on the +3rd, but that they retired precipitately on seeing the animals. I +regretted to find the men but little better than when I left them. Several +still complained of a painful irritation of the eyes, and of great +weakness of sight. Attributing their continued indisposition in some +measure to our situation, I was anxious to have moved from it; but as Mr. +Hume was still absent, I could not decide upon the measure. He made his +appearance, however, on the 6th, having ridden the greater part of the day +through rain, which commenced to fall in the morning. Soon after his +arrival, Dawber, my overseer of animals, who had accompanied him, was +taken suddenly ill. During the night he became much worse, with shivering +and spasms, and on the following morning he was extremely weak and +feverish. To add to my anxiety, Mr. Hume also complained of indisposition. +His state of health made me the more anxious to quit a position which I +fancied unwholesome, and in which, if there was no apparent, there was +certainly some secret, exciting cause; and as Mr. Hume reported having +crossed a chain of ponds about four miles to the eastward, and out of the +immediate precincts of the marshes, I ordered the tents to be struck, and +placing Dawber on my horse, we all moved quietly over to them. + +MR. HUME'S EXCURSION. + +The result of Mr. Hume's journey perplexed me exceedingly. He stated, that +on setting out from the Macquarie his intention was to have proceeded to +the N.E., to ascertain how far the reeds existed in that direction, and, +if at all practicable, to reach the Castlereagh; but in case of failure, +to regain the Macquarie by a westerly course. At first he travelled nearly +four miles east, to clear the marshes, when he came on the chain of ponds +to which we had removed. + +He travelled over good soil for two miles after crossing this chain of +ponds, but afterwards got on a red sandy loam, and found it difficult to +proceed, by reason of the thickness of the brush, and the swampy state of +the ground in consequence of the late rain. + +The timber in the brushes was of various kinds, and he saw numerous +kangaroos and emus. On issuing from this brush, he crossed a creek, +leading northerly, the banks of which were from ten to twelve feet high. +Whatever the body of water usually in it is, it now only afforded a few +shallow puddles. Mr. Hume travelled through brushes until he came upon a +third creek, similar to the one he had left behind him, at which he halted +for the night. The water in it was bad, and the feed for the animals +extremely poor. The brush lined the creek thickly, and consisted chiefly +of acacia pendula and box. The country preserved an uniform level, nor did +Mr. Hume, from the highest trees, observe any break on the horizon. + +On the 2nd of January, Mr. Hume kept more northerly, being unable to +penetrate the brushes he encountered. At two miles he crossed a creek +leading to the N.W., between which and the place at which he had slept, he +passed a native burial ground, containing eight graves. The earth was +piled up in a conical shape, but the trees were not carved over as he had +seen them in most other places. + +The country became more open after he had passed the last mentioned creek, +which he again struck upon at the distance of eight miles, and as it was +then leading to the N.N.E. he followed it down for eighteen or twenty +miles, and crossed it frequently during the day. The creek was dry in most +places, and where he stopped for the night the water was bad, and the +cattle feed indifferent. + +Mr. Hume saw many huts, but none of them had been recently occupied, +although large quantities of muscle-shells were scattered about. He +computed that he had travelled about thirty miles, in a N.N.W. +direction, and the whole of the land he passed over was, generally +speaking, bad, nor did it appear to be subject to overflow. + +On the 3rd, Mr. Hume proceeded down the creek on which he had slept, on a +northern course, under an impression that it would have joined the +Castlereagh, but it took a N.W. direction after he had ridden about four +miles, and then turned again to the eastward of north. In consequence of +this, he left it, and proceeded to the westward, being of opinion that the +river just mentioned must have taken a more northerly course than Mr. +Oxley supposed it to have done. + +A short time after Mr. Hume turned towards the Macquarie, the country +assumed a more pleasing appearance. He soon cleared the brushes, and at +two miles came upon a chain of ponds, again running northerly in times of +flood. Shortly after crossing these, he found himself on an extensive +plain, apparently subject to overflow. The timber on it was chiefly of +the blue-gum kind, and the ground was covered with shells. He then thought +he was approaching the Macquarie, and proceeded due west across the flat +for about two miles. At the extremity of it there was a hollow, which he +searched in vain for water. Ascending about thirty feet, he entered a +thick brush of box and acacia pendula, which continued for fourteen miles, +when it terminated abruptly, and extensive plains of good soil commenced, +stretching from N. to S. as far as the eye could reach, on which there +were many kangaroos. Continuing to journey over them, he reached a creek +at 5 p.m. on which the wild fowl were numerous, running nearly north and +south, and he rested on its banks for the night. The timber consisted both +of blue and rough gum, and the soil was a light earth. + +Mr. Hume expected in the course of the day to have reached the Macquarie, +but on arriving at the creek, he began to doubt whether it any longer +existed, or whether it had not taken a more westerly direction. On the +following morning, therefore, he crossed the creek, and travelled +W.S.W., for about two miles over good plains; then through light brushes +of swamp-oak, cypress, box, and acacia pendula, for about twelve miles, to +another creek leading northerly. He shortly afterwards ascended a range of +hills stretching W.N.W. to which he gave the name of New Year's Range. +From these hills, he had an extensive view, although not upon the highest +part, but the only break he could see in the horizon was caused by some +hills bearing by compass W. by S. distant about twenty-five miles. There +was, however, an appearance as of high land to the northward, although Mr. +Hume thought it might have been an atmospheric deception. From the range +he looked in vain for the Macquarie, or other waters, and, as his +provisions were nearly consumed, he was obliged to give up all further +pursuit, and to retrace his steps. He fell in with two parties of natives, +which, taken collectively, amounted to thirty-five in number, but had no +communication with them. + +It was evident, from the above account, that supposing a line to have been +drawn from the camp northerly, Mr. Hume must have travelled considerably +to the westward of it, and as I had run on a N.W. course from the marshes, +it necessarily followed that our lines of route must have intersected each +other, or that want of extension could alone have prevented them from +having done so; but that, under any circumstances, they could not have +been very far apart. This was too important a point to be left undecided, +as upon it the question of the Macquarie's termination seemed to depend. + +Both Mr. Hume and myself were of opinion, that a medium course would be +the most satisfactory for us to pursue, to decide this point; and it +appeared that we could not do better than, by availing ourselves of the +creek on which we were, and skirting the reeds, to take the first +opportunity of dashing through them in a westerly direction. + +DOUBTS OF THE FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE RIVER. + +I entertained great doubts as to the longer existence of the river, and as +I foresaw that, in the event of its having terminated we should strike at +once into the heart of the interior, I became anxious for the arrival of +supplies at Mount Harris; and although I could hardly expect that they had +yet reached it, I determined to proceed thither. Mr. Hume was too unwell +for me to think of imposing additional fatigue upon him; I left him, +therefore, to conduct the party, by easy stages, to the northward, until +such time as I should overtake them. Even in one day there was a visible +improvement in the men, and Dawber's attack seemed to be rather the +effects of cold than of any thing else. A death, however, under our +circumstances, would have been so truly deplorable an event, that the +least illness was sufficient to create alarm. + +I can hardly say that I was disappointed on my arrival at Mount Harris, to +find its neighbourhood silent and deserted. I remained, however, under it +for the greater part of the next day, and, prior to leaving it, placed a +sheet of paper with written instructions against a tree, though almost +without a hope that it would remain untouched. + +PERPLEXING SITUATION. + +A little after sun-set we reached the first small marsh, at which we +slept; and on the following morning I crossed the plains of the Macquarie, +and joined the party at about fifteen miles from the creek at which I had +left it. I found it in a condition that was as unlooked for by Mr. Hume as +it was unexpected by me, and really in a most perplexing situation. + +On the day I left him, Mr. Hume only advanced about two miles, in +consequence of some derangement in the loads. Having crossed the creek, +he, the next morning, proceeded down its right bank, until it entered the +marshes and was lost. He then continued to move on the outskirts of the +latter, and having performed a journey or about eight miles, was anxious +to have stopped, but there was no water at hand. The men, however, were so +fatigued, in consequence of previous illness, that he felt it necessary to +halt after travelling about eleven miles. + +No water could be procured even here, notwithstanding that Mr. Hume, who +was quite unfit for great exertion, underwent considerable bodily fatigue +in his anxiety to find some. He was, therefore, obliged to move early on +the following morning, but neither men nor animals were in a condition to +travel; and he had scarcely made three miles' progress, when he stopped +and endeavoured to obtain a supply or water by digging pits among the +reeds. From these he had drawn sufficient for the wants of the people when +I arrived. Some rain had fallen on the 6th and 7th of the month, or it is +more than probable the expedient to which he resorted would have failed of +success. Mr. Hume, I was sorry to observe, looked very unwell; but nothing +could prevent him from further endeavours to extricate the party from its +present embarrassment. + +JOURNEY CONTINUED. + +As soon as I had taken a little refreshment, therefore, I mounted a fresh +horse; and he accompanied me across a small plain, immediately in front of +the camp, which was subject to overflow and covered with polygonum, having +a considerable extent of reeds to its right. + +From the plain we entered a wood of blue-gum, in which reeds, grass, and +brush formed a thick coppice. We at length passed into an open space, +surrounded on every side by weeds in dense bodies. The great marsh bore +south of us, and was clear and open, but behind us the blue-gum trees +formed a thick wood above the weeds. + +About two hundred yards from the outskirts of the marsh there was a line +of saplings that had perished, and round about them a number of the tern +tribe (sea swallow) were flying, one of which Mr. Hume had followed a +considerable way into the reeds the evening before, in the hope that it +would have led him to water. The circumstance of their being in such +numbers led us to penetrate towards them, when we found a serpentine sheet +of water of some length, over which they were playing. We had scarcely +time to examine it before night closed in upon us, and it was after nine +when we returned to the tents. + +From the general appearance of the country to the northward, and from the +circumstance of our having got to the bottom of the great marsh, which but +a few days before had threatened to be so formidable, I thought it +probable that the reeds would not again prove so extensive as they had +been, and I determined, if I could do so, to push through them in a +westerly direction from our position. + +SECOND GREAT MARSH. + +The pits yielded us so abundant a supply during the night, that in the +morning we found it unnecessary to take the animals to water at the +channel we had succeeded in finding the evening before; but pursuing a +westerly course we passed it, and struck deep into the reeds. At mid-day +we were hemmed in by them on every side, and had crossed over numerous +channels, by means of which the waters of the marshes are equally and +generally distributed over the space subject to their influence. Coming to +a second sheet of water, narrower, but longer, as well as we could judge, +than the first, we stopped to dine at it; and, while the men were resting +themselves, Mr. Hume rode with me in a westerly direction, to ascertain +what obstacles we still had to contend with. Forcing our way through +bodies of reeds, we at length got on a plain, stretching from S.E. to +N.W., bounded on the right by a wood of blue-gum, under which the reeds +still extended, and on the left by a wood in which they did not appear to +exist. Certain that there was no serious obstacle in our way, we returned +to the men; and as soon as they had finished their meal, led them over the +plain in a N.W. by W. direction. It was covered with shells, and was full +of holes from the effects of flood. + +CONCLUSIONS IN REGARD TO THE MACQUARIE. + +As we were journeying over it, I requested Mr. Hume to ride into the wood +upon our left, to ascertain if it concealed any channel. On his return he +informed me that he descended from the plain into a hollow, the bottom of +which was covered with small shells and bulrushes. He observed a new +species of eucalypti, on the trunks of which the water-mark was three feet +high. After crossing this hollow, which was about a quarter of a mile in +breadth, he gained an open forest of box, having good grass under it; and, +judging from the appearance of the country that no other channel could +exist beyond him, and that he had ascertained sufficient for the object I +had in view, he turned back to the plain. We stopped for the night under a +wood of box, where the grass, which had been burnt down, was then +springing up most beautifully green, and was relished exceedingly by the +animals. + +It was in consequence of our not having crossed any channel, while +penetrating through the reeds, that could by any possible exaggeration +have been laid down as the bed of the river, that I detached Mr. Hume; and +the account he brought me at once confirmed my opinion in regard to the +Macquarie, and I thenceforth gave up every hope of ever seeing it in its +characteristic shape again. + +Independently however of all circumstantial evidence, it was clear that +the river had not re-formed at a distance of twenty-five miles to the +north of us, since Mr. Hume had gone to the westward of that point, at +about the same distance on his late journey, without having observed the +least appearance of reeds or of a river. He had, indeed, noticed a hollow, +which occasionally contained water, but he saw nothing like the bed of a +permanent stream. I became convinced, also, from observation of the +country through which we had passed, that the sources of the Macquarie +could not be of such magnitude as to give a constant flow to it as a +river, and at the same time to supply with water the vast concavity into +which it falls. In very heavy rains only could the marshes and adjacent +lands be laid wholly under water, since the evaporation alone would be +equal to the supply. + +The great plains stretching for so many miles to the westward of Mount +Harris, even where they were clear of reeds, were covered with shells and +the claws of cray-fish and their soil, although an alluvial deposit, was +superficially sandy. They bore the appearance not only of frequent +inundation, but of the floods having eventually subsided upon them. This +was particularly observable at the bottom of the marshes. We did not find +any accumulation of rubbish to indicate a rush of water to any one point; +but numerous minor channels existed to distribute the floods equally and +generally over every part of the area subject to them, and the marks of +inundation and subsidence were everywhere the same. The plain we had last +crossed, was, in like manner, covered with shells, so that we could not +yet be said to be out of the influence of the marshes; besides which we +had not crossed the hollow noticed by Mr. Hume, which it was clear we +should do, sooner or later. + +SITUATION OF THE PARTY. + +To have remained in our position would have been impossible, as there was +no water either for ourselves or the animals; to have descended into the +reeds again, for the purpose of carrying on a minute survey, would, under +existing circumstances, have been imprudent. Our provisions were running +short, and if a knowledge of the distant interior was to be gained, we had +no time to lose. It was determined, therefore, to defer our further +examination of the marshes to the period of our return; and to pursue such +a course as would soonest and most effectually enable us to determine the +character of the western interior. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +Prosecution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and +productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous conduct +of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills called +New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting attack of the +kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the country--Oxley's Table +Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down New-Year's Creek-- +Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in with a tribe of +natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh water--Extraordinary +sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie. + + +We left our position at the head of the plain early on the 13th of +January, and, ere the sun dipped, had entered a very different country +from that in which we had been labouring for the last three weeks. We had, +as yet, passed over little other than an alluvial soil, but found that it +changed to a red loam in the brushes immediately backing the camp. An open +forest track succeeded this, over which the vegetation had an unusual +freshness, indicating that the waters had not long subsided from its +surface. We shortly afterwards crossed a hollow, similar to that Mr. Hume +had described, in which bulrushes had taken the place of reeds. +Flooded-gum trees, of large size, were also growing in it, but on either +side box alone prevailed, under which the forest grass grew to a +considerable height. We crossed the hollow two or three times, and as +often remarked the line of separation between those trees. The last time +we crossed it the country rose a few feet, and we journeyed for the +remainder of the day, at one time over good plains, at another through +brushes, until we found water and feed, at which we stopped for the night, +after having travelling about thirteen miles on a W. by N. course. The +mosquitoes were so extremely troublesome at this place that we called it +Mosquito Brush. At this time my men were improving rapidly, and Mr. Hume +complained less, and looked better. I hoped, therefore, that our progress +would be rapid into the interior. + +CREEK LEADING NORTHERLY; PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. + +On the 14th we took up a westerly course, and in the first instance +traversed a plain of great extent; the soil of which was for the most part +a red sandy loam, but having patches of light earth upon it. The former +was covered with plants of the chenopedia kind; the latter had evidently +been quagmires, and bore even then the appearance of moisture. At about +seven miles from Mosquito Brush we struck upon a creek of excellent water, +upon which the wild fowl were numerous. Some natives was seen, but they +were only women, and seemed so alarmed that I purposely avoided them. As +the creek was leading northerly, we traced it down on that course for +about seven miles, and then halted upon its banks, which were composed of +a light tenacious earth. Brushes of casuarina existed near it, but a +tortuous box was the prevailing tree, which, excepting for the knees of +small vessels, could not have been applied to any use, while the +flooded-gum had entirely disappeared. Some ducks were shot in the +afternoon, which proved a great treat, as we had been living for some time +on salt provisions. Our animals fared worse than ourselves, as the bed of +the creek was occupied by coarse rushes, and but little vegetation was +elsewhere to be seen. I here killed a beautiful snake, of about four feet +in length, and of a bright yellow colour: I had not, however, the means of +preserving it. Fraser collected numerous botanical specimens, and among +them two kinds of caparis. Indeed a great alteration had taken place in +the minor shrubs, and few of those now prevalent had been observed to the +eastward of the marshes. + +From the creek, which both I and Mr. Hume must have crossed on our +respective journeys, we held a westerly course for about fifteen miles, +through a country of alternate plain and brush, the latter predominating, +and in its general character differing but little from that we had +traversed the day previous. + +The acacia pendula still continued to exist on the plains backed by dark +rows of cypresses (Cupressus callitris). In the brushes, box and +casuarina (Casuarina tortuosa), with several other kinds of eucalypti, +prevailed; but none of them were sufficiently large to be of use. The +plains were so extremely level that a meridian altitude could have been +taken without any material error; and I doubt much whether it would have +been possible to have traversed them had the season been wet. + +HUNTING PARTY OF NATIVES. + +As we were travelling through a forest we surprised a hunting party of +natives. Mr. Hume and I were considerably in front of our party at the +time, and he only had his gun with him. We had been moving along so +quietly that we were not for some time observed by them. Three were seated +on the ground, under a tree, and two others were busily employed on one of +the lower branches cutting out honey. As soon as they saw us, four of them +ran away; but the fifth, who wore a cap of emu feathers, stood for a +moment looking at us, and then very deliberately dropped out of the tree +to the ground. I then advanced towards him, but before I got round a bush +that intervened, he had darted away. I was fearful that he was gone to +collect his tribe, and, under this impression, rode quickly back for my +gun to support Mr. Hume. On my arrival I found the native was before me. +He stood about twenty paces from Mr. Hume, who was endeavouring to explain +what he was; but seeing me approach he immediately poised his spear at +him, as being the nearest. Mr. Hume then unslung his carbine, and +presented it; but, as it was evident my re-appearance had startled the +savage, I pulled up; and he immediately lowered his weapon. His coolness +and courage surprised me, and increased my desire to communicate with him. +He had evidently taken both man and horse for one animal, and as long as +Mr. Hume kept his seat, the native remained upon his guard; but when he +saw him dismount, after the first astonishment had subsided, he stuck his +spear into the ground, and walked fearlessly up to him. We easily made him +comprehend that we were in search of water; when he pointed to the west, +as indicating that we should supply our wants there. He gave his +information in a frank and manly way, without the least embarrassment, +and when the party passed, he stepped back to avoid the animals, without +the smallest confusion. I am sure he was a very brave man; and I left him +with the most favourable impressions, and not without hope that he would +follow us. + +From a more open forest, we entered a dense scrub, the soil in which was +of a bright-red colour and extremely sandy, and the timber of various +kinds. A leafless species of stenochylus aphylta, which, from the +resemblance, I at first thought one of the polygonum tribe, was very +abundant in the open spaces, and the young cypresses were occasionally so +close as to turn us from the direction in which we had been moving. In the +scrub we crossed Mr. Hume's tract, and, from the appearance of the ground, +I was led to believe mine could not be very distant. + +FATE OF THE MACQUARIE. + +We struck upon a creek late in the afternoon, at which we stopped; New +Year's Range bearing nearly due west at about four miles' distance. Had we +struck upon my track, the question about which we were so anxious would +still have been undecided; but the circumstance of our having crossed Mr. +Hume's, which, from its direction, could not be mistaken, convinced me of +the fate of the Macquarie, and I felt assured that, whatever channels it +might have for the distribution of its waters, to the north of our line of +route, the equality of surface of the interior would never permit it +again to form a river; and that it only required an examination of the +lower parts of the marshes to confirm the theory of the ultimate +evaporation and absorption of its waters, instead of their contributing to +the permanence of an inland sea, as Mr. Oxley had supposed. + +NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +On the 17th of January we encamped under New Year's Range, which is the +first elevation in the interior of Eastern Australia to the westward of +Mount Harris. Yet when at its base, I do not think that we had ascended +above forty feet higher than the plains in the neighbourhood of that last +mentioned eminence. There certainly is a partial rise of country, where +the change of soil takes place from the alluvial deposits of the marshes, +to the sandy loam so prevalent on the plains we had lately traversed; but +I had to regret that I was unable to decide so interesting a question by +other than bare conjecture. + +Notwithstanding that Mr. Hume had already been on them, I encouraged hopes +that a second survey of the country from the highest point of New Year's +Range would enable us to form some opinion of it, by which to direct our +future movements; but I was disappointed. + +The two wooded hills I had seen from Oxley's Table Land were visible from +the range, bearing south; and other eminences bore by compass S.W. +and W. by S.; but in every other direction the horizon was unbroken. To +the westward, there appeared to be a valley of considerable extent, +stretching N. and S., in which latter direction there was a long strip of +cleared ground, that looked very like the sandy bed of a broad and rapid +river. The bare possibility of the reality determined me to ascertain by +inspection, whether my conjecture was right, and Mr. Hume accompanied me +on this excursion. After we left the camp we crossed a part of the range, +and travelled for some time through open forest land that would afford +excellent grazing in most seasons. We passed some hollows, and noticed +many huts that had been occupied near them; but the hollows were now quite +dry, and the huts had been long deserted. After about ten miles' ride we +reached a plain of white sand, from which New Year's Range was distinctly +visible; and this no doubt was the spot that had attracted my attention. +Pools of water continued on it, from which circumstance it would appear +that the sand had a substratum of clay or marl. From this plain we +proceeded southerly through acacia scrub, bounding gently undulating +forest land, and at length ascended some small elevations that scarcely +deserved the name of hills. They had fragments of quartz profusely +scattered over them; and the soil, which was sandy, contained particles of +mica. + +MOSQUITOES. + +The view from them was confused, nor did any fresh object meet our +observation. We had, however, considerably neared the two wooded hills, +and the elevations that from the range were to the S.W., now bore N.W. +of us. We had wandered too far from the camp to admit of our returning to +it to sleep; we therefore commenced a search for water, and having found +some, we tethered our horses near it for the night, and should have been +tolerably comfortable, had not the mosquitoes been so extremely +troublesome. They defied the power of smoke, and annoyed me so much, that, +hot as it was, I rolled myself in my boat cloak, and perspired in +consequence to such a degree, that my clothes were wet through, and I had +to stand at the fire in the morning to dry them. Mr. Hume, who could not +bear such confinement, suffered the penalty, and was most unmercifully +bitten. + +A MAN MISSING. + +We reached the camp about noon the following day, and learnt, to our +vexation, that one of the men, Norman, had lost himself shortly after we +started, and had not since been heard of. Dawber, my overseer, was out in +search of him. I awaited his return, therefore, before I took any measures +for the man's recovery; nor was I without hopes that Dawber would have +found him, as it appeared he had taken one of the horses with him, and +Dawber, by keeping his tracks, might eventually have overtaken him. He +returned, however, about 3 p.m. unsuccessful, when Mr. Hume and I mounted +our horses, and proceeded in different directions in quest of him, but +were equally disappointed. + +We met at the creek in the dark, and returned to the camp together, when I +ordered the cypresses on the range to be set on fire, and thus illuminated +the country round for many miles. In the morning, however, as Norman had +not made his appearance, we again started in search of the poor fellow, +on whose account I was now most uneasy; for his horse, it appeared, had +escaped him, and was found with the others at watering time. + +I did not return to the camp until after sunset, more fatigued than I +recollect ever having been before. I was, however, rejoiced on being +informed that the object of my anxiety was safe in his tent; that he had +caught sight of the hill the evening before, and that he had reached the +camp shortly after I left it. He had been absent three nights and two +days, and had not tasted water or food of any kind during that time. + +To my enquiries he replied, that, being on horseback, he thought he could +have overtaken a kangaroo, which passed him whilst waiting at the creek +for the cattle, and that in the attempt, he lost himself. It would appear +that he crossed the creek in the dark, and his horse escaped from him on +the first night. He complained more of thirst than of hunger, although he +had drunk at the watering-place to such an excess, on his return, as to +make him vomit; but, though not a little exhausted, he had escaped better +than I should have expected. + +COUNTRY AROUND NEW YEAR'S RANGE. + +New Year's Range consists of a principal group of five hills, the loftiest +of which does not measure 300 feet in height. It has lateral ridges, +extending to the N.N.W. on the one hand, and bending in to the creek on +the other. The former have a few cypresses, sterculia, and iron bark upon +them; the latter are generally covered with brush, under box; the brush +for the most part consisting of two distinct species of stenochylus, and a +new acacia. The whole range is of quartz formation, small fragments of +which are profusely scattered over the ridges, and are abundantly +incrusted with oxide of iron. The soil in the neighbourhood of New Year's +Range is a red loam, with a slight mixture of sand. An open forest country +lies between it and the creek, and it is not at all deficient in pasture. + +NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +That a change of soil takes place to the westward of the creek, is +obvious, from the change of vegetation, the most remarkable feature of +which is the sudden check given to the further extension of the acacia +pendula, which is not to be found beyond it, it being succeeded by another +acacia of the same species and habits; neither do the plants of the +chenopedia class exist in the immediate vicinity of the range. + +I place these hills, as far as my observations will allow, in east +lon. 146 degrees 32 minutes 15 seconds, and in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes +south; the variation of the compass being 6 degrees 40 minutes easterly. + +As New Year's Creek was leading northerly, it had been determined to trace +it down as long as it should keep that course, or one to the westward of +it. We broke up the camp, therefore, under the range, on the evening of +the 18th, and moved to the creek, about two miles north of the place at +which we had before crossed it, with the intention of prosecuting our +journey on the morrow. But both Mr. Hume and I were so fatigued that we +were glad of an opportunity to rest, even for a single day. We remained +stationary, therefore, on the 19th; nor was I without hope that the +natives whom we had surprised in the woods, would have paid us a visit, +since Mr. Hume had met them in his search for Norman, and they had +promised not only to come to us, but to do all in their power to find +the man, whose footsteps some of them had crossed. They did not, however, +venture near us; and I rather attribute their having kept aloof, to the +circumstance of Mr. Hume's having fired a shot, shortly after he left +them, as a signal to Norman, in the event of his being within hearing of +the report. They must have been alarmed at so unusual a sound; but I am +sure nothing was further from Mr. Hume's intention than to intimidate +them; his knowledge of their manners and customs, as well as his +partiality to the natives, being equally remarkable. The circumstance is, +however, a proof of the great caution that is necessary in communicating +with them. + +ANNOYED BY KANGAROO FLIES. + +I have said that we remained stationary the day after we left the range, +with a view to enjoy a little rest; it would, however, have been +infinitely better if we had moved forward. Our camp was infested by the +kangaroo fly, which settled upon us in thousands. They appeared to rise +from the ground, and as fast as they were swept off were succeeded by +fresh numbers. It was utterly impossible to avoid their persecution, +penetrating as they did into the very tents. + +The men were obliged to put handkerchiefs over their faces, and stockings +upon their hands; but they bit through every thing. It was to no purpose +that I myself shifted from place to place; they still followed, or were +equally numerous everywhere. To add to our discomfort, the animals were +driven almost to madness, and galloped to and fro in so furious a manner +that I was apprehensive some of them would have been lost. I never +experienced such a day of torment; and only when the sun set, did these +little creatures cease from their attacks. + +SUDDENLY RELIEVED. + +It will be supposed that we did not stay to subject ourselves to another +trial; indeed it was with some degree of horror that the men saw the first +light of morning streak the horizon. They got up immediately, and we moved +down the creek, on a northerly course, without breakfasting as usual. We +found that dense brushes of casuarina lined the creek on both sides, +beyond which, to our left, there was open rising ground, on which +eucalypti, cypresses, and the acacia longifolia, prevailed; whilst to the +east, plains seemed to predominate. + +Although we had left the immediate spot at which the kangaroo flies +(cabarus) seemed to be collected, I did not expect that we should have got +rid of them so completely as we did. None of them were seen during the +day; a proof that they were entirely local. They were about half the size +of a common house fly, had flat brown bodies, and their bite, although +sharp and piercing, left no irritation after it. + +About noon we stopped at the creek side to take some refreshment. The +country bore an improved appearance around us, and the cattle found +abundance of pasture. It was evident that the creek had been numerously +frequented by the natives, although no recent traces of them could be +found. It had a bed of coarse red granite, of the fragments of which the +natives had constructed a weir for the purpose of taking fish. The +appearance of this rock in so isolated a situation, is worthy of the +consideration of geologists. + +DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY. + +The promise of improvement I have noticed, gradually disappeared as we +proceeded on our day's journey, and we at length found ourselves once more +among brushes, and on the edge of plains, over which the rhagodia +prevailed. Nothing could exceed in dreariness the appearance of the tracks +through which we journeyed, on this and the two following days. The creek +on which we depended for a supply of water, gave such alarming indications +of a total failure, that I at one time, had serious thoughts of abandoning +my pursuit of it. We passed hollow after hollow that had successively +dried up, although originally of considerable depth; and, when we at +length found water, it was doubtful how far we could make use of it. +Sometimes in boiling it left a sediment nearly equal to half its body; at +other times it was so bitter as to be quite unpalatable. That on which we +subsisted was scraped up from small puddles, heated by the sun's rays; +and so uncertain were we of finding water at the end of the day's journey, +that we were obliged to carry a supply on one of the bullocks. There was +scarcely a living creature, even of the feathered race, to be seen to +break the stillness of the forest. The native dogs alone wandered about, +though they had scarcely strength to avoid us; and their melancholy howl, +breaking in upon the ear at the dead of the night, only served to impress +more fully on the mind the absolute loneliness of the desert. + +It appeared, from their traces that the natives had lingered on this +ground, on which they had perhaps been born, as long as it continued to +afford them a scanty though precarious subsistence; but that they had at +length been forced from it. Neither fish nor muscles remained in the +creek, nor emus nor kangaroos on the plains. How then could an European +expect to find food in deserts through which the savage wandered in vain? +There is no doubt of the fate that would have overtaken any one of the +party who might have strayed away, and I was happy to find that Norman's +narrow escape had made a due impression on the minds of his comrades. + +SANDY PLAINS; LEAVE THE CREEK. + +We passed some considerable plains, lying to the eastward of the creek, on +parts of which the grass, though growing in tufts, was of luxuriant +growth. They were, however, more generally covered with salsola and +rhagodia, and totally destitute of other vegetation, the soil upon them +being a red sandy loam. The paths across the plains, which varied in +breadth from three to eight miles, were numerous; but they had not been +recently trodden. The creek continued to have a thick brush of casuarina +and acacia near it, to the westward of which there was a rising open +forest track; the timber upon it being chiefly box, cypress, and the +acacia longifolia. It was most probably connected with New Year's Range, +those elevations being about thirty miles distant. It terminated in some +gentle hills which, though covered in places with acacia shrub, were +sufficiently open to afford an extensive view. From their summit Oxley's +Table Land, towards which we had been gradually working our way, was +distinctly visible, distant about twenty miles, and bearing by compass +W. by S. On descending from these hills (called the Pink Hills, from the +colour of a flower upon them) which were scattered over with fragments of +slaty quartz, we traversed a box flat, apparently subject to overflow, +having a barren sandy scrub to its left. I had desired the men to preserve +a W.N.W. direction, on leaving them, supposing that that course would have +kept them near the creek; but, on overtaking the party, I found that they +had wandered completely away from it. The fact was, that the creek had +taken a sudden bend to the eastward of N. and had thus thrown them out. +It was with some difficulty that we regained it before sunset; and we were +at length obliged to stop for the night at a small plain, about a quarter +of a mile short of it, but we had the satisfaction of having excellent +feed for the animals. + +OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Fearful that New Year's Creek would take us too far to the eastward, and +being anxious to keep westward as much as possible, it struck me that we +could not, under existing circumstances, do better than make for Oxley's +Table Land. Water, I knew, we should find in a swamp at it's base, and we +might discover some more encouraging feature than I had observed on my +hasty visit to it. We left the creek, therefore on the 23rd, and once more +took up a westerly course. Passing through a generally open country, we +stopped at noon to rest the animals; and afterwards got on an excellent +grazing forest track, which continued to the brush, through another part +of which I had penetrated to the marsh more to the south. While making our +way through it, we came upon a small pond of water, and must have alarmed +some natives, as there was a fresh made fire close to it. Our journey had +been unusually long, and the cattle had felt the heat so much, that the +moment they saw water they rushed into it; and, as this created some +confusion, I thought it best to stop where we were for the night. + +In the morning, Mr. Hume walked with me to the hill, a distance of about a +mile. It is not high enough to deserve the name of a mountain, although a +beautiful feature in the country, and showing well from any point of view. +We ascended it with an anxiety that may well be imagined, but were wholly +disappointed in our most sanguine expectations. Our chief object, in this +second visit to Oxley's Table Land, had been to examine, more at leisure, +the face of the country around it, and to discover, if possible, some +fixed point on which to move. + +If the rivers of the interior had already exhausted themselves, what had +we to expect from a creek whose diminished appearance where we left it +made us apprehend its speedy termination, and whose banks we traversed +under constant apprehension? In any other country I should have followed +such a water course, in hopes of its ultimately leading to some reservoir; +but here I could encourage no such favourable anticipation. + +The only new object that struck our sight was a remarkable and distant +hill of conical shape, bearing by compass S. 10 E. To the southward and +westward, in the direction of D'Urban's Group, a dense and apparently low +brush extended; but to the N. and N.W., there was a regular alternation of +wood and plain. I left Mr. Hume upon the hill, that he might the more +readily notice any smoke made by the natives; and returned myself to the +camp about one o'clock, to move the party to the swamp. Mr. Hume's +perseverance was of little avail. The region he had been overlooking was, +to all appearance, uninhabited, nor did a single fire indicate that there +was even a solitary wanderer upon its surface. + +EXCURSION TO D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +Our situation, at this time, was extremely embarrassing, and the only +circumstance on which we had to congratulate ourselves was, the improved +condition of our men; for several of the cattle and horses were in a sad +plight. The weather had been so extremely oppressive, that we had found it +impossible to keep them free from eruptions. I proposed to Mr. Hume, +therefore, to give them a few days' rest, and to make an excursion, with +such of them as were serviceable, to D'Urban's Group. We were both of us +unwilling to return to the creek, but we foresaw that a blind reliance +upon fortune, in our next movements, might involve us in inextricable +difficulty. + +On the other hand, there was a very great risk in delay. It was more than +probable, from the continued drought, that our retreat would be cut off +from the want of water, or that we should only be enabled to effect our +retreat with loss of most of the animals. The hope, however, of our +intersecting some stream, or of falling upon a better country, prevailed +over other considerations; and the excursion was, consequently, determined +upon. + +DISTRESS FROM WANT OF WATER. + +We left the camp on the 25th, accompanied by Hopkinson and the tinker; +and, almost immediately after, entered an acacia scrub of the most sterile +description, and one, through which it would have been impossible to have +found a passage for the boat carriage. The soil was almost a pure sand, +and the lower branches of the trees were decayed so generally as to give +the whole an indescribable appearance of desolation. About mid-day, we +crossed a light sandy plain, on which there were some dirty puddles of +water. They were so shallow as to leave the backs of the frogs in them +exposed, and they had, in consequence, been destroyed by solar heat, and +were in a state of putrefaction. Our horses refused to drink, but it was +evident that some natives must have partaken of this sickening beverage +only a few hours before our arrival. Indeed, it was clear that a wandering +family must have slept near this spot, as we observed a fresh made gunneah +(or native hut), and their foot-prints were so fresh along the line we +were pursuing, that we momentarily expected to have overtaken them. It was +late in the evening when we got out of this brush into better and more +open ground, where, in ordinary seasons we should, no doubt, have found +abundance of water. But we now searched in vain for it, and were contented +to be enabled to give our wearied animals better food than they had tasted +for many days, the forest grass, though in tufts, being abundant. + +We brought up for the night at the edge of a scrub, having travelled from +thirty-two to thirty-five miles, judging the distance from the mountains +still to be about twelve. + +BEARINGS FROM OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +In the morning we started at an early hour, and immediately entered the +brush, beneath which we had slept; pursuing a westerly course through it. +After a short ride, we found ourselves upon a plain, that was crowded with +flocks of cockatoos. Here we got a supply of water, such as it was--so +mixed with slime as to hang in strings between the fingers; and, after a +hasty breakfast, we proceeded on our journey, mostly through a barren +sandy scrub that was a perfect burrow from the number of wombats in it, to +within a mile of the hill group, where the country appeared like one +continuous meadow to the very base of them. I never saw anything like the +luxuriance of the grass on this tract of country, waving as it did higher +than our horses' middles as we rode through it. We ascended the S.W. face +of the mountain to an elevation of at least 800 feet above the level of +the plain, and had some difficulty in scaling the masses of rock that +opposed themselves to our progress. But on gaining the summit, we were +amply repaid for our trouble. The view extended far and wide, but we were +again disappointed in the main object that had induced us to undertake the +journey. I took the following bearings by compass. Oxley's Table Land bore +N. 40 E. distant forty-five miles; small and distant hill due E.; conical +peak seen from Oxley's Table Land S. 60 E., very distant; long ridge of +high land, S.E., distant thirty-five miles; high land, S. 30 E., distant +thirty miles; long range, S. 25 W. + +To the westward, as a medium point. the horizon was unbroken, and the eye +wandered over an apparently endless succession of wood and plain. A +brighter green than usual marked the course of the mountain torrents in +several places, but there was no glittering light among the trees, no +smoke to betray a water hole, or to tell that a single inhabitant was +traversing the extensive region we were overlooking. We were obliged to +return to the plain on which we had breakfasted, and to sleep upon it. + +D'URBAN'S GROUP. + +D'Urban's Group is of compact sandstone formation. Its extreme length is +from E.S.E. to W.N.W., and cannot be more than from seven to nine miles, +whilst its breadth is from two to four. The central space forms a large +basin, in which there are stunted pines and eucalyptus scrub, amid huge +fragments of rocks. It rises like an island from the midst of the ocean, +and as I looked upon it from the plains below, I could without any great +stretch of the imagination, picture to myself that it really was such. +Bold and precipitous, it only wanted the sea to lave its base; and I +cannot but think that such must at no very remote period have been the +case, and that the immense flat we had been traversing, is of +comparatively recent formation. + +We reached the camp on the 28th of the month, by nearly the same route; +and were happy to find that, after the few days' rest they had enjoyed, +there was a considerable improvement in the animals. + +Our experience of the nature of the country to the southward, and the +westward, was such as to deter us from risking anything, by taking such a +direction as was most agreeable to our views. Nothing remained to us but +to follow the creek, or to retreat; and as we could only be induced to +adopt the last measure when every other expedient should have failed, we +determined on pursuing our original plan, of tracing New Year's Creek as +far as practicable. + +DESCRIPTION OF OXLEY'S TABLE LAND. + +Oxley's Table Land is situated in lat. 29 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds, +and in E. long. 145 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds, the mean variation +being 6.32 easterly. It consists of two hills that appear to have been +rent asunder by some convulsion of nature, since the passage between them +is narrow and their inner faces are equally perpendicular. The hill which +I have named after the late Surveyor-general, is steep on all sides; but +the other gradually declines from the south, and at length loses itself in +a large plain that extends to the north. It is from four to five miles in +length, and is picturesque in appearance, and lightly wooded. A few +cypresses were growing on Oxley's Table Land; but it had, otherwise, very +little timber upon its summit. Both hills are of sandstone formation, and +there are some hollows upon the last that deserve particular notice. They +have the appearance of having been formed by eddies of water, being deeper +in the centre than at any other part, and contain fragments and slabs of +sandstone of various size and breadth, without a particle of soil or of +sand between them. It is to be observed that the edges of these slabs, +which were perfect parallelograms, were unbroken, and that they were as +clean as if they had only just been turned out of the hand of the mason. +We counted thirteen of these hollows in one spot about twenty-five feet in +diameter, but they are without doubt of periodical formation, since a +single hollow was observed lower than the summit of the hill upon its +south extremity, that had evidently long been exposed to the action of the +atmosphere, and had a general coating of moss over it. + +CONTINUE THE JOURNEY; DOWN NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +We left Oxley's Table Land on the morning of the 31st of January, pursuing +a northern course through the brush and across a large plain, moving +parallel to the smaller hill, and keeping it upon our left. The soil upon +this plain differed in character from that on the plains to the eastward, +and was much freer from sand. We stopped to dine at a spot, whence Oxley's +Table Land bore by compass, S. by W., distant about twelve miles. +Continuing our journey, at 2 p.m. we cleared the plain, and entered a +tract covered with the polygonum junceum, on a soil evidently the deposit +of floods. Box-trees were thinly scattered over it, and among the +polygonum, the crested pigeons were numerous. These general appearances, +together with a dip of country to the N.N.W., made us conclude that we +were approaching the creek, and we accordingly intersected it on a N.N.E. +course, at about three miles' distance from where we had dined. It had, +however, undergone so complete a change, and had increased so much in size +and in the height of its banks, that we were at a loss to recognize it. +Still, with all these favourable symptoms, there was not a drop of water +in it. But small shells lay in heaps in its bed, or were abundantly +scattered over it; and we remarked that they differed from those on the +plains of the Macquarie. A circumstance that surprised us much, was the +re-appearance of the flooded-gum upon its banks, and that too of a large +size. We had not seen any to the westward of the marshes, and we were, +consequently, led to indulge in more sanguine expectation as to our +ultimate success than we had ever ventured to do before. + +The party crossed to the right bank of the creek, and then moved in a +westerly direction along it in search of water. A brush extended to our +right, and some broken stony ground, rather elevated, was visible, to +which Mr. Hume rode; nor did he join me again until after I had halted the +party for the night. + +DISTRESSED FOR WATER. + +My search for water had been unsuccessful, and the sun had set, when I +came upon a broad part of the creek that appeared very favourable for an +encampment, as it was encompassed by high banks, and would afford the men +a greater facility of watching the cattle, that I knew would stray away if +they could. + +My anxiety for them led me to wander down the bed of the creek, when, to +my joy, I found a pond of water within a hundred yards of the tents. It is +impossible for me to describe the relief I felt at this success, or the +gladness it spread among the men. Mr. Hume joined me at dusk, and informed +me that he had made a circuit, and had struck upon the creek about three +miles below us but that, in tracing it up, he had not found a drop of +water until he came to the pond near which we had so providentially +encamped. On the following morning, we held a westerly course over an open +country for about eight miles and a half. The prevailing timber appeared +to he a species of eucalypti, with rough bark, of small size, and +evidently languishing from the want of moisture. The soil over which we +travelled was far from bad, but there was a total absence of water upon +it. At 6 p.m. Oxley's Table Land was distant from us about fifteen miles, +bearing S. 20 E. by compass. + +We had not touched upon the creek from the time we left it in the morning, +having wandered from it in a northerly direction, along a native path that +we intersected, and that seemed to have been recently trodden, since +footsteps were fresh upon it. At sunset, we crossed a broad dry creek that +puzzled us extremely, and were shortly afterwards obliged to stop for the +night upon a plain beyond it. We had, during the afternoon, bent down to +the S.W. in hopes that we should again have struck upon New Year's Creek; +and, under an impression that we could not be far from it, Mr. Hume and I +walked across the plain, to ascertain if it was sufficiently near to be of +any service to us. We came upon a creek, but could not decide whether it +was the one for which we had been searching, or another. + +Its bed was so perfectly even that it was impossible to say to what point +it flowed, more especially as all remains of debris had mouldered away. It +was, however, extremely broad, and evidently, at times, held a furious +torrent. In the centre of it, at one of the angles, we discovered a pole +erected, and at first thought, from the manner in which it was propped up, +that some unfortunate European must have placed it there as a mark to tell +of his wanderings, but we afterwards concluded that it might be some +superstitious rite of the natives, in consequence of the untowardness of +the season, as it seemed almost inconceivable that an European could have +wandered to such a distance from the located districts in safety. + +REACH A LARGE RIVER. + +The creek had flooded-gum growing upon its banks, and, on places +apparently subject to flood, a number of tall straight saplings were +observed by us. We returned to the camp, after a vain search for water, +and were really at a loss what direction next to pursue. The men kept the +cattle pretty well together, and, as we were not delayed by any +preparations for breakfast, they were saddled and loaded at an early hour. +The circumstance of there having been natives in the neighbourhood, of +whom we had seen so few traces of late, assured me that water was at hand, +but in what direction it was impossible to guess. As the path we had +observed was leading northerly, we took up that course, and had not +proceeded more than a mile upon it, when we suddenly found ourselves on +the banks of a noble river. Such it might in truth be called, where water +was scarcely to be found. The party drew up upon a bank that was from +forty to forty-five feet above the level of the stream. The channel of the +river was front seventy to eighty yards broad, and enclosed an unbroken +sheet of water, evidently very deep, and literally covered with pelicans +and other wild fowl. Our surprise and delight may better be imagined than +described. Our difficulties seemed to be at an end, for here was a river +that promised to reward all our exertions, and which appeared every moment +to increase in importance to our imagination. Coming from the N.E.,and +flowing to the S.W., it had a capacity of channel that proved that we 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 trees that +overhung it were of beautiful and gigantic growth. + +DISAPPOINTMENT ON FINDING THE RIVER SALT. + +Its banks were too precipitous to allow of our watering the cattle, but +the men eagerly descended to quench their thirst, which a powerful sun had +contributed to increase; nor shall I ever forget the cry of amazement that +followed their doing so, or the looks of terror and disappointment with +which they called out to inform me that the water was so salt as to be +unfit to drink! This was, indeed, too true: on tasting it, I found it +extremely nauseous, and strongly impregnated with salt, being apparently +a mixture of sea and fresh water. Whence this arose, whether from local +causes, or from a communication with some inland sea, I knew not, but the +discovery was certainly a blow for which I was not prepared. Our hopes +were annihilated at the moment of their apparent realization. The cup of +joy was dashed out of our hands before we had time to raise it to our +lips. Notwithstanding this disappointment, we proceeded down the river, +and halted at about five miles, being influenced by the goodness of the +feed to provide for the cattle as well as circumstances would permit. They +would not drink of the river water, but stood covered in it for many +hours, having their noses alone exposed above the stream. Their condition +gave me great uneasiness. It was evident they could not long hold out +under their excessive thirst, and unless we should procure some fresh +water, it would impossible for us to continue our journey. On a closer +examination, the river appeared to me much below its ordinary level, and +its current was scarcely perceptible. We placed sticks to ascertain if +there was a rise or fall of tide, but could arrive at no satisfactory +conclusion, although there was undoubtedly a current in it. Yet, as I +stood upon its banks at sunset, when not a breath of air existed to break +the stillness of the waters below me, and saw their surface kept in +constant agitation by the leaping of fish, I doubted whether the river +could supply itself so abundantly, and the rather imagined, that it owed +such abundance, which the pelicans seemed to indicate was constant, to +some mediterranean sea or other. Where, however, were the human +inhabitants of this distant and singular region? The signs of a numerous +population were around us, but we had not seen even a solitary wanderer. +The water of the river was not, by any means, so salt as that of the +ocean, but its taste was precisely similar. Could it be that its unnatural +state had driven its inhabitants from its banks? + +One would have imagined that our perplexities would have been sufficient +for one day, but ere night closed, they increased upon us, although our +anxiety, with regard to the cattle, was happily removed. Mr. Hume with his +usual perseverance, walked out when the camp was formed; and, at a little +distance from it, ascended a ridge of pure sand, crowned with cypresses. +From this, he descended to the westward, and, at length, struck upon the +river, where a reef of rocks creased its channel, and formed a dry passage +from one side to the other; but the bend, which the river must have taken, +appeared to him so singular, that he doubted whether it was the same +beside which we had been travelling during the day. Curiosity led him to +cross it, when he found a small pond of fresh water on a tongue of land, +and, immediately afterwards, returned to acquaint me with the welcome +tidings. It was too late to move, but we had, at least, the prospect of a +comfortable breakfast in the morning. + +JUNCTION OF NEW YEAR'S CREEK. + +In consequence of the doubts that hung upon Mr. Hume's mind, as to the +course of the river, we arranged that the animals should precede us to the +fresh water; and that we should keep close in upon the stream, to +ascertain that point. After traversing a deep bight, we arrived nearly as +soon as the party, at the appointed rendezvous. The rocks composing the +channel of the river at the crossing place, were of indurated clay. In the +course of an hour, the animals appearing quite refreshed, we proceeded on +our journey, and at about four miles crossed New Year's Creek, at its +junction with the salt river. We passed several parts of the main channel +that were perfectly dry, and were altogether at a loss to account for the +current we undoubtedly had observed in the river when we first came upon +it. At midday D'Urban's Group bore S. 65 E. distant about 32 miles. We +made a little westing in the afternoon. The river continued to maintain +its character and appearance, its lofty banks, and its long still reaches: +while, however, the blue-gum trees upon its banks were of magnificent +size, the soil had but little vegetation upon it, although an alluvial +deposit. + +We passed over vast spaces covered with the polygonum junceum, that bore +all the appearance of the flooded tracks in the neighbourhood of the +marshes, and on which the travelling was equally distressing to the +animals. Indeed, it had been sufficiently evident to us that the waters of +this river were not always confined to its channel, capacious as it was, +but that they inundated a belt of barren land, that varied in width from a +quarter of a mile to a mile, when they were checked by an outer embankment +that prevented them from spreading generally over the country, and upon +the neighbouring plains. At our halting place, the cattle drank sparingly +of the water, but it acted as a violent purgative both on them and the men +who partook of it. + +NATIVE VILLAGE. + +On the 5th, the river led us to the southward and westward. Early in the +day, we passed a group of seventy huts, capable of holding from twelve to +fifteen men each. They appeared to be permanent habitations, and all of +them fronted the same point of the compass. In searching amongst them we +observed two beautifully made nets, of about ninety yards in length. The +one had much larger meshes than the other, and was, most probably, +intended to take kangaroos; but the other was evidently a fishing net. + +In one hut, the floor of which was swept with particular care, a number of +white balls, as of pulverised shells or lime, had been deposited--the +use of which we could not divine. A trench was formed round the hut to +prevent the rain from running under it, and the whole was arranged with +more than ordinary attention. + +TERROR OF THE NATIVES. + +We had not proceeded very far when we came suddenly upon the tribe to +which this village, as it might be called, belonged. + +In breaking through some brush to an open space that was bounded on one +side by the river, we observed three or four natives, seated on a bank at +a considerable distance from us; and directly in the line on which we were +moving. The nature of the ground so completely favoured our approach, that +they did not become aware of it until we were within a few yards of them, +and had ascended a little ridge, which, as we afterwards discovered, ended +in an abrupt precipice upon the river, not more than thirty yards to our +right. The crack of the drayman's whip was the first thing that aroused +their attention. They gazed upon us for a moment, and then started up and +assumed an attitude of horror and amazement; their terror apparently +increasing upon them. We stood perfectly immovable, until at length they +gave a fearful yell, and darted out of sight. + +THEY FIRE THE BUSH. + +Their cry brought about a dozen more natives from the river, whom we had +not before observed, but who now ran after their comrades with surprising +activity, and without once venturing to look behind them. As our position +was a good one, we determined to remain upon it, until we should ascertain +the number and disposition of the natives. We had not been long +stationary, when we heard a crackling noise in the distance, and it soon +became evident that the bush had been fired. It was, however, impossible +that we could receive any injury on the narrow ridge upon which we stood, +so that we waited very patiently to see the end of this affair. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES; DISEASE AMONG THEM. + +In a short time the fire approached pretty near to us, and dense columns +of smoke rose into the air over our heads. One of the natives, who had +been on the bank, now came out of the bush, exactly from the spot into +which he had retreated. He advanced a few paces towards us, and bending +his body so that his hands rested on his knees, he fixed his gaze upon us +for some time; but, seeing that we remained immovable, he began to throw +himself into the most extravagant attitudes, shaking his foot from time to +time. When he found that all his violence had no effect, he turned his +rear to us in a most laughable manner, and absolutely groaned in spirit +when he found that this last insult failed of success. + +He stood perplexed and not knowing what next to do, which gave Mr. Hume an +opportunity to call out to him, and with considerable address he at length +got the savage to approach close up to him; Mr. Hume himself having +advanced a short distance from the animals in the first instance. As soon +as I thought the savage had sufficiently recovered from his alarm, I went +up to him with a tomahawk, the use of which he immediately guessed. We now +observed that the natives who had fled from the river, had been employed +in setting a net. They had placed it in a semicircle, with either end to +the shore, and rude pieces of wood were attached to it to keep the upper +part perpendicular. It was in fact a sein, only that the materials, with +the exception of the net-work, were simpler and rougher than cork or +lead--for which last, we afterwards discovered stones had been +substituted. + +We had on this occasion a remarkable instance of the docility of the +natives of the interior, or of the power they have of subduing their +apprehensions; manifesting the opposite extremes of fear and confidence. +These men whom we had thus surprised, and who, no doubt, imagined that we +were about to destroy them, having apparently never seen nor heard of +white men before, must have taken us for something preternatural; yet from +the extremity of fear that had prompted them to set their woods in flames, +they in a brief space so completely subdued those fears as to approach +the very beings who had so strongly excited their alarm. The savage who +had been the principal actor in the scene, was an elderly man, rather +descending to the vale of years than what might be strictly called aged. +I know not how it was, but I regarded him with peculiar interest. +Mr. Hume's manners had in a great measure contributed to allay his evident +agitation; but, from the moment I approached him, I thought there was a +shade of anxiety upon his brow, and an expression of sorrow over his +features, the cause of which did not originate with us. I could see in a +moment, that his bosom was full even to bursting, and he seemed to claim +at once our sympathy and our protection, although we were ignorant of that +which oppressed him. We had not long been seated together, when some of +his tribe mustered sufficient courage to join him. Both Mr. Hume and I +were desirous of seeing the net drawn, but the old man raised some +objection, by pointing to the heavens and towards the sun. After a little +more solicitation, however, he gave a whistle, and, four or five natives +having obeyed the summons, he directed them to draw the net, but they were +unfortunate, and our wish to ascertain the kind of fish contained in the +river was disappointed. As his tribe gathered round him, the old chief +threw a melancholy glance upon them, and endeavoured, as much as he could, +to explain the cause of that affliction which, as I had rightly judged, +weighed heavily upon him. It appeared, then, that a violent cutaneous +disease raged throughout the tribe, that was sweeping them off in great +numbers. He called several young men to Mr. Hume and myself, who had been +attacked by this singular malady. Nothing could exceed the anxiety of his +explanations, or the mild and soothing tone in which he addressed his +people, and it really pained me that I could not assist him in his +distress. We now discovered the use to which the conical substance that +had been deposited with such unusual care in one of the huts, was applied. +There were few of the natives present who were not more or less marked +with it, and it was no doubt, indicative of mourning. + +DEPARTURE OF THE NATIVES. + +Some of the men, however, were painted with red and yellow ochre, with +which it was evident to me they had besmeared themselves since our +appearance, most likely in preparing for the combat in which they fancied +they would be engaged. We distributed such presents as we had to those +around us, and when we pursued our journey, the majority accompanied us, +nor did they wholly leave us until we had passed the place to which their +women had retired. They might have left us when they pleased, for we +intended them no harm; as it was, however, they struck into the brushes to +join their families, and we pushed on to make up for lost time. + +The travelling near the river had been so bad, not only in consequence of +the nature of the soil and brush, but from the numerous gullies that had +been formed by torrents, as they poured into its channel after heavy rains +and floods, that it was thought advisable to keep at a greater distance +from it. We turned away, therefore, to the plains, and found them of much +firmer surface. They partook, however, of the same general character as +the plains we had traversed more to the eastward. Their soil was a light +sandy loam, and the same succulent plants still continued to prevail upon +them, which we have already noticed as existing upon the other plains. +Both emus and kangaroos were seen, though not in any considerable numbers, +but our dogs were not in a condition to run, and were all but killed by +the extreme heat of the weather. We had fallen on a small pool of water +shortly after we started in the morning, but we could do no more than +refresh ourselves and the animals at it. In the afternoon, we again turned +towards the river, and found it unaltered. Its water was still salt, and +from the increased number of wild fowl and pelicans upon it, as well as +from the general flatness of the country, I certainly thought we were +rapidly approaching some inland sea. It was, however, uncertain how long +we should be enabled to continue on the river. The animals were all of +them extremely weak, and every day increased the probable difficulty of +our return. There was not the least appearance of a break-up of the +drought, the heavens were without a cloud, and the atmosphere was so clear +that the outline of the moon could be distinctly seen, although she was +far in her wane. + +BRINE SPRINGS IN THE RIVER. + +On the 6th, we journeyed again through a barren scrub, although on firmer +ground, and passed numerous groups of huts. At about eight miles from our +last encampment, we came upon the river, where its banks were of +considerable height. In riding along them, Mr. Hume thought he observed a +current running, and be called to inform me of the circumstance. On a +closer examination, we discovered some springs in the very bed of the +river, from which a considerable stream was gushing, and from the +incrustation around them, we had no difficulty in guessing at their +nature: in fact, they were brine springs, and I collected a quantity of +salt from the brink of them. + +DISTRESS FOR WANT OF FRESH WATER. + +After such a discovery, we could not hope to keep our position. No doubt +the current we had observed on first reaching the river, was caused by +springs that had either escaped our notice or were under water. Here was +at length a local cause for its saltness that destroyed at once the +anticipation and hope of our being near its termination, and, +consequently, the ardour with which we should have pressed on to decide so +interesting a point. + +Our retreat would have been a measure of absolute necessity ere this, had +we not found occasional supplies of fresh water, the last pond of which +was now about eighteen miles behind us. + +OUR COURSE ARRESTED. + +Whether we should again find any, was a doubtful question, and I hesitated +to run the risk. The animals were already, from bad food, and from the +effects of the river water, so weak, that they could scarcely carry their +loads, and I was aware, if any of the bullocks once fell, he would never +rise again. Under such circumstances, I thought it better to halt the +party at the edge of the scrub, though the feed was poor, and the water +not drinkable. Our situation required most serious consideration. It was +necessary that we should move either backward or forward in the morning. +Yet we could not adopt either measure with satisfaction to ourselves, +under such unfavorable circumstances. I determined to relieve my own mind +by getting the animals into a place of safety, as soon as possible; and, +as the only effectual way of doing this was to retire upon the nearest +fresh water, I resolved at once to do so. The party turned back on the +morning of the 6th; nor do I think the cattle would ever have reached +their destination had we not found a few buckets of rain water in the +cleft of a rock, to refresh them. Thus it will appear that under our most +trying circumstances, we received aid from Providence, and that the bounty +of Heaven was extended towards us, when we had least reason to expect it. + +Notwithstanding we had been thus forced to a partial retreat, both +Mr. Hume and myself were unwilling to quit the pursuit of the river, in so +unsatisfactory a manner. There was no difference in the appearance of the +country to the westward of it; but a seeming interminable flat stretched +away in that direction. A journey across it was not likely, therefore, to +be attended with any favorable results, since it was improbable that any +other leading feature was within our reach. I proposed, therefore, to take +the most serviceable of the horses with me down the river, that, in the +event of our finding fresh water, we might again push forward. Mr. Hume +requesting to be permitted to accompany me, it was arranged that we should +start on the 8th, thereby giving the animals a day's rest. We had not seen +any natives since our parting with the chief horde; and as we were +stationed at some little distance from the river, I hoped that they would +not visit the camp during my absence. This was the only circumstance that +gave me uneasiness, but the men had generally been behaving so well that I +relied a great deal upon them. + +EXTRAORDINARY SOUND. + +About 3 p.m. on the 7th, Mr. Hume and I were occupied tracing the chart +upon the ground. The day had been remarkably fine, not a cloud was there +in the heavens, nor a breath of air to be felt. On a sudden we heard what +seemed to be the report of a gun fired at the distance of between five and +six miles. It was not the hollow sound of an earthly explosion, or the +sharp cracking noise of falling timber, but in every way resembled a +discharge of a heavy piece of ordnance. On this all were agreed, but no +one was certain whence the sound proceeded. Both Mr. Hume and myself had +been too attentive to our occupation to form a satisfactory opinion; but +we both thought it came from the N.W. I sent one of the men immediately up +a tree, but he could observe nothing unusual. The country around him +appeared to be equally flat on all sides, and to be thickly wooded: +whatever occasioned the report, it made a strong impression on all of us; +and to this day, the singularity of such a sound, in such a situation, +is a matter of mystery to me. + +FURTHER ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE RIVER. + +On the 8th, we commenced our journey down the river, accompanied by two +men, and a pack-horse, carrying our provisions on one side and a bucket of +water on the other. Keeping in general near the stream, but making +occasional turns into the plains, we got to the brush from which the party +had turned back, about 3 p.m. Passing through, we crossed a small plain, +of better soil and vegetation than usual; but it soon gave place to the +sandy loam of the interior; nor did we observe any material alteration, +either in the country or the river, as we rode along. The flooded-gum +trees on the banks of the latter, were of beautiful growth, but in the +brushes dividing the plains, box and other eucalypti, with cypresses and +many minor shrubs, prevailed. We slept on the river side, and calculated +our distance from the camp at about twenty-six or twenty-eight miles. + +The horses would not drink the river water, so that we were obliged to +give them a pint each from our own supply. On the following morning we +continued our journey. The country was generally open to the eastward, and +we had fine views of D'Urban's Group, distant from twenty to twenty-five +miles. About noon, turning towards the river to rest, both ourselves and +the horses, we passed through brush land for about a mile and a half. When +we came upon its banks, we found them composed of a red loam with sandy +superficies. We had, in the course of the day, crossed several creeks, but +in none of them could we find water, although their channels were of great +depth. + +The day had been extremely warm, and from shaking in the barrel our supply +of water had diminished to a little more than a pint; it consequently +became a matter of serious consideration, how far it would he prudent to +proceed farther; for, however capable we were of bearing additional +fatigue, it was evident our animals would soon fail, since they trembled +exceedingly, and had the look of total exhaustion. We calculated that we +were forty miles from the camp, in a S.W. direction, a fearful distance +under our circumstances, since we could not hope to obtain relief for two +days. Independently however, of the state of the animals, our spirits were +damped by the nature of the country, and the change which had taken place +on the soil, upon which it was impossible that water could rest; while the +general appearance of the interior showed how much it had suffered from +drought. On the other hand, although the waters of the river had become +worse to the taste, the river itself had increased in size, and stretched +away to the westward, with all the uniformity of a magnificent canal, and +gave every promise of increasing importance; while the pelicans were in +such numbers upon it as to be quite dazzling to the eye. Considering, +however, that perseverance would only involve us in inextricable +difficulties, and that it would also be useless to risk the horses, since +we had gained a distance to which the bullocks could not have been +brought, I intimated my intention of giving up the further pursuit of the +river, though it was with extreme reluctance that I did so. + +CALLED IT THE "DARLING". + +As soon as we had bathed and finished our scanty meal, I took the bearings +of D'Urban's Group, and found them to be S. 58 E. about thirty-three miles +distant; and as we mounted our horses, I named the river the "Darling," +as a lasting memorial of the respect I bear the governor. + +ABANDON THE ATTEMPT. + +I should be doing injustice to Mr. Hume and my men, if I did not express +my conviction that they were extremely unwilling to yield to +circumstances, and that, had I determined on continuing the journey, they +would have followed me with cheerfulness, whatever the consequences might +have been. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance and condition--Remarks on +the Salt or Darling River--Appearance of the marshes on our return-- +Alarm for safety of the provision party--Return to Mount Harris--Miserable +condition of the natives--Circumstances attending the slaughter of two +Irish runaways--Bend our course towards the Castlereagh--Wallis's Ponds-- +Find the famished natives feeding on gum--Channel of the Castlereagh-- +Character of the country in its vicinity--Another tribe of natives-- +Amicable intercourse with them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach +the Darling River ninety miles higher up than where we first struck +upon it. + + +We kept near the river as we journeyed homewards, and in striking across a +plain, found an isolated rock of quartz and jasper, just showing itself +partially above the surface of the ground. + +We were anxious to get to the small plain I have mentioned, if possible, +for the sake of the animals, and pushed on rapidly for it. About 4 p.m. we +had reached our sleeping place of the previous evening, and being +overpowered by thirst, we stopped in hopes that by making our tea strong +we might destroy, in some measure, the nauseous taste of the water. The +horses were spancelled and a fire lit. Whilst we were sitting patiently +for the boiling of the tins, Mr. Hume observed at a considerable distance +above us, a large body of natives under some gum trees. They were not near +enough for us to observe them distinctly, but it was evident that they +were watching our motions. We did not take any notice of them for some +time, but at last I thought it better to call out to them, and accordingly +requested Mr. Hume to do so. In a moment the whole of them ran forward and +dashed into the river, having been on the opposite side, with an uproar I +had never witnessed on any former occasion. + +INTERCOURSE WITH NATIVES. + +Mr. Hume thought they intended an attack, and the horses had taken fright +and galloped away. I determined, therefore, to fire at once upon them if +they pressed up the bank on which we were posted. Mr. Hume went with me +to the crest of it, and we rather angrily beckoned to the foremost of the +natives to stop. They mistook our meaning, but laid all their spears in a +heap as they came up. We then sat down on the bank and they immediately +did the same; nor did they stir until we beckoned to them after the horses +had been secured. + +As they conducted themselves so inoffensively, we gave them everything we +had to spare. My gun seemed to excite their curiosity, as they had seen +Mr. Hume shoot a cockatoo with it; they must consequently have been close +to us for the greater part of the day, as the bird was killed in the +morning. It was of a species new to me, being smaller than the common +white cockatoo, and having a large scarlet-and-yellow instead of a +pine-yellow top-knot. + +Having stayed about half an hour with them, we remounted our horses, and +struck away from the river into the plains, while the natives went up its +banks to join their hordes. Those whom we saw were about twenty-seven in +number and the most of them were strangers. + +DISTRESS FROM THIRST. + +It was some time after sunset before we reached the little plain on which +we had arranged to sleep, and when we dismounted we were in a truly +pitiable state. I had been unable to refrain from drinking copiously at +the river, and now became extremely sick. Mr. Hume had been scarcely more +prudent than myself, but on him the water had a contrary effect, as well +as upon Hopkinson. The tinker was the only man fit for duty, and it was +well for us that such was the case, as the horses made frequent attempts +to stray, and would have left us in a pretty plight had they succeeded. We +reached the camp on the following day a little before sunset, nor was I +more rejoiced to dismount from my wearied horse than to learn that +everything in the camp had been regular during our absence and that the +men had kept on the best terms with the natives who had paid them frequent +visits. + +The bullocks had improved, but were still extremely weak, and as the +horses we had employed on the last journey required a day or two's rest, +it was arranged that we should not break up our camp until the 12th, +beyond which period we could not stop, in consequence of the low state of +our salt provisions, we having barely sufficient to last to Mount Harris, +at the rate of two pounds per week. + +REMARKS ON THE NATIVES. + +The morning after we returned from our excursion, a large party of +natives, about seventy in number, visited the camp. On this occasion, the +women and children passed behind the tents, but did not venture to stop. +Most of the men had spears, and were unusually inquisitive and forward. +Several of them carried fire-sticks under the influence of the disease I +have already noticed, whilst others were remarked to have violent +cutaneous eruptions all over the body. We were pretty well on the alert; +notwithstanding which, every minor article was seized with a quickness +that would have done credit to a most finished juggler. One of the natives +thus picked up my comb and toothbrush, but as he did not attempt to +conceal them, they were fortunately recovered. After staying with us a +short time the men followed the women. They appeared to be strangers who +had come from a distance. + +CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES. + +The natives of the Darling are a clean-limbed, well-conditioned race, +generally speaking. They seemingly occupy permanent huts, but their tribe +did not bear any proportion to the size or number of their habitations. +It was evident their population had been thinned. The customs of these +distant tribes, as far as we could judge, were similar to those of the +mountain blacks, and they are essentially the same people, although their +language differs. They lacerate their bodies, but do not extract the front +teeth. We saw but few cloaks among them, since the opossum does not +inhabit the interior. Those that were noticed, were made of the red +kangaroo skin. In appearance, these men are stouter in the bust than at +the lower extremities; they have broad noses, sunken eyes, overhanging +eyebrows, and thick lips. The men are much better looking than the women. +Both go perfectly naked, if I except the former, who wear nets over the +loins and across the forehead, and bones through the cartilages of the +nose. Their chief food is fish, of which they have great supplies in the +river; still they have their seasons for hunting their emus and kangaroos. +The nets they use for this purpose, as well as for fishing, are of great +length, and are made upon large frames. These people do not appear to have +warlike habits nor do they take any pride in their arms, which differ +little from those used by the inland tribes, and are assimilated to them +as far as the materials will allow. One powerful man, however, had a +regular trident, for which Mr. Hume offered many things without success. +He plainly intimated to us that he had a use for it, but whether against +an enemy or to secure prey, we could not understand. I was most anxious to +have ascertained if any religious ceremonies obtained among them, but the +difficulty of making them comprehend our meaning was insurmountable; and +to the same cause may be attributed the circumstance of my being unable to +collect any satisfactory vocabulary of their language. They evinced a +strange perversity, or obstinacy rather, in repeating words, although it +was evident that they knew they were meant as questions. The pole we +observed in the creek, on the evening previously to our making the +Darling, was not the only one that fell under our notice; our impression +therefore, that they were fixed by the natives to propitiate some deity, +was confirmed. It would appear that the white pigment was an indication of +mourning. Whether these people have an idea of a superintending Providence +I doubt, but they evidently dread evil agency. On the whole I should say +they are a people, at present, at the very bottom of the scale of +humanity. + +REMARKS ON THE DARLING RIVER. + +We struck the Darling River in lat. 29 degrees 37 minutes S. and in E. +long. 145 degrees 33 minutes, and traced it down for about sixty-six miles +in a direct line to the S.W. If I might hazard an opinion from appearance, +to whatever part of the interior it leads, its source must be far to the +N.E. or N. The capacity of its channel, and the terrific floods that must +sometimes rage in it, would argue that it is influenced by tropical rains, +which alone would cause such floods. It is likely that it seldom arrives +at so reduced a state as that in which we found it, and that, generally +speaking, it has a sufficient depth of water for the purposes of inland +navigation: in such case its future importance cannot be questioned, since +it most probably receives the chief streams falling westerly from the +coast ranges. But, with every anticipation of the benefit that may at some +time or other be derived from this remarkable and central stream, it is +incumbent on me to state that the country, through which it flows, holds +out but little prospect of advantage. Certainly the portion we know of it, +is far from encouraging. The extent of alluvial soil, between the inner +and outer banks of the river, is extremely limited, and, instead of being +covered with sward, is in most places over-run by the polygonum. Beyond +this the plains of the interior stretch away, whose character and soil +must change, ere they can be available to any good purpose. But there is a +singular want of vegetable decay in the interior of New Holland, and that +powerfully argues its recent origin. + +REMARKS ON THE COUNTRY. + +There is no life upon its surface, if I may so express myself; but the +stillness of death reigns in its brushes, and over its plains. It cannot, +however, be doubted that we visited the interior during a most unfavorable +season. Probably in ordinary ones it wears a different appearance, but its +deserts are of great extent, and its productions are of little value. + +Agreeably to our arrangements, we broke up our camp at an early hour on +the morning of the 12th, and proceeded up the river to the junction of +New Year's Creek. We then struck away in an easterly direction from it, +detaching a man to trace the creek up, lest we should pass any water; and +we should certainly have been without it had we not taken this precaution. + +On the following day, we again passed to the eastward, through an open +country, having picturesque views of Oxley's Table Land. We crossed our +track about noon, and struck on the creek at about five miles beyond it, +and we were fortunate enough to procure both water and grass. The timber +upon the plains, between us and the Darling, we found to be a rough gum, +but box prevailed in the neighbourhood of the creek at this part of it. + +On the 14th, we changed our direction more to the southward, but made a +short journey, in consequence of being obliged to make some slight repairs +on the boat carriage. + +REGAIN OUR OLD ROUTE. + +On the 15th, we kept an E.S.E. course, and, crossing the creek at an early +hour, got upon our old track, which we kept. We had the lateral ridge of +the Pink Hills upon our right, and travelled through a good deal of brush. +Four or five natives joined us, and two followed us to the end of our +day's journey. In the course of the evening, they endeavoured to pilfer +whatever was in their reach, but were detected putting a tin into a bush, +and soon took to their heels. This was the first instance we had of open +theft among the natives of the interior. + +We passed Mosquito Brush on the 18th, but found the ponds quite dry, we +were, therefore, under the necessity of pushing on, to shorten the next +day's journey, as we could not expect to get water nearer than the +marshes. At noon, on the 19th, we entered the plain, and once more saw +them spreading in dreariness before us. While the party was crossing to +the first channel, I rode to the left, in order to examine the appearance +of the country in the direction of the wood, and as far as I skirted the +reeds had my impressions confirmed as to their partial extension. I was +obliged, however, to join the men without completing the circuit of the +marshes. They had found the first channel dry, and had passed on to the +other, in which, fortunately, a small quantity of water still remained. +It was, however, so shallow as to expose the backs of the fish in it, and +a number of crows had congregated, and were pecking at them. Wishing to +satisfy my mind as to the distance to which the river extended to the +northward, Mr. Hume rode with me on the following day, to examine the +country in that direction, leaving the men stationary. We found that the +reeds gradually decreased in body, until, at length, they ceased, or gave +place to bulrushes. There were general appearances of inundation, and of +the subsidence of waters, but none that led us to suppose that any channel +existed beyond the flooded lands. + +ALARM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PROVISION PARTY. + +On our return to the camp, we observed dense masses of smoke rising at the +head of the marshes, and immediately under Mount Foster. This excited our +alarm for the safety of the party we hoped to find at Mount Harris, and +obliged us to make forced marches, to relieve it if threatened by the +natives. + +On the 22nd, we crossed the plains of the Macquarie, and surprised a +numerous tribe on the banks of the river; and the difficulty we found in +getting any of them to approach us, their evident timidity, and the +circumstance of one of them having on a jacket, tended to increase our +apprehensions. When two or three came to us, they intimated that white +men either had been or were under Mount Harris, but we were left in +uncertainty and passed a most anxious night. + +The body of reeds was still on fire; and the light embers were carried to +an amazing distance by the wind, falling like a black-shower around us. As +we knew that the natives never made such extensive conflagration, unless +they had some mischievous object in view, our apprehension for the safety +of Riley, with his supplies, was increased. + +At the earliest dawn, we pushed for the hill. In passing that part of the +meadows under Mount Foster, we observed that the grass had also been +consumed, and we scarcely recognized the ground from its altered +appearance. As we approached Mount Harris, we saw recent traces of cattle, +but none were visible on the plains. Under the hill, however, we could +distinctly see that a hut of some kind had been erected, and it is +impossible for me to describe the relief we felt when a soldier came +forward to reconnoitre us. I could no longer doubt the safety of the +party, and this was confirmed by the rest of the men turning out to +welcome us. It appeared that our suspicions with regard to the natives had +not been without foundation, since they attempted to surprise the camp, +and it was supposed the firing of the marshes was done with a view to +collect the distant tribes, to make a second attack; so that our arrival +was most opportune. + +The party I found awaiting our arrival at Mount Harris consisted of one +soldier, Riley, who had the charge of the supplies, and a drayman. They +had found the paper I had fixed against the tree, and also the letters I +had hid, and had forwarded them to Sydney, by another soldier and a +prisoner; which had weakened their party a good deal. Riley informed me, +that he had been between a month and three weeks at the station, and that +knowing our provisions must have run short he had expected us much earlier +than we had made our appearance. + +My dispatches stated, that additional supplies had been forwarded for my +use, together with horses and bullocks, in the event of my requiring them. +On examination, the former were found to be in excellent order; and, as it +would take some time to carry any changes I might contemplate, or find it +necessary to make, into effect, I determined to give the men who had been +with me a week's rest. + +ENCAMP AT MOUNT HARRIS. + +The camp was made snug; and as the weather had become much cooler I +thought it a good opportunity to slaughter one of the bullocks, in order +to guard against any bad effects of our having been living for some weeks +exclusively on salt provisions. I was also induced to this measure, from a +wish to preserve my supplies as much as possible. + +These matters having been arranged, I had a temporary awning erected near +the river, and was for three or four days busily employed writing an +account of our journey for the Governor's information. + +Having closed my despatches, and answered the numerous friendly letters I +had received, my attention was next turned to the changes that had taken +place at Mount Harris during our absence. The Macquarie, I found, had +wholly ceased to flow, and now consisted of a chain of ponds. Such of the +minor vegetation as had escaped the fires of the natives, had perished +under the extreme heat of the season. The acacia pendula stood leafless +upon the plains, and the polygonum junceum appeared to be the only plant +that had withstood the effects of the drought. Yet, notwithstanding this +general depression of the vegetable kingdom, the animals that had been +brought from Wellington Valley were in the best condition, and were, +indeed, too fat for effective labour; it might, therefore, be reasonably +presumed, that herbage affording such nourishment in so unfavourable a +season, would be of the richest quality, if fresh and vigorous under the +influence of seasonable, and not excessive, rains. + +FIRING OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +The appearance of the country was, however, truly melancholy; there was +not a flower in bloom, nor a green object to be seen. Whether our arrival +had increased their alarm, is uncertain, but the natives continued to fire +the great marshes, and as the element raged amongst them, large bodies of +smoke rose over the horizon like storm clouds, and had the effect of +giving additional dreariness to the scene. I am inclined to think that +they made these conflagrations to procure food, by seizing whatsoever +might issue from the flames, as snakes, birds, or other animals; for they +had taken every fish in the river, and the low state of its waters had +enabled them to procure an abundance of muscles from its bed, which they +had consumed with their characteristic improvidence. They were, +consequently, in a starving condition, and so pitiable were their +indications of it, that I was induced to feed such of them as visited the +camp, notwithstanding their late misconduct; being likewise anxious to +bring about a good understanding, as the best means of ensuring the safety +of the smaller party when we should separate, of which I had reason to be +doubtful. These people had killed two white men not long before my arrival +among them, and as the circumstances attending the slaughter are singular, +I shall relate them. + +SLAUGHTER OF TWO IRISH RUNAWAYS. + +The parties were two Irish runaways, who thought they could make their way +to Timor. They escaped from Wellington Valley with a fortnight's provision +each, and a couple of dogs, and proceeded down the Macquarie. About the +cataract, they fell in with the Mount Harris tribe, and remained with them +for some days, when they determined on pursuing their journey. The blacks, +however, wanted to get possession of their dogs, and a resistance on the +part of the Europeans brought on a quarrel. It appears, that before the +blacks proceeded to extremities, they furnished the Irishmen, who were +unarmed, with weapons, and then told them to defend themselves, but +whether against equal or inferior numbers, I am uninformed. One of them +soon fell, which the other observing, he took his knife out, and cut the +throats of both the dogs before the blacks had time to put him to death. +He was, however, sacrificed; and both the men were eaten by the tribe +generally. I questioned several on the subject, but they preserved the +most sullen silence, neither acknowledging nor denying the fact. + +ARBUTHNOT'S RANGE. + +Mr. Hume had been one day on Mount Harris, and while there, had laid his +compass on a large rock, near to which Mr. Oxley's boat had been burnt. +To his surprise, he found the needle affected; and his bearings were all +wrong. I subsequently went up to ascertain the extent of the error +produced, and found it precisely the same as Mr. Hume noticed. When I +placed the compass on the rock, Mount Foster bore from me N. by W., the +true bearing of the one hill from the other being N.N.W. My placing my +notebook under the compass did not alter the effect, nor did the card move +until I raised the instrument a couple of feet above the stone, when it +first became violently agitated, and then settled correctly; and my +bearings of the highest parts of Arbuthnot's Range, and of its centre, +were as follows: + +Mount Exmouth to the N ...... N. 86 E. +Centre....................... N. 85 E. +Vernon's Peak................ N. 89 E. +Distance 70 miles. + +Having finished my reports and letters, it became necessary to consider +the best point on which to move, and to fix a day for our departure from +Mount Harris. It struck me that having found so important a feature as the +Darling River, the Governor would approve my endeavouring to regain it +more to the southward, in order to trace it down. I, therefore, detached +Mr. Hume to survey the country in that direction, and to ascertain if a +descent upon the Bogen district would be practicable, through which I had +been informed a considerable river forced itself. The report he made on +his return was such as to deter me from that attempt, but he stated that +the country for 30 miles from the Macquarie was well watered, and superior +to any he had passed over during the journey; beyond that distance, it +took up the character of the remote interior, and alternated with plains +and brush, the soil being too sandy to retain water on its surface. He saw +some hills from the extremity of his journey, bearing by compass W.S.W. +We consequently determined to make for the Castlereagh, agreeably to our +instructions. Preparations were made for breaking up the camp, all the +various arrangements in the change of animals were completed, the boat +carriage was exchanged for a dray, and I took Boyle in the place of +Norman, whose timidity in the bush rendered him unfit for service. + +CIRCUIT OF THE GREAT MARSHES. + +There is a small hill on the opposite side of the river, and immediately +facing Mount Harris, and to the S.E. of it there is a small lagoon, the +head of a creek, by means of which its superfluous waters are carried off. +This creek runs parallel to the river for about ten miles, and enters the +marshes at the S.E. angle. This I ascertained one day in riding to carry +on my survey of the southern extremity of the marshes, and to join my line +of route by making the circuit of that part of them. I found that the +river was turned to its northerly course by a rising ground of forest +land, which checks its further progress westerly. I proceeded round +the S.W. angle, and then, taking a northerly course, got down to the +bottom of the first great marsh, thus completing the circuit of them. I +did not return to the camp until after 10 p.m., having crossed the river +at day-light, nor did we procure any water from the time we left the +stream to the moment of our recrossing it. + +WALLIS'S PONDS. + +Having completed our various arrangements, and closed our letters, we +struck our tents on the morning of the 7th March; we remained, however, to +witness the departure of Riley's party for Wellington Valley, and then +left the Macquarie on an E.N.E. course for Wallis's Ponds, and made them +at about 14 miles. They undoubtedly empty themselves into the marshes, and +are a continuation of that chain of ponds on which I left the party in +Mr. Hume's charge. About a mile from Mount Harris, we passed a small dry +creek, that evidently lays the country under water in the wet seasons. +There was a blue-gum flat to the eastward of it, which we crossed, and +then entered a brush of acacia pendula and box. The soil upon the plain +was an alluvial deposit; that in the brushes was sandy. From the extremity +of the plain, Mount Harris bore, by compass, S.W. by W.; Mount Foster due +west. The scrub through which we were penetrating, at length became so +dense, that we found it impossible to travel in a direct line through it, +and frequent ridges of cypresses growing closely together, turned us +repeatedly from our course. The country at length became clearer, and we +travelled over open forest of box, casuarina, and cypresses, on a sandy +soil; the first predominating. For about two miles before we made the +creek, the country was not heavily timbered, the acacia pendula +succeeding the larger trees. The ground had a good covering of grass upon +it, and there were few of the salsolaceous plants, so abundant on the +western plains, to be found. The rough-gum abounded near the creek, with a +small tree bearing a hard round nut, and we had the luxury of plenty of +water. + +We remained stationary on the 8th, in hopes that Riley would have met the +soldier who had been sent back to Wellington Valley, and that he would +have forwarded any letters to us, of which he might have been the bearer. +The day, however, passed over without realizing our expectations; and we +started once more for the interior, and cut ourselves off from all +communication with society. + +MORRISSET'S PONDS. + +We made for Morrisset's chain of ponds, and travelled over rich and +extensive plains, divided by plantations of cypress, box, and casuarina, +in the early and latter period of the day. About noon we entered a dense +forest of cypresses, which continued for three miles, when the cypresses +became mixed with casuarina, box, and mountain-gum, a tree we had not +remarked before in so low a situation. We struck upon the creek after a +journey of about 15 miles. It had a sandy bed, and was extremely tortuous +in its course, nor was it until after a considerable search, that we at +length succeeded in finding water, at which a party of natives were +encamped. The moment they saw us, they fled, and left all their utensils, +&c. behind them. Among other things, we found a number of bark troughs, +filled with the gum of the mimosa, and vast quantities of gum made into +cakes upon the ground. From this it would appear these unfortunate +creatures were reduced to the last extremity, and, being unable to procure +any other nourishment, had been obliged to collect this mucilaginous food. + +The plains we traversed, were of uniform equality of surface. Water +evidently lodges and continues on them long after a fall of rain, and in +wet seasons they must, I should imagine, be full of quagmires, and almost +impassable. + +On the 10th, we passed through a country that differed in no material +point from that already described. We stopped at 10 a.m. under some brush, +in the centre of a large plain, from which Arbuthnot's range bore S. 84 E. +distant from 50 to 55 miles, and afterwards traversed or rather crossed, +those extensive tracts described by Mr. Evans as being under water and +covered with reeds, in 1817. They now bore a very different appearance, +being firm and dry. The soil was in general good, and covered with forest +grass and a species of oxalia. We did not observe any reeds, or the signs +of inundation, but, as is invariably the case with plains in the interior, +they were of too even surface, as I have so lately remarked, to admit of +the waters running quickly off them; and no doubt, when they became +saturated, many quagmires are formed, that would very much impede the +movements of an expedition. + +REACH THE CASTLEREAGH RIVER. + +We reached the Castlereagh about 4 p.m., and although its channel could +not have been less than 130 yards in breadth, there was apparently not a +drop of water in it. Its bed consisted of pure sand and reeds; amid the +latter, we found a small pond of 15 yards circumference, after a long +search. There is a considerable dip in the country towards the river, at +about two miles from it; and the intervening brush was full of kangaroo, +which, I fancy, had congregated to a spot where there was abundance of +food for them. The soil covering the space was of the richest quality, +and the timber upon it consisted of box, mountain gum, and the angophora +lanceolata, a tree that is never found except on rich ground. + +WANT OF WATER; CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. + +It appeared that our troubles were to recommence, and that in order to +continue on the Castlereagh, it would be necessary for Mr. Hume and myself +to undertake those fatiguing journeys in search of water that had so +exhausted us already: and after all, it was doubtful how soon we might be +forced back. I had certainly expected that, on our gaining the banks of +the river, we should have had a constant supply of water, but the +circumstance of the Castlereagh having not only ceased to flow, but being +absolutely dry, while it afforded the best and clearest proof of the +severity and continuance of the drought in the interior, at the same time +damped the spirits and ardour of the men. We kept the left bank of the +river as we proceeded down it, and passed two or three larger ponds about +a mile below where we had slept, but there they ceased. The bed of the +river became one of pure sand, nor did there appear to be any chance of +our finding any water in it. I stopped the party at about eight miles, and +desired the men to get their dinners, to give Mr. Hume and myself time to +search for a supply upon the plains. Disappointed to the left, we crossed +the channel of the Castlereagh, and struck over a small plain upon the +right bank, and at the extremity of it, came upon a swamp, from which we +immediately returned for the cattle, and got them unloaded by seven +o'clock. As there was sufficient pasture around us, I proposed to Mr. Hume +on the following day, to leave the party stationary, and to ride down the +river to see how far its present appearances continued. Like the +generality of rivers of the interior, it had, where we struck upon it, +outer banks to confine its waters during floods, and to prevent them from +spreading generally over the country; the space between the two banks +being of the richest soil, and the timber chiefly of the angophora kind. +Flooded-gum overhung the inner banks of the river, or grew upon the many +islands, with casuarina. It became evident, however, that the outer banks +declined in height as we proceeded down the river, nor was it long before +they ceased altogether. As we rode along, we found that the inner ones +were fast decreasing in height also. Riding under a hanging wood of the +angophora, which had ceased for a time, we were induced to break off to +our right, to examine some large flooded-gum trees about a couple of miles +to the N.W. of us. On arriving near them, we were astonished to find that +they concealed a serpentine lagoon that had a belt of reeds round it. +Keeping this lagoon upon our right, we at length came to the head of it, +past which the river sweeps. Crossing the channel of the river, we +continued to ride in an easterly direction to examine the country. In +doing this, we struck on a second branch of the Castlereagh, leading +W. by N. into a plain, which it of course inundates at times, and running +up it, we found its bed at the point of separation, to be considerably +higher than that of the main channel, which still continued of pure +sand--and was stamped all over with the prints of the feet of natives, +kangaroos, emus, and wild dogs, We then turned again to the head of the +lagoon, and took the following bearings of Arbuthnot's range: + +Mount Exmouth .......... E. 90 S. +Centre Range ........... E. 35 E. +Vernon's Peak .......... E. 20 S. + +From the head of the lagoon, the river appeared to enter a reedy hollow, +shaded by a long line of flooded gum trees, and on proceeding to it, we +found the banks ceased here altogether; and that a very considerable plain +extended both to the right and the left, which cannot fail of being +frequently laid under water. + +LAGOONS AND CREEKS OF THE CASTLEREAGH. + +On the following morning we moved the party to the lagoon, and, passing +its head, encamped to the north of it; after which we again rode down the +river in search of water. It continued to hold a straight and northerly +course for about five miles, having a plain on either side. The reeds that +had previously covered the channel then suddenly ceased, and the channel, +contracting in breadth, gained in depth: it became extremely serpentine, +and at length lost all the character and appearance of a river. It had +many back channels, as large as the main one, serving to overflow the +neighbouring country. We succeeded in finding a small pond of water in one +of the former, hardly large enough to supply our necessities, but as it +enabled us to push so much further on, we turned towards the lagoon, +making a circuitous journey to the right, across a large plain, bounded to +the north by low acacia brush and box. We struck upon a creek at the +further extremity of the plain, in which there was a tolerably sized pond. +It appeared from the traces of men, that some natives had been there the +day before; but we did not see any of them. The water was extremely muddy +and unfit for use. The lagoon at which we had encamped, was of less +importance than we had imagined. + +JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER. + +Whilst Mr. Hume led the party down the river, I rode up its northward +bank, to examine it more closely. I found it to be a serpentine sheet of +about three miles in length, gradually decreasing in depth until it +separated into two small creeks. In following one of them up, I observed +that they re-united at the distance of about two miles, and that the +lagoon was filled from the eastward, and not by the river as I had at +first supposed. The waters at the head of the lagoon were putrid, nor was +there a fish in, or a wild fowl upon it. The only bird we saw was a +beautiful eagle, of the osprey kind, with plumage like a sea gull, which +had a nest in the tree over the tents. + +In turning to overtake the party I rode through a great deal of acacia +scrub, and on arriving at the place at which I expected to have overtaken +them, I found they had pushed on. + +The Castlereagh, as I rode down it, diminished in size considerably, and +became quite choked up with rushes and brambles. Rough-gum again made its +appearance, with swamp-oak and a miserable acacia scrub outside. The +country on both sides of the river seemed to be an interminable flat, and +the soil of an inferior description. + +WRETCHED APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. + +I came up with with Mr. Hume about 1 o'clock and we again pushed forward +at 3, and halted for the night without water, the want of which the cattle +did not feel. The river held a general westerly course, and the country in +its neighbourhood became extremely depressed and low. On the following day +we moved forward a distance of not more than nine miles, through a country +on which, at first, the acacia pendula alone was growing on a light +alluvial soil. The river had many back drains, by means of which, in wet +seasons, it inundates the adjacent plains. It was evident, however, that +they had not been flooded for many years; and, notwithstanding that the +country was low, the line of inundation did not appear to be very +extensive, nor were there any reeds growing beyond the immediate banks of +the river. Swamp-oak and rough-gum again prevailed near the stream at our +halting place, and the improvement that had taken place, both in the +country and in the Castlereagh, had induced us to make so short a journey; +for not only was there abundance of the grass for the animals, but large +ponds of water in the river. Some natives had only just preceded us down +it: we came upon their fires that were still smoking; and upon them were +the remains of some fish they had taken, near which they had left a +cumbrous spear. The circumstances cheered us with hopes that an +improvement would take place in the country, and that some new feature +would soon open upon us. In the course of the following day, however, +every favorable change, both in the river and in the country, disappeared. +The latter continued extremely depressed, and in general open, or lightly +covered with acacia pendula; the former dwindled into a mere ditch, choked +up with brambles and reeds, and having only here and there a stagnant pool +of water. We travelled on a N.W. 1/2 W. course for about ten miles, and +again stopped for the night without water. In the course of the afternoon, +we traversed several flats, on which the rough-gum alone was growing. +These flats were evidently subject to flood; and contained an alluvial +soil. + +They became more frequent as we travelled down the river, and the work was +so heavy for the animals, that I was obliged to keep wide of them, in +doing which we struck upon a creek of large size, coming from the N.E. +and, having crossed, we traversed its right bank to its junction with the +Castlereagh, and stopped close to it at a pond of water, though the feed +for the animals was bad. The country to the left of the river, though +somewhat high, was the same, in essential points, as that to the right. + +The Castlereagh seemed to have increased in size below the creek, but +still it had no resemblance to a river. We had not proceeded very far down +its banks, on the 18th, when we crossed a broad footpath leading to it +from the interior. I turned my horse to the left, and struck upon a long +sheet of water, from which I startled a number of pelicans. It was evident +that the natives had recently been in the neighbourhood, but we thought it +probable they might have been a hunting party, who had returned again to +the plains. The whole track we passed over during the day was miserably +poor and bare of vegetation, nor did the appearance of the country to the +N.E. indicate any improvement. We lost the traces of the natives +immediately after crossing their path or beat, and again found the bed of +the river dry, after we had passed the sheet of water to which it led. The +soil was so rotten and yielding, that the team knocked up early; indeed, +it was a matter of surprise to me that they should not have failed before. +The river made somewhat to the westward with little promise of +improvement. The wretched appearance of the country as we penetrated into +it, damped our spirits; we pressed on, however, with difficulty, over +ground that was totally destitute of vegetation. Instead of lofty timber +and a living stream, we wandered along the banks of an insignificant +watercourse, and under trees of stunted size and scanty foliage. We +stopped on the 20th at the angle of a creek, in which there was some dry +grass, in consequence of the animals being almost in a starving state, but +even here they had but little to eat. + +A violent thunder-storm passed over us in the afternoon, but it made no +change in the temperature of the air. The weather, although it had been +hot and sultry, had fallen far short of the intense heat we experienced in +crossing the marshes of the Macquarie, when it was such as to melt the +sugar in the canisters, and to destroy all our dogs; and our nights were +now become agreeably cool. + +A PARTY OF NATIVES. + +We still, however, continued to travel over a dead level, nor was a height +or break visible from the loftiest trees we ascended. A little before we +stopped at the creek, we surprised a party of natives; old men, women, and +children. They were preparing dinners of fish in much larger quantities +than they could have devoured--probably for a part of the tribe that were +absent; but the moment they saw us they fled, and left every thing at our +mercy. On examining the fish, we found them totally different from any in +the Macquarie, and took two of the most perfect to preserve. In the +afternoon one of the men came to inform me that the tribe was coming down +upon us. + +Mr. Hume and I, therefore, went to meet them. They were at this time about +150 yards from the tent, but seeing us advance, they stopped, and forming +two deep, they marched to and fro, to a war song I suppose, crouching with +their spears. We had not, however, any difficulty in communicating with +them, and I shall detail the manner in which this was brought about, in +hopes that it may help to guide others. When the natives saw us advance, +they stopped, and we did the same. Mr. Hume then walked to a tree, and +broke off a short branch. It is singular that this should, even with these +rude people, be a token of peace. As soon as they saw the branch, the +natives laid aside their spears, and two of them advanced about twenty +paces in front of the rest, who sat down. Mr. Hume then went forward and +sat down, when the two natives again advanced and seated themselves close +to him. + +Now it is evident that a little insight into the customs of every people +is necessary to insure a kindly communication; this, joined with patience +and kindness, will seldom fail with the natives of the interior. It is not +to avoid alarming their natural timidity that a gradual approach is so +necessary. They preserve the same ceremony among themselves. These men, +who were eighteen in number, came with us to the tents, and received such +presents as we had for them. They conducted themselves very quietly, and, +after a short time, left us with every token of friendship. + +LARGE CREEK. + +On the 21st we proceeded down the river on a N.N.W. course, and at about +five miles struck upon a very large creek, apparently coming from +the E.N.E. + +Although the Castlereagh had increased in size, this creek was infinitely +larger; it was, however, perfectly dry. Lofty flooded-gum trees were upon +its banks, and it appeared so much superior to the river that I was +induced to halt the party at the junction, in order to examine it more +closely. Mr. Hume, therefore, rode with me up the right bank. We had not +proceeded very far, when some natives called out to us from the opposite +scrub. Thinking that they belonged to the tribe we had left behind us, we +pointed to the junction, and motioned them to go there, but one of the +party continued to follow and call to us for some time. On our return to +the men, we found that the natives had joined them, and they now gave us +to understand that we were going away from water. This had indeed been +apparent to us. The creek was perfectly dry, as far as we traced it up; +and seemed to have been totally deserted by the natives. + +We were about to proceed on our journey, when from twenty to thirty +natives approached us from down the river. We sent two of those who had +been with us to them, and the whole accompanied us for some miles, talking +incessantly to the men, but keeping at a very respectful distance from the +animals. We at length got opposite to their camp, near which there was a +very fine pool of water, and they were earnest in persuading us to stop at +it. We were, however, too anxious to get forward to comply; under the +improved appearance of the river since it had received the creeks from the +eastward, little anticipating what was before us. + +NATIVE ARMOURY. + +The natives did not follow us beyond their own encampment. Within sight of +it, we came upon their armoury, if I may so term it. Numerous spears were +reared against the trees, and heaps of boomerangs were lying on the +ground. The spears were very heavy, and half barbed; and it is singular +that three of them were marked with a broad arrow. We saw the natives +watching us, fearful, I imagine, that we should help ourselves; but I +would not permit any of their weapons to be touched. + +EXAMINATION OF CREEKS NEAR THE CASTLEREAGH. + +Pursuing our journey, we reached another creek, at about five miles, +similar to the last in appearance and size, and we crossed it repeatedly +during the afternoon. We had been induced to keep along a native path in +the hope that it would have led us to the river by a short cut; but it +eventually led us to this creek, and away from the Castlereagh; for, +notwithstanding that we subsequently changed our course to the S.W., we +failed, as we supposed, again to strike upon the latter, and were obliged +to stop for the night on the banks of what appeared to be a third large +dry creek, which we intersected nearly at right angles. + +We travelled through a good deal of brush during the day, nor did the +country change from the miserable and barren character it had assumed for +the last thirty or forty miles. The Castlereagh had so frequently changed, +that both Mr. Hume and myself were puzzled as to the identity of the +creek upon which we had halted. We searched its bed in vain for water, +although it was most capacious. Under an impression that the river was +still to the south, and that we were at a point to which many watercourses +from the high lands tended, I crossed the creek early in the morning, and +held a S.W. course, over an open forest country. At about eight miles, we +came upon a large space over-run by the polygonum junceum, a certain +indication of flooded ground, and of our consequent proximity to some +stream. Accordingly, after pushing through it, we struck upon a small +creek with abundance of water in it. Whether this creek was the +Castlereagh, which it resembled much more than the one we had left in the +morning, was doubtful; but it was a great source of comfort to us to have +so unexpected a supply of water as that which was now at our disposal. +Whatever channel this was, whether a river or a creek, our tracing it down +would lead us in the direction we wished to go, and probably to some +junction. + +The neighbourhood of the creek was well clothed with vegetation, and the +cattle found good feed; but the only trees near it were rough-gum and +casuarinae; the flooded-gum had again disappeared. The soil of the forest +land over which we journeyed was a light sandy loam; and its timber +consisted chiefly of eucalypti, acacia pendula, and the angophora. + +Some natives visited us in the afternoon, and among them, both Mr. Hume +and I recognized one of those we had seen on the Darling. He also knew us +again, but we could not make out from him how far we were from that river. +They stayed with us till sunset, and then went down the creek, leaving +their spears against a tree, for which they said they would return. + +On the 23rd we took up a W.N.W. course, and when we again touched on the +creek it was dry. This was at a distance of about five miles from where we +had slept. As the animals had not recovered from their late privations, I +deemed it better to halt the party and to examine the creek for a few +miles below us, that in case it should prove destitute of water, we might +return to that we had left. Mr. Hume accordingly rode down it for about +three miles, without success; and on his rejoining the men, we returned +with them to our last camp, or to within a short distance of it. Wishing +to examine the creek above our position, I requested Mr. Hume to take two +men with him, and to trace it down in search of water, while I should +proceed in the opposite direction. I went from the camp at an early hour, +and as I wandered along the creek, I passed a regular chain of ponds. The +country on both sides of the creek was evidently subject to flood, but +more extensively to the south than to the north. From the creek, I struck +away to my left, and after penetrating through a belt of swamp-oak and +minor shrubs, got on a small plain, which I crossed N.E. and, to my +annoyance, found it covered with rhagodia and salsolae. As I had not +started with the intention of sleeping, I turned to the S.W. a little +before sunset, and reached the tents between ten and eleven. I found +Mr. Hume awaiting me. He informed me that at about nine miles from +where we had turned back with the party, he had struck upon a junction; +and that as the junction was much larger than the channel he had been +tracing, he thought it better to follow it up for a few miles. He found +that it narrowed in width, and that its banks became steep, with a fine +avenue of flooded-gum trees overhanging them. At four miles, he came upon +another junction, and at four miles more, found himself opposite to the +ground on which we had slept on the previous Saturday. From this point he +retraced the channel, but not finding any water for three miles below the +lower junction, he returned to the camp, with a view of prosecuting a +longer journey on the morrow. Mr. Hume had become impressed with an +opinion, that the junction up which we had slept was no other than the +Castlereagh itself; and that our position was on a creek, probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds, flowing into it. As the cattle wanted a few +days' rest, Mr. Hume and I determined to ride, unattended, along our track +to our camp of the 21st, and then to follow the channel upwards, until we +should arrive at the station of the natives, or until we should have +ridden to such a distance as would set our conjectures at rest. In the +morning, however, instead of running upon our old track, we followed that +of Mr. Hume to the junction, giving up our first intention, with a view to +ascertain if there existed any water which we could, by an effort, gain, +below where Mr. Hume had been. The channel was very broad, with a +considerable fall in its bed, and, in appearance, more resembled the slope +of a lawn than the bed of a river. It had two gum-trees in the centre of +its channel, in one of which the floods had left the trunk of a large +tree. We could discover where it narrowed and its banks rose, but, as we +intended to make a closer examination before we left the neighbourhood, +we continued our journey down the principal channel. The ground exhibited +an abundance of pasture in its immediate neighbourhood, but the distant +country was miserably poor and bare. At about three miles, we came upon +the fresh traces of some natives, which led us to the channel again, from +which we had wandered unintentionally. In it we found there had been water +very lately, and it appeared that the natives had dug holes at the bottom +to insure a longer supply. These were now exhausted, but still retained +the appearance of moisture. At a mile and a half beyond these, we were led +to some similar holes, by observing a number of birds flying about them. +The water was too muddy for us to drink, but the horses emptied them +successively. We now kept sufficiently near the channel to insure our +seeing any pool that might still remain in it, but rode for about seven +miles before we again saw water, and even here, although it was a spring, +we were obliged to dig holes, and await their filling, before we could get +sufficient for our use. Having dined, we again pursued our journey, and +almost immediately came upon a long narrow ditch, full of water, and lined +by bulrushes. The creek or river had for some time kept the centre of a +deep alluvial valley, in which there was plenty of food for the cattle, +and which, at this place, was apparently broader than anywhere else. The +situation being favourable, we returned to the camp, and reached it late. + +DEPRESSION OF THE MEN. + +I do not know whether I was wrong in my conjecture, but I fancied, about +this time, that the men generally were desponding. Whether it was that the +constant fatigue entailed on myself and Mr. Hume, and that our constant +absence, or the consequent exhaustion it produced, had any effect on their +minds, or that they feared the result of our perseverance, is difficult to +say; but certainly, they all had a depression of spirits, and looked, I +thought, altered in appearance; nor did they evince any satisfaction at +our success--at least, not the satisfaction they would have shown at an +earlier period of our journey. + +Before moving forward, it remained for us to ascertain if the channel from +the junction was the Castlereagh, or only a creek. The intersection of so +many channels in this neighbourhood, most of them so much alike, made it +essentially necessary that we should satisfy ourselves on this point. +Mr. Hume, therefore, accompanied me, as had at first been intended the +morning of our return to the place at which we had slept. We took fresh +horses, but dispensed with any other attendants, and indeed went wholly +unarmed. + +CAMP OF NATIVES. + +After following our old track to its termination, we kept up the right +bank of the channel, and at length arrived at the camp of the natives; +thus satisfying ourselves that we had been journeying on the Castlereagh, +and that we were still following it down. By this ride we ascertained that +there was a distance of five-and-forty miles in its bed without a drop of +water. Few of the natives were in the camp. The women avoided us, but not +as if they were under any apprehension. Crossing at the head of the pool, +we again got on our old track, but seeing two or three men coming towards +us we alighted, and, tying our horses to a tree, went to meet them. One +poor fellow had two ducks in his hand, which he had just taken off the +fire; these he offered to us, and on our declining to accept of them, he +called to a boy, who soon appeared with a large trough of honey, of which +we partook. One of the men had an ulcer in the arm, and asked me what he +should do to heal it; indeed, I believe Fraser had promised him some +ointment, but not having any with me, I signified to him that be should +wash it often, and stooping down, made as if I was taking up water in my +hand. The poor fellow mistook me, and, also stooping down, took up a +handful of dust which he threw over the sore. This gave me the trouble of +explaining matters again, and by pointing to the water, I believe I at +length made him understand me. + +DRY CHANNEL OF THE RIVER. + +These good natured people asked us where we had slept the day we passed, +and when informed of the direction, shook their heads, motioning at the +same time, that we must have been without water. We informed them where +the party was, and asked them to come and see us, but I fancy the distance +was too great, or else we were in the beat of another tribe. On mentioning +these facts to the men, they said that two of the natives had followed us +for some miles, calling out loudly to us, but Mr. Hume and I both being in +front, we did not hear them, although, evidently, they wished to save us +distress. + +Since the result of our excursion proved that the channel, about which I +had been so doubtful, was the Castlereagh, it necessarily followed, that +the creek at which we were encamped was one of those (most probably +Morrisset's chain of ponds,) which we had already crossed nearer its +source, and which Mr. Hume must have struck upon when endeavouring to gain +the Castlereagh from the marshes of the Macquarie. + +A perusal of these sheets will ere this have impressed on the reader's +mind, the peculiarity of that fortune which led us from the Castlereagh to +the creek, at which alone our wants could have been supplied. Had we +wandered down the river, as we undoubtedly should have done had we +recognised it as such, the loss of many of our animals would have been the +inevitable consequence, and very probably a final issue would have been +put to our journey. It is only to those who are placed in situations that +baffle their own exertions or foresight, that the singular guidance of +Providence becomes fully apparent. + +NATIVES PERISHING FROM FAMINE. + +It would appear that the natives were dying fast, not from any disease, +but from the scarcity of food; and, should the drought continue, it seemed +probable they may became extinct. + +The men found the body of a woman covered with leaves near the tents, and +very properly buried it. We made Friday a day of rest for ourselves, as +indeed was necessary; and on the following morning proceeded down the +river, and encamped on a high bank above it, at the base of which, our +cattle both fed and watered. + +At this spot one of the largest gum-trees I had ever seen had fallen, +having died for want of moisture; indeed, the state of the vegetable +kingdom was such as to threaten its total extinction, unless a change of +seasons should take place. + +It may be worthy of remark that, from our first arrival on the banks of +the Castlereagh, to our arrival at the present camp, we never picked up a +stone, or a pebble, in its bed. + +JUNCTION OF THE CASTLEREAGH WITH THE DARLING. + +In the hope that we should fall on some detached pond, we pursued our +journey on the 29th. The Castlereagh gave singular proofs of its violence, +as if its waters, confined in the valley, had a difficulty in escaping +from it. We had not travelled two miles, when in crossing, as we imagined, +one of its bights, we found ourselves checked by a broad river. A single +glimpse of it was sufficient to tell us it was the Darling. At a distance +of more than ninety miles nearer its source, this singular river still +preserved its character, so strikingly, that it was impossible not to have +recognised it in a moment. The same steep banks and lofty timber, the same +deep reaches, alive with fish, were here visible as when we left it. +A hope naturally arose to our minds, that if it was unchanged in other +respects, it might have lost the saltness that rendered its waters unfit +for use; but in this we were disappointed--even its waters continued the +same. As it was impossible for us to cross the Darling, I determined on +falling back upon our last encampment, which was at a most Convenient +distance, and of concerting measures there for our future movements. Prior +to doing so, however, I rode to the junction of the Castlereagh with +the Darling, accompanied by Mr. Hume, a distance of about half a mile. +Upon the point formed by the two streams, there were a number of huts, +and on the opposite bank of the Darling, about twenty natives had +collected. We called out to them, but they would not join us. + +At the junction, the Castlereagh, with whatever impetuosity it rushes from +its confinement, makes not apparently the least impression on the Darling +River. The latter seemed to loll on, totally heedless of such a tributary. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +Perplexity--Trait of honesty in the natives--Excursion on horseback across +the Darling--Forced to return--Desolating effects of the drought--Retreat +towards the colony--Connection between the Macquarie and the Darling-- +Return up the banks of the Macquarie--Starving condition of the natives. + + +On our return to the party, we found them surrounded by the natives, who +were looking with an eye of wonder on the cattle and horses. We pointed +out to them the direction in which we were going, and invited them to +visit us; and nothing appeared to astonish them so much as the management +of the team by a single man. We got back to our position early, and again +fixed ourselves upon it. + +It now only remained for us to consider what we should do under +circumstances of certainly more than ordinary perplexity. We had nothing +to hope for from travelling in a southerly direction, while to the E. and +N.E., the state of the country was worse than that by which we had +penetrated to the Darling. It was evident, that the large creeks joining +the Castlereagh in that direction were dry, since the natives not only +intimated this to us, but it was unquestionable that they themselves had +deserted them, and had crowded to such places as still contained a supply +of water. Even in retreating, we could not hope to retrace our steps. +Experience had proved to us, that the dry state of the interior was as +injurious to the movements of an expedition as a too wet season would have +been. Taking everything, therefore, into consideration, I determined on +leaving the party stationary, and on crossing the Darling to the N.W., +and, if any encouraging feature presented itself, to return for the party, +and persevere in an examination of the distant interior. Such, at least, +appeared to me the most judicious plan: indeed, an attempt to have moved +in any other direction would have been fruitless. And, as the result of +this journey would be decisive, and would either fix or determine our +advance or retreat, I was anxious for Mr. Hume's attendance. + +The natives followed to the camp, and in the course of the afternoon, were +joined by their women. The latter however, would not approach nearer than +the top of a little hillock on which they sat. The men did not come round +the tents, but stood in a row at a short distance. At sunset, they gained +a little courage, and wandered about a little more; at length they went +off to the Darling. + +HONESTY OF A NATIVE. + +It was quite dark, when I heard a native call from the hill on which the +women had been, and I desired Hopkinson to take his firelock and ascertain +what the man wanted. He soon after returned, and brought a blanket, which +he said the man had returned to him. The native was alone, and when he +offered the blanket, kept his spear poised in his right hand; but, seeing +that no violence was intended him, he lowered his weapon, and walked away. + +REWARD THE MAN FOR HIS CONDUCT. + +I was extremely pleased at this trait of honesty, and determined to reward +it. On inquiry, I found that the men had availed themselves of the day to +wash their blankets and that one of them had been flung over a bush +hanging over the bank of the river, and it was supposed that one of the +natives must have pulled it down with him. In the morning, the tribe went +away from their encampment before day-light as we judged from the cry of +their dogs, than which nothing could be more melancholy; but about eight, +the men made their appearance on the hill occupied by the women the +evening previously, and seemed to be doubtful whether to approach nearer. +I went out to them, and, with a downward motion of my hand, beckoned for +them to come to me: they mistook the signal, but laid all their spears on +the ground, and it was not until after the sign had been reversed that +they stirred or moved towards me. I then got them in a row, and desired +Hopkinson to single out the man who had given him the blanket. It was, +however, with great difficulty that he recognised him, as the man stood +firm and motionless. At length, after walking two or three times along the +line, he stopped before one man, and put his hand on his shoulder, upon +which the manner of the native testified as to the correctness of his +guess. + +The blanket being produced, I explained to the savage, with Mr. Hume's +assistance, that I was highly pleased with him, and forthwith presented +him with a tomahawk and a clasp-knife. The tribe were perfectly aware of +the reason of my conduct, and all of them seemed highly delighted. + +I was happy in having such an opportunity of showing the natives of the +interior that I came among them with a determination to maintain justice +in my communication with them, and to impress them, at the same time, with +a sense of our love of it in them. That they appreciated my apparent +lenity in not calling for the defaulter, I am sure, and I feel perfectly +conscious that I should have failed in my duty had I acted otherwise than +I did. + +EFFECT OF FIRING A GUN. + +Although the natives had shown so good a disposition, as they were +numerous, I thought it as well, since I was about to leave the camp, to +show them that I had a power they little dreamt of about me. I therefore +called for my gun and fired a ball into a tree. The effect of the report +upon the natives, was truly ridiculous. Some stood and stared at me, +others fell down, and others ran away; and it was with some difficulty we +collected them again. At last, however, we did so, and, leaving them to +pick out the ball, mounted our horses and struck away for the Darling. +We crossed the river a little above where we struck it, and then proceeded +N.W. into the interior. + +EXCURSION ACROSS THE DARLING. + +It is impossible for me to describe the nature of the country over which +we passed, for the first eight miles. We rode through brushes of +polygonum, under rough-gum, without a blade of vegetation, the whole space +being subject to inundation. We then got on small plains of firmer +surface, and red soil, but these soon changed again for the former; and +at 4 p.m. we found ourselves advanced about two miles on a plain that +stretched away before us, and bounded the horizon. It was dismally brown; +a few trees only served to mark the distance. Up one of the highest I sent +Hopkinson, who reported that he could not see the end of it, and that all +around looked blank and desolate. It is a singular fact, that during the +whole day, we had not seen a drop of water or a blade of grass. + +DESOLATING EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT. + +To have stopped where we were, would, therefore, have been impossible; to +have advanced, would probably have been ruin. Had there been one favorable +circumstance to have encouraged me with the hope of success, I would have +proceeded. Had we picked up a stone as indicating our approach to high +land, I would have gone on; or had there been a break in the level of the +country, or even a change in the vegetation. But we had left all traces of +the natives far behind us; and this seemed a desert they never +entered--that not even a bird inhabited. I could not encourage a hope of +success, and, therefore, gave up the point; not from want of means, but a +conviction of the inutility of any further efforts. If there is any blame +to be attached to the measure, it is I who am in fault, but none who had +not like me traversed the interior at such a season, would believe the +state of the country over which I had wandered. During the short interval +I had been out, I had seen rivers cease to flow before me, and sheets of +water disappear; and had it not been for a merciful Providence, should, +ere reaching the Darling, have been overwhelmed by misfortune. + +I am giving no false picture of the reality. So long had the drought +continued, that the vegetable kingdom was almost annihilated, and minor +vegetation had disappeared. In the creeks, weeds had grown and withered, +and grown again; and young saplings were now rising in their beds, +nourished by the moisture that still remained; but the largest forest +trees were drooping, and many were dead. The emus, with outstretched +necks, gasping for breath, searched the channels of the rivers for water, +in vain; and the native dog, so thin that it could hardly walk, seemed to +implore some merciful hand to despatch it. How the natives subsisted it +was difficult to say, but there was no doubt of the scarcity of food +among them. + +We arrived in camp at a late hour, and having nothing to detain us longer, +prepared for our retreat in the morning. The natives had remained with the +party during the greater part of the day, and had only left them a short +time prior to our arrival, + +When examining the creek on which we had been encamped for some days, +Mr. Hume observed a small junction; and as we knew we were almost +due N. of the marshes of the Macquarie, both of us were anxious to +ascertain whence it originated. To return to Mount Harris, by retracing +our steps up the Castlereagh, would have entailed the severest distress +upon us; we the rather preferred proceeding up this creek, and taking our +chance for a supply of water. We therefore crossed Morrisset's chain of +ponds, and encamped in the angle formed by the junction of the two creeks. + +Before we left this position, we were visited by a party of natives, +twelve in number, but not of the Darling tribe. They accompanied us a +short way, and then struck off to the right. At about a mile and a half, +we crossed Mr. Hume's track, leading westerly, which still remained +observable. The creek was, no doubt, the hollow he stated that he crossed +on that excursion, and its appearance certainly justified his opinion of +it. Its bed was choked up with bulrushes or the polygonum, and its banks +were level with the country on either side, or nearly so. We passed over +extremely rich soil the whole day, on a S.W. and by W. course, though the +timber upon it was dwarfish, and principally of the rough-gum kind. + +On the 2nd of April, we stopped in order to make some repairs upon the +dray; the wheels of which had failed us. Clayton put in four new spokes, +and we heated the tyres over again, by which means we got it once more +serviceable. + +WILD MELON. + +The soil in the creek was of the richest quality, and was found to produce +a dwarf melon, having all the habits and character of the cucumber. +The fruit was not larger than a pigeon's egg, but was extremely sweet. +There were not, however, many ripe, although the runners were covered with +flowers, and had an abundance of fruit upon them. In the morning, we sent +the tinker on horseback up the creek, to ascertain how far the next water +was from us, desiring him to keep the creek upon his right, and to follow +his own track back again. He thought fit, however, considering himself +a good bushman, to wander away to his left, and the consequence was, that +he soon lost himself. It would appear that he doubled and passed through +some thick brush at the back of the camp, and at length found himself at +dark on the banks of a considerable creek. In wandering along it, he +luckily struck upon the natives we had last seen, who, good-naturedly, led +him to the track of the dray, which his horse would not afterwards desert, +and the tinker sneaked into the tent about 3 o'clock in the morning, +having failed in his errand, and made himself the butt of the whole party. + +RETURN UP THE CREEK. + +The day succeeding this adventure, we moved up the creek, which was, for +the most part, even with the plain. The country continued the same as that +we had passed over from the junction, being subject to flood, and having +patches of bulrushes and reeds upon it. No change took place in the +timber, but the line of acacia pendula, which forms the line of +inundation, approached neater to us; nor was the mark of flood so high on +the trunks of trees as below. We halted, with abominable water, but +excellent food for the animals in the plains behind us. In continuing our +journey, we found several changes take place in the appearance of the +creek and its neighbourhood. The former diminished in size, and at length +separated into two distinct channels, choked up, for the most part, with +dead bulrushes, but having a few green reeds in patches along it. The +flats on either side became slightly timbered, and blue gum was the +prevailing tree. Crossing one of the channels, we observed every +appearance of our near approach to the marshes, the flats being +intersected by many little water-runs, such as we had noticed at the +bottom of them. About noon we struck upon a body of reeds under the wood +of eucalypti, below the second great morass, and keeping a little to our +right to avoid them, fell shortly afterwards into our old track on the +plain, upon which we continued to move, making the best of our way to the +channel which had supplied our wants on our first return from the Darling. +It was now, however, quite dry, and we were obliged to push on further, +to shorten the journey of the morrow. + +CONNECTION OF MACQUARIE AND DARLING. + +The result of our journey up the creek was particularly satisfactory, both +to myself and Mr. Hume; since it cleared up every doubt that might have +existed regarding the actual termination of the Macquarie, and enabled us +to connect the flow of waters at so interesting and particular a point. +It will be seen by a reference to the chart, that the waters of the +marshes, after trickling through the reeds, form a small creek, which +carries off the superfluous part of them into Morrisset's chain of ponds, +which latter again falls into the Castlereagh, at about eight miles to the +W.N.W. and all three join the Darling in a W. by N. direction, in lat. +30 degrees 52 minutes south and E. lon. 147 degrees 8 minutes at about +90 miles to the N.N.W. of Mount Harris, and about an equal distance to +the E.S.E. of where we struck upon the last-mentioned river. Thus it +is evident that the Darling had considerably neared the eastern ranges, +although it was still more than 150 miles from their base. It was +apparently coming from the N.E., and whether it has its sources in the +mountains behind our distant settlements, or still farther to the +northwards, is a question of curious speculation, although, as I have +already stated, I am of opinion that none but tropical rains could +supply the furious torrent that must sometimes rage in it. + +It would be presumptuous to hazard any opinion as to the nature of the +interior to the westward of that remarkable river. Its course is involved +in equal mystery, and it is a matter of equal doubt whether it makes its +way to the south coast, or ultimately exhausts itself in feeding a +succession of swamps, or falls into a large reservoir in the centre of +the island. + +RETURN TO MOUNT HARRIS. + +We reached Mount Harris on the 7th of the month, and moving leisurely up +the banks of the Macquarie, gained Mr. Palmer's first station on the 14th, +and Wellington Valley on the 21st, having been absent from that settlement +four months and two weeks. The waters of the Macquarie had diminished so +much, that its bed was dry for more than half a mile at a stretch, nor did +we observe the least appearance of a current in it, until after we had +ascended the ranges. The lower tribes were actually starving, and brought +their children to us to implore something to eat. The men attempted to +surprise the camp, but I believe they were urged from absolute necessity +to procure subsistence for themselves, and that they intended robbery +rather than personal violence. + +DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. + +We left the interior in a still more deplorable state than that in which +we found it; but it is more than probable that under other circumstances, +we should have found it impossible to traverse its distant plains, as it +is certain that unless rain fell in less than three weeks, all +communication with the Darling would have been cut off: + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +General remarks--Result of the expedition--Previous anticipations-- +Mr. Oxley's remarks--Character of the Rivers flowing westerly-- +Mr. Cunningham's remarks--Fall of the Macquarie--Mr. Oxley's erroneous +conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred +from the state in which he found the country--The marsh of the Macquarie +merely a marsh of the ordinary character--Captain King's observations-- +Course of the Darling--Character of the low interior plain--The convict +Barber's report of rivers traversing the interior--Surveyor-General +Mitchell's Report of his recent expedition. + +RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Whether the discoveries that have been made during this expedition, will +ultimately prove of advantage to the colony of New South Wales, is a +question that time alone can answer. We have in the meanwhile to regret +that no beneficial consequences will immediately follow them. The further +knowledge that has been gained of the interior is but as a gleam of +sunshine over an extensive landscape. A stronger light has fallen upon the +nearer ground, but the distant horizon is still enveloped in clouds. The +veil has only as it were been withdrawn from the marshes of the Macquarie +to be spread over the channel of the Darling. Unsatisfactory, however, as +the discoveries may as yet be considered in a commercial point of view, +the objects for which the expedition had been fitted out were happily +attained. The marsh it had been directed to examine, was traversed on +every side, and the rivers it had been ordered to trace, were followed +down to their terminations to a distance far beyond where they had ceased +to exist as living streams. To many who may cast their eyes over the +accompanying chart, the extent of newly discovered country may appear +trifling; but when they are told, that there is not a mile of that +ground that was not traversed over and over again, either by Mr. Hume or +by myself, that we wandered over upwards of 600 miles more than the main +body of the expedition, on different occasions, in our constant and +anxious search for water, and that we seldom dismounted from our horses, +until long after sunset, they will acknowledge the difficulties with which +we had to contend, and will make a generous allowance for them; for, +however unsuccessful in some respects the expedition may have been, it +accomplished as much, it is to be hoped, as under such trying +circumstances could have been accomplished. It now only remains for me to +sum up the result of my own observations, and to point out to the reader, +how far the actual state of the interior, has been found to correspond +with the opinions that were entertained of it. + +MR. OXLEY'S REMARKS. + +I have already stated, in the introduction to this work, that the general +impression on the minds of those best qualified to judge was, that the +western streams discharged themselves into a central shoal sea. Mr. Oxley +thus expresses himself on the subject:-- + + +"July 3rd. Towards morning the storm abated, and at day-light, we +proceeded on our voyage. The main bed of the river was much contracted, +but very deep; the waters spreading to the depth of a foot or eighteen +inches over the banks, but all running on the same point of bearing. We +met with considerable interruptions from fallen timber, which in places +nearly choked up the channel. After going about twenty miles, we lost the +land and trees; the channel of the river, which lay through reeds, and was +from one to three feet deep, ran northerly.--This continued for three or +four miles farther, when, although there had been no previous change in +the breadth, depth, or rapidity of the stream for several miles, and I was +sanguine in my expectations of soon entering the long-sought-for +Australian sea, it all at once eluded our farther pursuit, by spreading on +every point from N.W. to N.E. among the ocean of reeds which surrounded +us, still running with the same rapidity as before. There was no channel +whatever among those reeds, and the depth varied from three to five feet. +This astonishing change (for I cannot call it a termination of the river) +of course left me no alternative but to endeavour to return to some spot +on which we could effect a landing before dark. I estimated, that during +the day, we had gone about twenty-four miles, on nearly the same point of +bearing as yesterday. To assert, positively, that we were on the margin of +the lake, or sea, into which this great body of water is discharged, might +reasonably be deemed a conclusion, which has nothing but conjecture for +its basis. But if an opinion may be permitted to be hazarded from actual +appearances, mine is decidedly in favour of our being in the immediate +vicinity of an inland sea, or lake, most probably a shoal one, and +gradually filling up by numerous depositions from the high lands, left by +the waters which flow into it. It is most singular, that the high lands on +this continent seem to be confined to the sea-coast, and not to extend to +any distance from it." + +MR. CUNNINGHAM'S REMARKS. + +In a work published at Sydney, containing an account of Mr. Allan +Cunningham's journey towards Moreton Bay, in 1828, the following remarks +occur, from which it is evident Mr. Cunningham entertained Mr. Oxley's +views of the character and nature of the Western interior. Towards the +conclusion of the narrative, the author thus observes:-- + + +"Of the probable character of the distant unexplored interior, into which +it has been ascertained ALL the rivers falling westerly from the dividing +ranges flow, some inference may be drawn from the following data. + +"Viewing, between the parallels of 34 degrees and 27 degrees, a vast area +of depressed interior, subjected in seasons of prolonged rains to partial +inundation, by a dispersion of the several waters that flow upon it from +the eastern mountains whence they originate; and bearing in mind at the +same time, that the declension of the country within the above parallels, +as most decidedly shown by the dip of its several rivers, is uniformly +to the N.N.W. and N.W., it would appear very conclusive, that either a +portion of our distant interior is occupied by a lake of considerable +magnitude, or that the confluence of those large streams, the Macquarie, +Castlereagh, Gwydir, and the Dumaresq, with the many minor interfluent +waters, which doubtless takes place upon those low levels, forms one +or more noble rivers, which may flow across the continent by an almost +imperceptible declivity of country to the north of north-west coasts, on +certain parts of which, recent surveys have discovered to us extensive +openings, by which the largest accumulations of waters might escape to the +sea." + +CHARACTER OF THE RIVERS. + +It is the characteristic of the streams falling westerly from the eastern, +or coast ranges, to maintain a breadth of channel and a rapidity of +current more immediately near their sources, that ill accords with their +diminished size, and the sluggish flow of their waters in the more +depressed interior. In truth, neither the Macquarie nor the Castlereagh +can strictly be considered as permanent rivers. The last particularly is +nothing more than a mountain torrent. The Macquarie, although it at length +ceased to run, kept up the appearance of a river to the very marshes; but +the bed of the Castlereagh might have been crossed in many places without +being noticed, nor did its channel contain so much water as was to be +found on the neighbouring plains. + +There are two circumstances upon which the magnitude, and velocity of a +river, more immediately depend. The first is the abundance of its sources, +the other the dip of its bed. If a stream has constant fountains at its +head, and numerous tributaries joining it in its course, and flows withal +through a country of gradual descent, such a stream will never fail; but +if the supplies do not exceed the evaporation and absorption, to which +every river is subject, if a river dependant on its head alone, falls +rapidly into a level country, without receiving a single addition to its +waters to assist the first impulse acquired in their descent, it must +necessarily cease to flow at one point or other. Such is the case with the +Lachlan, the Macquarie, the Castlereagh, and the Darling. Whence the +latter originates, still remains to be ascertained; but most undoubtedly +its sources have been influenced by the same drought that has exhausted +the fountains of the three first mentioned streams. + +In supporting his opinion of the probable discharge of the interior waters +of Australia upon its north-west coast, Mr. Cunningham thus remarks in the +publication from which I have already made an extract. + + +"To those remarkable parts of the north-west coast above referred to in +the parallel of 16 degrees south, the Macquarie river, which rises in +lat. 33 degrees, and under the meridian of 150 degrees east, would have a +course of 2045 statute miles throughout, while the elevation of its +source, being 3500 feet above the level of the sea as shown by the +barometer, would give its waters an average descent of twenty inches to +the mile, supposing the bed of the river to be an inclined plane. + +"The Gwydir originating in elevated land, lying in 31 degrees south, and +long. 151 degrees east, at a mean height of 3000 feet, would have to flow +2020 miles, its elevated sources giving to each a mean fall of seventeen +inches. + +"Dumaresq's river falling 2970 feet from granite mountains, in 28 1/4 +degrees under the meridian of 152 degrees, would have to pursue its course +for 2969 miles, its average fall being eighteen inches to a mile." + +As I have never been upon the banks either of the Gwydir or the Dumaresq, +I cannot speak of those two rivers; but in estimating the sources of the +Macquarie at 3500 feet above the level of the sea, Mr. Cunningham has lost +sight of, or overlooked the fact, that the fall of its bed in the first +two hundred miles, is more than 2800 feet, since the cataract, which is +midway between Wellington Valley and the marshes, was ascertained by +barometrical admeasurement, to be 680 feet only above the ocean. The +country, therefore, through which the Macquarie would have to flow during +the remainder of its course of 1700 miles, in order to gain the +N.W. coast, would not be a gradually inclined plain, but for the most part +a dead level, and the fact of its failure is a sufficient proof in itself +how short the course of a river so circumstanced must necessarily be. + +MR. OXLEY'S OPINIONS. + +Having conversed frequently with Mr. Oxley on the subject of his +expeditions, I went into the interior prepossessed in favour of his +opinions, nor do I think he could have drawn any other conclusion than +that which he did, from his experience of the terminations of the rivers +whose courses he explored. Had Mr. Oxley advanced forty, or even thirty +miles, farther than he did, to the westward of Mount Harris; nay, had he +proceeded eight miles in the above direction beyond the actual spot from +which he turned back, he would have formed other and very different +opinions of the probable character of the distant interior. But I am aware +that Mr. Oxley performed all that enterprise, and perseverance, and talent +could have performed, and that it would have been impracticable in him to +have attempted to force its marshes in the state in which he found them. +It was from his want of knowledge of their nature and extent, that he +inferred the swampy and inhospitable character of the more remote country, +a state in which subsequent investigation has found it not to be. The +marsh of the Macquarie is nothing more than an ordinary marsh or swamp in +another country. However large a space it covers, it is no more than a +concavity or basin for the reception of the waters of the river itself, +nor has it any influence whatever on the country to the westward of it, +in respect to inundation; the general features of the latter being a +regular alternation of plain and brush. These facts are in themselves +sufficient to give a fresh interest to the interior of the Australian +continent, and to increase its importance. + +CAPT. KING'S OPINIONS. + +With respect to that part of its coast at which the rivers falling from +the eastern mountains, discharge themselves, it is a question of very +great doubt. It seems that Capt. King, in consequence of some +peculiarities in the currents at its N.W. angle, supports Mr. Cunningham's +opinion as to their probable discharge in that quarter. But I fear the +internal structure of the continent is so low, as to preclude the hopes of +any river reaching from one extremity of it to the other. A variety of +local circumstances, as the contraction of a channel, a shoal sea, or +numerous islands, influence currents generally, but more especially round +so extensive a continent as that of which we are treating; nor does it +strike me that any observations made by Capt. King during his survey, can +be held to bear any connection with the eastern ranges, or their western +waters. It may, however, be said, that as the course of the Darling is +still involved in uncertainty, the question remains undecided; but it +appears to me, the discovery of that river has set aside every conjecture +(founded on previous observation) respecting the main features of the +interior lying to the westward of the Blue Mountains. Both Mr. Oxley and +Mr. Cunningham drew their conclusions from the appearances of the country +they severally explored. The ground on which those theories were built, +has been travelled over, and has not been found to realise them, but +subsequent investigation has discovered to us a river, the dip of whose +bed is to the S.W. We have every reason to believe that the sources of +this river must be far to the northward of the most distant northerly +point to which any survey has been made, as we are certain that it is far +beyond the stretch of vision from the loftiest and most westerly of the +barrier ranges; from which circumstance, it is evident that whatever +disposition the streams descending from those ranges to the westward may +show to hold a N.W. course more immediately at the base, the whole of the +interior streams, from the Macquarie to the Dumaresq, are tributaries to +the principal channel which conveys their united waters at right angles, +if not still more opposite to the direction they were supposed to take, +as far as is yet known. + +COURSE OF THE DARLING. + +The Darling River must be considered as the boundary line to all inland +discoveries from the eastward. Any judgment or opinion of the interior to +the westward of that stream, would be extremely premature and uncertain. +There is not a single feature over it to guide or to strengthen either the +one or the other. + +CHARACTER OF THE WESTERN INTERIOR. + +My impression, when travelling the country to the west and N.W. of the +marshes of the Macquarie, was, that I was traversing a country of +comparatively recent formation. The sandy nature of its soil, the great +want of vegetable decay, the salsolaceous character of its plants, the +appearance of its isolated hills and flooded tracts, and its trifling +elevations above the sea, severally contributed to strengthen these +impressions on my mind. My knowledge of the interior is, however, too +limited to justify me in any conclusion with regard to the central parts +of Australia. An ample field is open to enterprise and to ambition, and it +is to be hoped that some more decisive measures will be carried into +effect, both for the sake of the colony and of geography, to fill up the +blank upon the face of the chart of Australia, and remove from us the +reproach of indifference and inaction. + +BARBER'S STATEMENT. + +Since the above pages were written, an expedition was undertaken by +Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General, to ascertain the truth of a report +brought in by a runaway convict of the name of Barber, or Clarke, who had +been at large for five years, at different times, among the natives to +the northward of Port Macquarie. This man stated that a large river, +originating in the high lands near Liverpool Plains, and the mountains to +the north of them, pursued a N.W. course to the sea. His story ran thus: +Having learnt from the natives the existence of this river, he determined +to follow it down, in hopes that he might ultimately be enabled to make +his escape from the colony. He accordingly started from Liverpool Plains, +and kept on a river called the Gnamoi, for some time, which took him N.W. +After a few days' journey, he left this river, traversed the country +northwards, and crossed some lofty ranges. Descending to the N.E. he came +to another large river, the Keindur, which again took him N.W. He +travelled 400 miles down it, when he observed a large stream joining it +upon its left bank, which he supposed to be the Gnamoi. The river he was +upon was broad and navigable. It flowed through a level country with a +dead current and muddy water, and spread into frequent lakes. He found +that it ultimately discharged itself into the sea, but was uncertain at +what distance from its sources. He was positive he never travelled to the +SOUTHWARD OF WEST. He ascended a hill near the sea, and observed an island +in the distance, from which, the natives informed him, a race of +light-coloured men came in large canoes for a scented wood; but having +failed in the immediate object of his journey, he was eventually obliged +to return. + +MAJOR MITCHELL'S REPORT. + +The following official report of Major Mitchell will sufficiently point +out the incorrectness of the preceding statement. It is most probable that +Barber merely told that which he had heard from the natives, and that +having a more than ordinary share of cunning, he made up a story upon +their vague and uncertain accounts, in hopes that it would benefit him, +as in truth it did. + + +* * * * * + + +Bullabalakit, on the River Nammoy, +in lat. 30 degrees 38 minutes 21 seconds S., +long. 149 degrees 30 minutes 20 seconds E. +23d December, 1831. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, the progress I have made in exploring the course of the interior +waters to the northward of the Colony, with reference to the letter which +I had the honour to address to Col. Lindesay, on this subject, on the +19th ult. + +On crossing Liverpool Range my object was to proceed northward, so as to +avoid the plains and head the streams which water them, and avoiding also +the mountain ranges on the east. + +I arrived accordingly, by a tolerably straight and level line, at +Walamoul, on Peel's River; this place (a cattle station of Mr. Brown) +being nearly due north from the common pass across Liverpool Range, and +about a mile-and-a-half above the spot where Mr. Oxley crossed this +river. + +PEEL'S RIVER. + +I found the general course of the Peel below Walamoul to be nearly west; +and after tracing this river downwards twenty-two miles (in direct +distance), I crossed it at an excellent ford, named Wallamburra. I then +traversed the extensive plain of Mulluba; and leaving that of Coonil on +the right, extending far to the north-east, we passed through a favourable +interval of what I considered Hardwicke's Range, the general direction of +this range being two points west of north. + +On passing through this gorge, which, from the name of a hill on the south +side, may be named Ydire, I crossed a very extensive tract of flat +country, on which the wood consisted of iron-bark and acacia pendula; this +tract being part of a valley evidently declining to the north-west, which +is bounded on the south by the Liverpool Range, and on the south-west by +the extremities from the same. On the west, at a distance of twenty-two +miles from Hardwicke's Range, there stands a remarkable isolated hill +named Bounalla; and towards the lowest part of the country, and in the +direction in which all the waters tend, there is a rocky peak named +Tangulda. On the north, a low range (named Wowa), branching westerly from +Hardwicke's Range, bounds on that side this extensive basin, which +includes Liverpool Plains. Peel's River is the principal stream, and +receives, in its course, all the waters of these plains below the junction +of Connadilly,--which I take to be York's River, of Oxley. + +THE RIVER NAMMOY. + +The stream is well known to the natives by the name Nammoy; and six miles +below Tangulda, the low extremities from the surrounding ranges close on +the river, and separate this extensive vale from the unexplored country +which extends beyond to an horizon which is unbroken between W.N.W. +and N.N.W. + + +The impracticable appearance of the mountains to the northward, induced me +to proceed thus far to the west; and on examining the country thirty miles +N.E. by N. from Tangulda, I ascended a lofty range extending westward from +the coast chain, and on which the perpendicular sides of masses of +trachyte (a volcanic rock) were opposed to my further progress even with +horses: it was therefore evident that the river supposed to rise about the +latitude of 28 degrees would not be accessible, or at least available to +the Colony, in that direction, and that in the event of the discovery of a +river beyond that range flowing to the northern or north-western shores, +it would become of importance to ascertain whether it was joined by the +Nammoy, the head of this river being so accessible that I have brought my +heavily laden drays to where it is navigable for boats, my present +encampment being on its banks six miles below Tangulda. From this station +I can perceive the western termination of the Trachytic range, and I am +now about to explore the country between it and the Nammoy, and the +further course of this river; and in the event of its continuance in a +favourable direction, I shall fix my depot on its right bank, whence I now +write, and descend the stream in the portable boats. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL + +The Hon. The Colonial Secretary. + + +* * * * * + + +Peel's River, 29th February, 1832. + +SIR, + +I have the honour to inform you, for the information of His Excellency the +Governor, that I have reached the left bank of this River with my whole +party on my return from the northern interior, having explored the course +of the river referred to in my letter of 22nd December last, and others +within the 29th parallel of latitude. + +There was so much fallen timber in the Nammoy, and its waters were so low, +that the portable boats could not be used on that river with advantage, +and I proceeded by land in a north-west direction, until convinced by its +course turning more to the westward that this river joined the river +Darling. I therefore quitted its banks with the intention of exploring the +country further northward, by moving round the western extremities of the +mountains mentioned in my former letter, and which I have since +distinguished in my map by the name of the Lindesay Range. These mountains +terminate abruptly on the west, and I entered a fine open country at their +base, from whence plains (or rather open ground of gentle undulation) +extended westward as far as could be seen. On turning these mountains I +directed my course northward, and to the eastward of north, into the +country beyond them, in search of the river KINDUR; and I reached a river +flowing westward, the bed of which was deep, broad, and permanent, but in +which there was not then much water. + +THE RIVER KARAULA. + +The marks of inundation on trees, and on the adjoining high ground, proved +that its floods rose to an extraordinary height; and from the latitude, +and also from the general direction of its course, I considered this to be +the river which Mr. Cunningham named the Gwydir, on crossing it sixty +miles higher, on his route to Moreton Bay. I descended this river, and +explored the country on its left bank for about eighty miles to the +westward, when I found that its general course was somewhat to the +southward of west. This river received no addition from the mountains over +that part of its left bank traversed by me; and the heat being intense, +the stream was at length so reduced that I could step across it. The banks +had become low, and the bed much contracted, being no longer gravelly, but +muddy. I therefore crossed this river and travelled northward, on a +meridian line, until, in the latitude of 29 degrees 2 minutes, I came upon +the largest river I had yet seen. The banks were earthy and broken, the +soil being loose, and the water of a white muddy colour. Trees, washed out +by the roots from the soft soil, filled the bed of this river in many +places. There was abundance of cod-fish of a small size, as well as of the +two other kinds of fish which we had caught in the Peel, the Nammoy, and +the Gwydir. The name of this river, as well as we could make it out from +the natives, was Karaula. Having made fast one tree to top of another tall +tree, I obtained a view of the horizon, which appeared perfectly level, +and I was in hopes that we had at length found a river which would flow to +the northward and avoid the Darling. I accordingly ordered the boat to be +put together, and sent Mr. White with a party some miles down to clear +away any trees in the way. Mr. White came upon a rocky fall, and found +besides the channel so much obstructed by trees, and the course so +tortuous, that I determined to ascertain before embarking upon it, whether +the general course was in the desired direction. Leaving Mr. White with +half the party, I accordingly traced the Karaula downwards, and found that +its course changed to south, a few miles below where I had made it, and +that it was joined by the Gwydir only eight miles below where I had +crossed that river. Immediately below the junction of the Gwydir (which is +in latitude 29 degrees 30 minutes 27 seconds, longitude 148 degrees +13 minutes 20 seconds) the course of the river continues southward of +west, directly towards where Captain Sturt discovered the River Darling; +and I could no longer doubt that this was the same river. I therefore +returned to the party, determined to explore the country further +northward. + +The results of my progress thus far were sufficient, I considered, to +prove that the division of the waters falling towards the northern and +southern shores of Australia is not, as has been supposed, in the +direction of the Liverpool and Warrabangle range, but extends between Cape +Byron on the eastern shore, towards Dick Hartog's Island on the west; the +greater elongation of this country being between these points, and +intermediate between the lines of its northern and southern coasts. The +basin of the streams I have been upon must be bounded on the north by this +dividing ground or water-shed, and although no rise was perceptible in the +northern horizon, the river was traversed by several rocky dykes, over +which it fell southward; their direction being oblique to the course, and +nearly parallel to this division of the waters. I beg leave to state, that +I should not feel certain on this point without having seen more, were it +not evident from Mr. Cunningham's observations, made on crossing this +division on his way to Moreton Bay. Mr. Cunningham, on crossing the head +of this river, nearly in the same latitude, but much nearer its sources, +found the height of its bed above the sea to be 840 feet; at about +forty-five miles further northward the ground rose to upwards of +1700 feet, but immediately beyond, he reached a river flowing north-west, +the height of which was only 1400 feet above the sea. He had thus crossed +this dividing higher ground, between the parallels of 29 degrees +and 28 degrees. It appears, therefore, that all the interior rivers we +know of to the northward of the Morumbidgee, belong to the basin of the +Karaula; this stream flowing southward, and hence the disappearance of the +Macquarie and other lower rivers may be understood, for all along the +banks of the Karaula, the Gwydir, and the Nammoy, the country, though not +swampy, bears marks of frequent inundation; thus the floods occasioned by +these rivers united, cover the low country, and receive the Macquarie so +that no channel marks its further course. + +That a basin may be found to the northward receiving the waters of the +northern part of the coast range in a similar manner is extremely +probable, and that they form a better river, because the angle is more +acute between the high ground, which must bound it on the N.E. and the +watershed on the south. I therefore prepared to cross the Karaula, in +hopes of seeing the head at least of such a river, and to explore the +country two degrees further northward, but moving in a N.W. direction. +My tent was struck, and I had just launched my portable boat for the +purpose of crossing the river, when Mr. Surveyor Finch, whom I had +instructed to bring up a supply of flour, arrived with the distressing +intelligence, that two of his men had been killed by the natives, who had +taken the flour, and were in possession of everything he had brought--all +the cattle, including his horse, being also dispersed or lost. I therefore +determined not to extend my excursion further, as the party were already +on reduced rations, and on the 8th instant I retired from the Karaula, +returning by the marked line, which being cut through thick scrubs in +various places, is now open, forming a tolerably direct line of +communication in a N.W. direction from Sydney, to a river, beyond which +the survey may be extended whenever His Excellency the Governor thinks +fit. + +The natives had never troubled my party on our advance; indeed I only saw +them when I came upon them by surprise, and then they always ran off. +Their first visit was received at my camp on the Karaula, during my +absence down that river, when they were very friendly, but much disposed +to steal. Various tribes followed us on coming back, but never with any +show of hostility, although moving in tribes of a hundred or more parallel +to our marked line, or in our rear; it was necessary to be ever on our +guard, and to encamp in strong positions only, arranging the drays for +defence during the night: three men were always under arms, and I have +much pleasure in stating, that throughout the whole excursion, and under +circumstances of hardship and privation, the conduct of the men was very +good. I took an armed party to the scene of pillage, and buried the bodies +of the two men, who appeared to have been treacherously murdered while +asleep by the blacks during the absence of Mr. Finch: no natives were to +be found when I visited the spot, although it appeared from columns of +smoke on hills which overlooked if, that they were watching our movements. + +The party has now arrived within a day's journey of Brown's station, +and I have instructed Assistant-Surveyor White (from whom I have received +great assistance during the whole journey) to conduct it homewards, being +desirous to proceed without delay to Sydney, and to receive the +instructions of His Excellency the Governor. + +I have the honour to be, Sir, +Your most obedient Servant, +T. L. MITCHELL, +SURVEYOR-GENERAL. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, +"&c. &c. &c." + + + + +Chapter VI. + + + +CONCLUDING REMARKS + + +Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior of Australia-- +Difficulty of carrying supplies--Importance of steady intelligent +subordinates--Danger from the natives--Number of men requisite,--and of +cattle and carriages--Provisions--Other arrangements--Treatment of the +natives--Dimensions of the boat used in the second expedition. + + +Having now had considerable experience in the fitting out and management +of expeditions in New South Wales, I cannot refrain from making some few +observations on the subject. And without presuming to lay dawn any fixed +rules, I shall only refer to those by which I have best succeeded, in +hopes that some of my remarks may prove of use to future travellers who +may venture to penetrate into the trackless deserts over so small a +portion of which I wandered. + +DIFFICULTIES OF EXPLORING AUSTRALIA. + +The great difficulty of examining the interior of Australia, is that of +carrying supplies; for increasing the number of individuals composing an +expedition is of no avail, since an additional number of men must +necessarily increase the consumption of food. In order to meet this +difficulty it has been proposed to establish depots upon which an +expedition could fall back to recruit its supplies, and in ordinary cases +this plan might answer; but I am decidedly of opinion that no party could +long remain stationary in the distant interior without some fatal +collision with the natives, which would be attended with the most +deplorable consequences; and I do think, considering all things, that the +experiment is too dangerous to be tried; for when I reached Mount Harris, +on my first retreat from the Darling, I found the party who were awaiting +me, with a supply of provisions, under very great alarm, in consequence of +the hostile proceedings of the Mount Harris tribe. The men had been +obliged to put the camp into a state of defence. The blacks had attempted +to surprise them, and would, had I not returned, have combined in some +general attack. It appears to me that the most judicious plan would be to +send a supply of provisions, with an expedition, to a distant point, under +the charge of a minor party. These provisions could replace those already +expended, and the animals that carried them could be taken back. + +SELECTION OF SUBORDINATES. + +The number of individuals of which the expedition down the banks of the +Macquarie was composed, was fourteen: that is to say, myself, Mr. Hume, +two soldiers, one free man, and seven prisoners of the crown. The latter +behaved, on all occasions, as steadily as it was possible for men to do. +Yet the circumstance of the two soldiers being with me increased my +confidence in the whole, for I was aware that their example would +influence the rest. However well disposed the prisoners of the crown may +be, (as in this instance they certainly were,) the beneficial example of +steady discipline cannot be denied. I should not have considered myself +justified in leaving the camp as I did for a week, and in detaching Mr. +Hume at the same time when at the bottom of the marshes, or in making the +last effort to maintain our position on the banks of the Darling, if I had +not reposed every confidence in the man to whom I entrusted the safety +of the camp during my absence. + +Experience, therefore, of the value of the two soldiers, whom General +Darling was good enough to permit me to take on the strength of the party, +fully bears me out in recommending that one man, at least, of general +responsibility shall be attached to all future expeditions. The success of +an expedition depends so much on the conduct of the persons of whom it is +composed, that too much attention cannot be given to the selection even of +the most subordinate. Men of active intelligent minds, of persevering +habits, and of even temper, should be preferred to mechanics who do not +possess these most requisite qualities. On the other hand, it is +impossible to do without a good carpenter, however defective he may be in +other respects. I was indebted to Mr. Maxwell, the superintendent of +Wellington Valley, for some excellent men, both on my first and on my +second journey, because he understood the nature of the service for which +they were required, and the characters of those whom he recommended. +But however well selected the party, or the men rather, might be, I still +consider a man of general responsibility necessary for its complete +organisation. I would have him somewhat superior to the rest in his +station in life. Him I would hold answerable for the immediate discipline +of the camp, whilst I was present, and for its safety when absent. The +assistant to the leader I would put entirely out of the question. He +has other and most important duties to perform. I would rate this man +wholly independent of him. + +DANGER OF COLLISION WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to what I have already said with regard to the natives, it +was supposed that they were so little to be apprehended, that when I went +on the first occasion into the interior, I applied for a limited number of +men only, under an impression that with a few men I could carry provisions +equal to a consumption of a greater number, and by this means be enabled +to keep the field for a greater length of time. But I do not think it +would be safe to penetrate into the distant country with fewer than +fifteen men, for although, happily, no rupture has as yet taken place with +the natives, yet, there is no security against their treachery, and it is +very certain that a slight cause might involve an expedition in +inextricable difficulty, and oblige the leader to throw himself on the +defensive, when far away from other resources than those with which he +should have provided himself, and that, perhaps, when navigating a close +and intricate river, with all the dangers and perplexities attendant on +such a situation. It is absolutely necessary to establish nightly guards, +not only for the security of the camp, but of the cattle, and at the same +time to have a force strong enough to maintain an obstinate resistance +against any number of savages, where no mercy is to be expected. It will +be borne in mind, that there is a wide difference between penetrating into +a country in the midst of its population, and landing from ships for the +purpose of communication or traffic. Yet, how few voyages of discovery +have terminated without bloodshed! Boats while landing are covered by +their ships, and have succour within view; but not so parties that go into +unknown tracts. They must depend on their immediate resources and +individual courage alone. + +PACK-OXEN, HORSES, WHEEL-CARRIAGES. + +With regard to the animals, I should recommend an equal number of horses +as of bullocks; since it has been found that the latter, though slow, +travel better over swampy ground than horses, which, on the other hand, +are preferable for expeditious journeys, to which bullocks would never be +equal. One of the colonial pack-saddles weighs fifty pounds complete, and +is preferable to those sent out from England. This, with a load of +250 lbs. is sufficient for any animal, since it enables the men to place a +part of their provisions with the general loads. The difficulty of keeping +the backs of the animals free from injury, more especially where any +blemish has before existed, is exceedingly great. They should undergo an +examination twice a-day, that is, in the morning prior to moving off, +and in the afternoon before they are turned out to feed; and measures +should then be taken to ease them as circumstances require. I never +suffered the saddles to be removed from the backs of the animals under my +charge for twenty minutes after the termination of the journey for the +day, in order to guard against the effects of the sun; and where the least +swelling appeared the saddle was altered and the place dressed. Yet, +notwithstanding all this care and attention, several both of the horses +and bullocks were at one time in a sad condition, during the first +journey,--so much so as almost to paralyse our efforts. It would be +advisable that such animals as are entirely free from blemish should be +chosen for the service of expeditions, for, with proper management they +might he kept in order. The anxiety of mind attendant on a bad state of +the animals is really quite embarrassing, for it not only causes a delay +in the movements, but a derangement in the loads. Other animals are +overburdened, and there is no knowing where the evil will stop. + +In addition to the pack-animals, I would recommend the employment of a +dray or cart under any practicable circumstances. It serves to carry +necessary comforts, gives an expedition greater facility for securing its +collections, and is of inconceivable advantage in many other respects. + +ISSUE OF PROVISIONS. + +Constant and most earnest attention should be paid to the issue of +provisions, on the discreet management of which so much depends, and the +charge of them should be committed to the second in command. The most +important articles are flour, tea, sugar, and tobacco. All should be +husbanded with extreme care, and weighed from time to time. The flour is +best carried in canvass bags, containing 100 pounds each, and should at +the termination of each day's journey, be regularly piled up and covered +with a tarpaulin. Tea, sugar and tobacco lose considerably in weight, so +that it is necessary to estimate for somewhat more than the bare supply. +With regard to the salt meat, the best mode of conveying it appears to be +in small barrels of equal weight with the bags of flour. Salt pork is +better than beef. It should be deprived of all bones and be of the very +best quality. I have heard spirits recommended, but I do not approve their +use. Tea is much more relished by the men; indeed they could not do well +without it. A small quantity of spirits would, however, of course be +necessary in the event of its being required. + +LIVE STOCK. + +Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, an enterprising and long-established settler, who +has pushed his flocks and herds to the banks of the Morumbidgee, was good +enough to present me with eight wethers as I passed his station. It may be +some gratification to Mr. O'Brien to know, that they contributed very +materially to our comforts, and he will, perhaps, accept my +acknowledgements in this place, not only for so liberal a present to +myself, but for his attention and kindness to my men as long as they +remained in his neighbourhood. It was found that the sheep gave but little +additional trouble, requiring only to be penned at night, as much to +secure them from the native dogs as to prevent them from straying away. +They followed the other animals very quietly, and soon became accustomed +to daily movements. They proved a most available stock; no waste attended +their slaughter, and they admitted of a necessary and wholesome change of +fresh food from the general salt diet, on which the men would otherwise +have had to subsist. + +The provisions should, if possible, be issued weekly, and their diminution +should be so regulated as to give an equal relief to the animals. + +For general information i have annexed a list of the supplies I took with +me on my first expedition. It may appear long, but the articles were +packed in a small compass, and their value immaterial. + +As a precautionary measure I should advise, that one of the pack animals +be kept apart for the purpose of carrying water. Two casks of equal weight +are the best for such a purpose. In long and hot marches, the men +experience great relief from having water at hand. + +INTERCOURSE WITH THE NATIVES. + +In reference to the natives, I hope sufficient has been said of the manner +of communicating with them to prevent the necessity of a repetition here. +The great point is not to alarm their natural timidity: to exercise +patience in your intercourse with them; to treat them kindly; and to watch +them with suspicion, especially at night. Never permit the men to steal +away from the camp, but keep them as compact as possible; and at every +station so arrange your drays and provisions that they may serve as a +defence in case of your being attacked. + +The natives appeared to me to be indifferent to our presents, in most +cases. Tomahawks, knives, pieces of iron, and different coloured ribbons +for the forehead, were most esteemed by them. They will barter and +exchange their fish for articles, and readily acquire confidence. + +I believe I have now touched on all the more important points: on minor +ones no observation I can make will be of use; men must, in many things, +be guided by circumstances. + +* * * * * + +WHALE BOAT EMPLOYED ON THE SECOND EXPEDITION. + +I may here notice that, in my second expedition, as it was anticipated +that I should require adequate provision for water conveyance, at one +stage or other of my journey down the Morumbidgee, I was furnished with a +whale-boat, the dimensions of which are given below. She was built by +Mr. Egan, the master builder of the dock-yard and a native of the colony, +and did great credit to his judgment. She carried two tons and a half of +provisions, independently of a locker, which I appropriated for the +security of the arms, occupying the space between the after-seat and the +stern. She was in the first instance put together loosely, her planks +and timbers marked, and her ring bolts, &c. fitted. She was then taken to +pieces, carefully packed up, and thus conveyed in plank into the interior, +to a distance of four hundred and forty miles, without injury. She was +admirably adapted for the service, and rose as well as could have been +expected over the seas in the lake. It was evident, however, that she +would have been much safer if she had had another plank, for she was +undoubtedly too low. The following were her dimensions:-- + +Breadth across 7th timber aft, 5 ft. 1/2 an inch outside. +Across 12th timber, 5 ft. 11 1/4 in. +Across 17th timber forward, 5 ft. +25 ft. 8 in. in length inside. +Curve of the keel No. 1, from the after side of each apron, 3 ft. 3 3/4in. +No. 2, from head to head of the dead wood, 13 1/2 in. +No. 3, from one end of keel to the other inner side, 3 in. +No. 4, round of keel from the toe of each dead wood, 7/8 1/16th. +The timbers were marked, beginning from the stern to the bow on the +starboard side, and from bow to stern on the larboard. + + + + +APPENDIX No. I. + + + +LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. + + + +By His Excellency Lieutenant General Ralph Darling, Commanding +His Majesty's Forces, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the +Territory of New South Wales, and its dependencies, and +Vice Admiral of the same, &c. &c. &c. + +TO CHARLES STURT, ESQ. CAPTAIN IN THE 39TH REGIMENT OF FOOT. + +Whereas it has been judged expedient to fit out an expedition for the +purpose of exploring the interior of New Holland, and the present dry +season affords a reasonable prospect of an opportunity of ascertaining the +nature and extent of the large marsh or marshes which stopped the progress +of the late John Oxley Esq, Surveyor General, in following the courses of +the rivers Lachlan and Macquarie in the years 1817 and 1818. And whereas I +repose full confidence in your abilities and zeal for conducting such an +expedition, I do hereby constitute and appoint you to command and take +charge of the expedition now preparing for the purpose of exploring the +interior of the country, and for ascertaining, if practicable, the nature +and extent of the marsh or marshes above mentioned. + +In the prosecution of this service, you will be guided generally by the +following instructions. + +1. You will be accompanied on this expedition by Mr. Hamilton Hume, whose +great experience in travelling through the remote parts of the Colony, +cannot fail to be highly useful to you. You will also be attended by two +soldiers and six convicts, of whom one is to understand the shoeing of +horses, one to be a carpenter, one a harness-maker and three stock-men, +and you will be provided with six horses and twelve bullocks. + +2. A small boat has been built here for the use of the expedition, and for +its conveyance, there is provided a light four-wheeled carriage to be +drawn by two bullocks. + +The deputy Commissary General has received orders for supplying the +expedition with provisions of the best quality sufficient for six months' +consumption, together with tents, blankets, clothing, pack-saddles, +utensils, instruments, tools, and necessaries of all kinds of which you +are likely to stand in need. Orders are also given for providing you with +arms and ammunition, with rockets for signals, and an ample supply of +simple medicines--You are to consider it an important duty to attend to +the providing of all these supplies, and to take care that not only every +article is of the best quality that can be procured, but also that no +article be wanting with which you may desire to be provided. + +3. Orders are given for forwarding without delay all your provisions, +stores and supplies of every kind to Wellington Valley, at which place, +you, Mr. Hume, and all your men are to rendezvous as soon as possible. +Mr Maxwell, the superintendent, will furnish you with well-trained +bullocks, and afford you all the assistance you may require in arranging +every thing for your departure from that station. + +4. After you shall have completed all your arrangements, you are to lose +no time in finally departing from Wellington Valley in prosecution of the +immediate objects of the expedition. + +5. You are first to proceed to Mount Harris, where you are to form a +temporary depot, by means of which you will have an opportunity of more +readily communicating with Mr. Maxwell. + +6. You are then to endeavour to determine the fate of the Macquarie River, +by tracing it as far as possible beyond the point to which Mr. Oxley went, +and by pushing westward, you are to ascertain if there be any high lands +in that direction, or if the country be, as it is supposed, an unbroken +level and under water. If you should fail in these objects, you will +traverse the plains lying behind our north-west boundaries, with a view to +skirt any waters by which you may have been checked to the westward; and +if you should succeed in skirting them, you are to explore the country +westward and southward as far as possible, endeavouring to discover the +Macquarie beyond the marsh of Mr. Oxley, and following it to its mouth if +at all practicable. + +7. There is some reason to believe that the over-flowing of the Macquarie +when visited by Mr. Oxley, was occasioned by heavy rains falling in the +mountains to the eastward, and that as you are to visit the same spot at a +different season of the year, you may escape such embarrassment; but +although you should get beyond the point at which Mr. Oxley stopped, it +would not be prudent to risk your own health or that of your men, by +continuing long in a swampy country. Therefore it may be advisable for you +in the first instance to leave the greater part of your men, bullocks, and +baggage, at Mount Harris, and if you should see a probability of your +being able to cross into the interior, you will then return to Mount +Harris for such additional supplies as you may judge necessary. You can +there communicate with Mr. Maxwell respecting any ulterior arrangements +which you may be desirous of making. + +8. The success of the expedition is so desirable an object, that I cannot +too strongly impress upon you the importance of perseverance in +endeavouring to skirt any waters or marshes which may check your course as +long as you have provisions sufficient for your return; but you must be +cautious not to proceed a single day's journey further than where you find +that your provisions will be barely sufficient to enable you to reach the +nearest place at which you can depend upon getting supplies. + +9. If after every endeavour you should find it totally impracticable to get +to the westward, you are still to proceed northward, keeping as westerly a +direction as possible; and when the state of your provisions will oblige +you to retreat, you will be guided by your latitude, as to the place to +which you are to make the best of your way, but you are not to make for +any place on the coast, if Wellington valley should still be nearer. + +10. You must be aware that the success of the expedition will greatly +depend upon the time for which your provisions will hold out, and +therefore you will see the great importance of observing every possible +economy in the expenditure of provisions, and preventing waste of every +kind. + +11. You are to keep a detailed account of your proceedings in a journal, +in which all observations and occurrences of every kind, with all their +circumstances, however minute, are to be carefully noted down. You are to +be particular in describing the general face of all the country through +which you pass, the direction and shape of the mountains, whether detached +or in ranges, together with the bearings and estimated distances of the +several mountains, hills, or eminences from each other. You are likewise +to note the nature of the climate, as to heat, cold, moisture, winds, +rains, &c, and to keep a register of the temperature from Fahrenheit's +thermometer, as observed at two or three periods of each day. The rivers, +with their several branches, their direction, velocity, breadth, and +depth, are carefully to be noted. It is further expected that you will, +as far as may he in your power, attend to the animal, vegetable, and +mineral productions of the country, noting down every thing that may occur +to you, and preserving specimens as far as your means will admit, +especially some of all the ripe seeds which you may discover; when the +preservation of specimens is impossible, drawings or detailed accounts of +them, are very desirable. + +12. You will note the description of the several people whom you may meet, +the extent of the population, their means of subsistence, their genius and +disposition, the nature of their amusements, their diseases and remedies, +their objects of worship, religious ceremonies, and a vocabulary of their +language. + +Lastly. On your return from your journey, you are to cause all the +journals or other written documents belonging to, and curiosities +collected by the several individuals composing the expedition, to be +carefully sealed up with your own seal and kept in that state until you +shall have made your report to me in writing of the result of the +expedition. + +Given at Sydney, this eighteenth day of November, 1828. +By Command of His Excellency the Governor, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + + + +APPENDIX No. II. + + + +LIST OF STORES SUPPLIED FOR THE EXPEDITION. + + +List of Articles delivered from His Majesty's Stores, +in charge of D. A. C. Goodsir, to Captain Sturt, viz.-- + +1 Hack saddle. 9 Harness casks. +1 Bridle. 23 Canvas bags. +2 Tents. 4 Tin cases. +14 Pack saddles. 16 Padlocks. +14 Pair hobbles. 6 Tarpaulens. +24 Sets horse shoes. 10 Haversacks. +2000 Horse nails. 113 Fathom one-inch rope. +113 Fathoms 1 1/2 inch rope. 1 Boat compass. +1 Hammer, (Blacksmith's) 1 Telescope. +1 Paring knife. 1 Spare glass for ditto. +2 Chipping do. 1 Tin case (for charts.) +2 Rasps. 100 Fish-hooks, (large.) +1 Pair pincers. 12 Fishing-lines. +1 Cutter. 10 Knives. +2lb. Pack thread. 10 Forks. +24 Needles. 10 Spoons. +1/4lb. Bristles. 2 Frying-pans. +7lbs. Leather. 2 Tinder-boxes. +1/2lb. Thread. 1 Tea-kettle, (tin.) +1 Pair of steelyards. 10 Tin dishes. +10 Tin pots. 8 Jackets. +1 Flour seive. 8 Duck frocks. +2 Felling-axes. 8 Shirts. +4 Tomahawks. 16 Trousers. +2 Hammers. 24 Pair shoes. +1 Hand-saw. 16 Blankets. +3 Bill-hooks. 16 Pair stockings. +3 Awls. 2 Bullock collars. +3 Broad hoes. 2 Do. back-bands and pipes. +4 Razors. 2 Leading cruppers. +4 Brushes. 1 Boat with sail and oars. +4 Combs. 1 Do. carriage. +3 Iron pots, (camp kettles.) 1 Canvass boat-cover. +1 Pair scissors. 3 Water breaker. + +COMMISSARIAT OFFICE, SYDNEY, NOV. 10TH, 1828. + +P.S.--l Tarpaulin. + Large Fish-hook. + 1 Tin tea-kettle. + 1 Camp kettle. + Pitch and oil. + Hemp or twine. + + + + +APPENDIX No. III. + + + +SHEEP-FARMING RETURNS, SHOWING THE INCREASE IN FOUR YEARS, +from two Breeding Flocks, consisting of 670 Ewes in Lamb. + + +(A.)--1st JUNE, 1828. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks. Breeding Ewes. Lambs. Total. Remarks. + + 2 yrs. old. 3 yrs. old. Male.-Female. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Lambs. +No. 1 330 148 149 627 Deaths 6. Incr.297 +No. 2 330 154 154 638 4 308 + ---- -- --- + * 1265 10 605 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +* The increase throughout these returns is calculated at from 270 to 290 +Lambs, to 300 Ewes, which is the usual average in N.S.W. + + +ABSTRACT. + +Purchased two Flocks of Ewes, at 84s.............................670 Ewes. +Increase of Lambs.......................................... 605 +Casual Deaths............................................... 10 + 595 + --- +Total as per Return............................................ 1265 + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(B.)--1st JUNE, 1829. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 3-yr. 327 154 154 635 Deaths 3 Incr.308 +2 4-yr. 326 155 155 636 4 310 +3 1-yr. 302 302 1 --- +4 1-yr. 302 18 320 -- 618 + ---- 8 + 1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (A) Total...............................................1265 +Increase by Lambing....................................618 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 636 +Casual Deaths......................................... 8 628 + ---- +Total as per return............................................1893 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(C.)--1st JUNE, 1830. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 296 133 154 562 Deaths 6 Incr.266 +2 4-yr. 325 150 155 625 2 300 +3 5-yr. 326 160 646 320 +4 2-yr. 302 27 329 --- +5 1-yr. 309 309 886 +6 1-yr. 309 309 --- + ---- 3 Rams died + 2780 12 ditto purchased +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (B) Total............................................ 1893 +Increase by Lambing....................................886 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................12 + --- + 898 +Deaths............................................... 11 887 + ---- +Total as per return......................................... 2780 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(D.)--1st JUNE, 1831. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 304 136 136 576 Deaths 5 Incr.272 +2 3-yr. 293 135 136 564 3 271 +3 5-yr. 324 156 156 636 1 312 +4 6-yr. 320 156 156 632 2 312 + Killed 4 --- +5 3-yr. 300 300 Deaths 2 1167 +6 2-yr. 308 308 1 +7 1-yr 443 443 +8 1-yr 442 442 1 +9 40 40 5 + ---- -- + 3941 20 + Purchased 12 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (C) Total............................................ 2780 +Increase by Lambing...................................1167 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................18 + --- + 1185 +Casual deaths 20 ...Killed for use 4 ................. 24 1161 + ---- +Total as per return.......................................... 3941 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +(E.)--1st JUNE, 1832. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Flocks.|Breeding|Maiden|Wethers.|Rams.| Lambs. |Total.| Remarks. + | Ewes. | Ewes.| |Male. Female.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +No. Lambs. +1 2-yr. 344 154 154 652 Deaths 6 Incr.308 +2 3-yr. 344 162 161 667 4 323 +4 3-yr. 342 164 165 671 3 329 +5 6-yr. 320 155 155 630 2 310 +6 7-yr. 300 145 145 590 2 290 +7 4-yr. 300 300 ---- + 1560 +8 3-yr 302 302 2 +9 2-yr 440 440 1 +10 1-yr 583 583 +11 1-yr 584 584 +12 45 45 5 Purch. 10 + ---- ---- ---- --- --- --- ---- + 1650 584 1625 45 780 780 5464 +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +ABSTRACT. + +Return (D) Total............................................ 3941 +Increase by Lambing...................................1560 +Ditto Rams purchased....................................10 + --- + 1570 +Decrease by casual death .............................. 25 +Decrease by slaughter for use ......................... 22 + --- + 1523 + ---- + Grand Total .............................. 5464 as above +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +MEMORANDUM,--The deaths have been calculated at the lowest rate under the +best management. It may be safer to assume a rate of four or five per +cent. per annum. + + + +Account of Expenditure and Income upon Sheep Stock in Australia, +appended to Returns A. B. C. D. and E. + 1st YEAR, (RETURN A.) JUNE, 1829. + +INCOME. +By 11265 fleeces, average weight 2 1/4 lbs. 284 lbs +wool at 1s. 6d. per lb. 213 9 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 1 Watchman at 20 20 0 O PROFIT. +To Hurdles, &c. 10 0 0 + -------- 90 0 0 + -------- 123 9 0 + + 2nd YEAR, (B.) JUNE, 1830. + + INCOME. +By 1893 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 4259lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 319 8 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 20 40 0 0 +To 1 Watchman 20 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 5 0 0 + --------- + 125 0 0 +To 18 Rams at 10 pounds* 180 0 0 + --------- + 305 0 0 + --------- + 14 8 6 +*The price of rams will probably fall to 5 pounds + + 3rd YEAR, (C.) JUNE, 1831. + + INCOME. +By 2780 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 6255lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 469 2 6 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 25 25 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 20 60 0 0 +To 2 Watchman 20 40 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 10 0 0 + --------- + 195 0 0 +To 12 Rams at 10 pounds 120 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 + --------- + 154 2 6 + + 4th YEAR, (D.) JUNE, 1832. + + INCOME. +By 3941 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 8867lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 665 0 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 2 Ditto 25 50 0 0 +To 4 Ditto 20 80 0 0 +To 3 Watchman &c. 60 0 0 +(one to take charge of rams) +To Hurdles &c. 10 0 0 + --------- + 260 0 0 +To 18 Rams at 10 pounds 180 0 0 + --------- + 440 0 0 + --------- + 225 0 0 + + 5th YEAR, (E.) JUNE, 1833.* + + INCOME. +By 5464 fleeces, at 2 1/4 lbs. 12,294 lbs. wool at +1s. 6d. 922 0 0 + EXPENDITURE. +To 2 Shepherds at 30 pounds 60 0 0 +To 3 Ditto 25 75 0 0 +To 5 Ditto 20 100 0 0 +To 3 Watchman 20 60 0 0 +To Hurdles &c. 20 0 0 + --------- + 315 0 0 +To 10 Rams at 10 pounds 100 0 0 + --------- + 415 0 0 + --------- + 507 0 0 + ---------- + Net profit by sales of wool in 5 years 1024 0 0 + +1024 0 0 divided by 5 gives 204 8 0 for annual interest on the +original capital of 2814 0 0, (about 7 1/4 percent per annum) +in addition to the accumulation of capital itself, shown by the +valuation of stock. + +*These accounts are a year in advance of the sheep returns, in order to +bring them to the time at which the wool would be sold. + + + VALUATION OF SHEEP, JUNE, 1832----(RETURN E.) + +1614 Ewes from 1 to 4 years old at 3 pounds each 4842 0 O + 620 Do. 4 to 7 years old 2 1240 0 0 + 780 Female Lambs 2 1560 0 0 +2405 Wethers and Male Lambs 15s. 1803 0 0 + 45 Rams (original cost, 450l.) 400 0 0 + ---------- + 9845 0 0 + +Note.--About 500 pounds would be added to the Income on the fifth year, +by the sale of wethers of 3 and 4 years old. + +The cost of rams ought, strictly speaking, to be added to capital, and not +deducted from Income; but these returns were made out in their present +form at the request of a gentleman proceeding to the Colony with a limited +capital, and who wished to know how much he might safely invest in sheep. + + + + +APPENDIX No. IV. + + + +LIST OF GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, COLLECTED IN THE DISTANT INTERIOR DURING +THE FIRST EXPEDITION, WITH THEIR LOCALITIES AND THEIR RELATIVE DISTANCES +FROM EACH OTHER. + + +It may be necessary to observe that the height of the Cataract of the +Macquarie River above the sea, was ascertained by barometrical +admeasurement to be 650 feet. The country subsequently traversed is +considerably lower. The specimens refer only to the geological formation +of the distant interior. + +Schorl Rock.--Colour blueish grey, fine grained, extremely hard. Composed +of Tourmaline and Quartz. Forms the bed of the Macquarie at the Cataract, +75 miles to the N.W. of Wellington Valley. + +Decomposed Mica Slate.--Colour white; yields to the knife; adheres +strongly to the tongue. + +Decomposed Feldspar.--Colour pale rose-pink; very fine grained; easily +scratched with the knife; adheres strongly to the tongue. + +Both specimens immediately succeed the Schorl rock at the Cataract, in +large smooth-sided masses. + +This formation may be said to terminate the rocks connected with the +dividing ranges, since it is the last that occurs at their western base. + +A little below the Cataract, the county undergoes a remarkable change, +and becomes extremely depressed. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour dull red, with white spots, or grey with +red spots; very hard, compact, sonorous, magnetic. [See pp. 27 and 115.] +Composition of Mount Harris, a hill called by Mr. Oxley, elevated about +170 feet above the level of the plains. It lies 65 miles to the N.N.W. of +the Cataract, and is about 16 miles distant from the first of the marshes +of the Macquarie. + +Porphyry with Feldspar.--Colour grey with red spots, similar to the last. +Was not observed to affect the needle. Formation of Mount Foster. +Mount Foster is more than 200 feet in height, and lies about 5 miles to +the N.N.W. of Mount Harris. From the summit of both, Arbuthnot's range is +visible, bearing nearly due east, distant 70 miles. [See page 28.] + +Quartz Rock varieties--Slaty Quartz varieties.--Composition of the first +elevations to the Westward of the marshes of the Macquarie, called +New Year's Range, a group of five hills. The loftiest about 200 feet in +elevation; distant about 80 miles to the N.W. of Mount Harris. + +Granite.--Colour red, coarse-grained. Composed of Quartz, Feldspar, +and Mica. + + Granite, Porphyritic.--Colour light red. Both occurring in the bed of +New Year's Creek, traversing it obliquely, and are visible for a few +hundred yards only. This granite occurs about 16 miles from the Range in +a N. by E. direction. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of Oxley's Table Land, 500 feet above the +level of the plains. It is broken into two hills, that appear to have been +separated by some convulsion. [See page 81.] It bears N.W. by W. from +New Year's Range, distant 50 miles. + +Old Red Sandstone.--Composition of D'Urban's group. The highest elevation +ascended during the expedition, being nearly 600 feet above the level of +the plain in which it rises. It lies to the S.S.W. of Oxley's Table Land, +distant 40 miles, and the rock of which it is composed is much harder +and closer. + +Breccia.--Colour pale yellow, silicious cement. Composition of some +trifling elevations to the North of New-Year's range, with which it is +doubtful whether they are connected. + +Crystallized Sulphate of Lime.--Found imbedded in the alluvial soil +forming the banks of the Darling river. Occurring in a regular vein. Soft, +yielding to the nail; not acted on by acids.--See Plate. + +Breccia.--Pale ochre colour, silicious cement, extremely hard. Cellular, +and sharp edges to the fractured pebbles. Has apparently undergone fusion. +Occurs in the bed of the Darling in one place only. + +Sandstone Varieties.--Colour dull red and muddy white; appears like burnt +bricks; light, easily frangible; adheres to the tongue; occurs in large +masses in the bed of the Darling; probably in connection with the +rock-salt of the neighbourhood, which, from the number of brine springs +discovered feeding the river, must necessarily exist. + +Variety of the same description of rock. + +Jasper and Quartz.--Showing itself above the surface of a plain, from +which D'Urban's group bore S. 40 E. distant 33 miles. + +It is a remarkable fact, that not a pebble or a stone was picked up during +the progress of the expedition, on any one of the plains; and that after +it again left Mount Harris for the Castlereagh, the only rock-formation +discovered was a small Freestone tract near the Darling river. There was +not a pebble of any kind either in the bed of the Castlereagh, or in the +creeks falling into it. + + + + +APPENDIX No. V. + + + +OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 23RD JANUARY, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to order, that the following +communication, dated the 25th of December last, from Captain Sturt, of the +39th Regiment, who is employed in an exploring expedition into the +interior of the country, be published for general information. + +By his Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +WESTERN MARSHES, 25TH DECEMBER, 1828. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to forward, for the Governor's perusal, a +copy of my journal up to the date of my arrival at Mount Harris. I should +not have directed the messenger to return so soon, had I not subsequently +advanced to Mount Foster, and surveyed the country from that eminence. I +could distinctly see Arbuthnot's Range to the eastward. From that point +the horizon appeared to me unbroken, but the country to the northward and +westward seemed to favour an attempt to penetrate into it. I did not +observe any sheet of water, and the course of the Macquarie was lost in +the woodlands below. + +Mr. Hume ascended the hill at sun-rise, and thought he could see mountains +to the north east, but at such a distance as to make it quite a matter of +uncertainty. Agreeing, however, in the prudence of an immediate descent, +we left our encampment on the morning of the 23rd, under Mount Foster, to +which we had removed from Mount Harris, and pursued a north-north-west +course to the spot on which we rest at present. We passed some fine meadow +land near the river, and were obliged to keep wide of it in consequence of +fissures in the ground. Traversing a large and blasted plain, on which the +sun's rays fell with intense heat, and on which there was but little +vegetation, we skirted the first great morass, and made the river +immediately beyond it. It is of very considerable extent, the channel of +the river passing through it. We are encompassed on every side by high +reeds, which exist in the woods as well as in the plains. Mr. Hume and +myself rode forward yesterday through the second morass, and made the +river on slightly elevated ground, at a distance of about five miles; the +country beyond appeared to favour our object, and we, to-morrow, proceed +with the party to the north-west. The river seems to bend to the +north-east; but in this level country it is impossible to speak with +certainty, or to give any decided opinion of the nature of it, beyond the +flats on which we are travelling. The reeds to the north-east and +northward extend over a circumference of fifty miles; but if Mr. Hume +really saw mountains or rising ground in the former point, the apparent +course of the Macquarie is at once accounted for. The country, however, +seems to dip to the north, though generally speaking it is level, and I am +inclined to think that the state of the atmosphere caused a deception in +this appearance. + +I regret to add, that the effects of the sun on the plain over which we +passed on the 23rd produced a return of inflammation in the eyes of the +men, I have named in my journals, and caused the same in the eyes of +several others of my party. I halted, therefore, to expedite their +recovery. They are doing well now, and we can proceed in the cool of the +morning without any fear of their receiving injury by it. One of the men, +who were to return to Wellington Valley, was attacked slightly with +dysentery, but the medicines I gave him carried it off in the course of a +day or two. I have taken every precaution with regard to the health of the +men, in preparing them for the country into which they are going; and I +have to request that you will inform the governor that the conduct of the +whole party merits my approbation, and that I have no fault to find. The +men from Sydney are not so sharp as those from Wellington Valley, but are +equally well disposed. The animals, both horses and bullocks, are in good +order, and I find the two soldiers of infinite service to me. The boat has +received some damage from exposure to intense heat, but is otherwise +uninjured. We still retain the carriage and have every prospect of +dragging it on with us. + +His Excellency, having been good enough to order a fresh supply of +provisions to Wellington Valley, I have to beg they may be forwarded to +Mount Harris, and that the person in charge thereof be instructed to +remain at that station for one month. We shall, during the interval, have +examined the country to the north-west; and, in case we are forced back, +shall require a supply to enable us to proceed to the northward, in +furtherance of the views I have already had the honor to submit for the +Governor's approval. + +I have the honor to be, Sir, +Your most obedient and humble Servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Captain, 39th Regt. + + +THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY + + +* * * * * + + +GOVERNMENT ORDER. + +COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 6TH APRIL, 1829. + +His Excellency the Governor is pleased to direct that the following +interesting Report which has been received from Captain Sturt, +39th Regiment, who has been employed for some months past, (as will be +seen on reference to the Government Order, No. 4, published with Captain +Sturt's First Report in the Sydney Gazette, of the 24th of January last) +in exploring the interior, be communicated for the information of the +public. + +It appears that the river Macquarie ceases to exist near the spot where +the expedition under the late Mr. Oxley terminated, which, from the state +of country at the time, being then flooded, could not be ascertained; and +that another river of no inconsiderable magnitude, fed by salt springs, +was discovered by Captain Sturt on the 2nd February last, about 100 miles +to the westward of the Macquarie, running to the southward and westward. + +By His Excellency's Command, +ALEXANDER M'LEAY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 4TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--I do myself the honor to acquaint you, for the information of His +Excellency the Governor, that I returned to this eminence on Monday, +the 23rd ult. having been driven from the interior, in consequence of the +extreme drought which prevails there. + +I am to state, in reference to my former communication, that agreeably to +what I then reported, I moved, on the 26th December last, lower down the +plains of the Macquarie, but encountered a barrier of reeds, formed by the +marshes of that river, through which we in vain endeavoured to force our +way. I was in consequence obliged to make the nearest part of the river to +my left, and to take such measures as the nature of my situation required. +Here, for the first time, I set the boat afloat, deeming it essential to +trace the river, as I could not move upon its banks, and wishing also to +ascertain where it again issued from the marshes, I requested Mr. Hume to +proceed northerly, with a view to skirt them, and to descend westerly, +wherever he saw an open space. He was fortunate enough to strike upon the +channel about twelve miles north of our position, but was obstructed in +his further progress by another marsh, in consequence of which he returned +to the camp the next day; in the mean time, I had taken the boat, and +proceeded down the Macquarie, my way being at first considerably +obstructed by fallen timber: clearing this obstacle, however, I got into +a deeper channel, with fine broad reaches, and a depth of from twelve to +fifteen feet water. I had a short time previously cleared all woods and +trees, and was now in the midst of reeds of great height. After proceeding +onwards for about eight miles from the place whence I started, my course +was suddenly and unexpectedly checked; I saw reeds before me, and expected +I was about to turn an angle of the river, but I found that I had got to +the end of the channel, and that the river itself had ceased to exist. +Confounded at such a termination to a stream, whose appearance justified +the expectation that it would have led me through the heart of the marsh +to join Mr. Hume, I commenced a most minute examination of the place, and +discovered two creeks, if they deserve the name, branching, the one to the +north-west, and the other to the north-east; after tracing the former a +short distance, I reached its termination, and in order to assure myself +that such was the case, I walked round the head of it by pushing through +the reeds; it being then too dark to continue where I was, I returned to +a place on the river, at which I had rested during a shower, and slept +there. In the morning I again went to the spot to examine the +north-eastern branch, when I was equally disappointed. I then examined the +space between the two creeks, opposite to the main channel of the river, +and where the bank receives the force of the current. Here I saw water in +the reeds, but it was scarcely ankle deep, and was running off to the +north-west quicker than the waters of the river, which had almost an +imperceptible motion, I was therefore at once convinced that it was not +permanent, but had lodged there in the night, during which much rain had +fallen. I next pushed my way through the reeds into the marsh, and at +length clearly perceived that the waters which were perfectly sweet, after +running several courses, flowed off to the north, towards which point +there was an apparent declination or dip. Finding it impossible to +proceed further, I regained the boat, and thence returned to the camp, +under a conviction that I had reached the very spot, at which Mr. Oxley +lost the channel of the river in 1818. + +The next day I moved to the place where Mr. Hume had struck upon the +channel of the river, but was again doubtful in what direction to proceed. + +The marsh, at the commencement of which we now found ourselves, being the +third from Mount Foster, but the second great one, seemed to extend beyond +us to the north for many miles, but varying in breadth. In the evening I +went in the boat up the channel, and found it at first, deep and sullen, +as that of the river above. It soon however, narrowed, and the weeds +formed over its surface, so that I abandoned the boat and walked along a +path up it. I had not gone far when the channel divided; two smaller +channels came, the one from the southern, and the other from the western +parts of the marsh into it. There was an evident declination where they +were, and it was at their junction the river again rallied and formed. +On my return to the camp, Mr. Hume and I went down the river, but found +that about a mile it lost itself, and spread its waters ever the extensive +marsh before it. + +In this extremity, I knew not what movement to make, as Mr. Hume had been +checked in his progress north. I therefore determined to ascertain the +nature of the country to the eastward and to the westward, that I might +move accordingly; I proposed to Mr. Hume, to take a week's provisions, +with two attendants, and go to the north-east, in order again to turn the +marsh, but with the expectation that the angle formed by the junction of +the Castlereagh with the Macquarie would arrest its progress, as the last +was fast approaching the former. + +I myself determined to cross the river, and to skirt the marshes on the +left, and in case they turned off to the north east, as they appeared to +do, it was my intention to pursue a N.W. course into the interior, to +learn the nature of it. With these views I left the camp on the 31st of +December, and did not return until the 5th of January. Having found early +in my journey, from the change of soil and of timber, that I was leaving +the neighbourhood of the Macquarie, I followed a N.W. course, from a more +northerly one, and struck at once across the country, under an impression +that Mr. Hume would have made the river again long before my return. +I found, after travelling between twenty and thirty miles, the country +began to rise; and at the end of my journey, I made a hill of considerable +elevation, from the summit of which I had a view of other high lands; one +to the S.W. being a very fine mountain. As I had not found any water +excepting in two creeks, which I had left far behind me, and as I had got +on a soil which appeared incapable of holding it, I made this the +termination of my journey, having exceeded 100 miles in distance from the +camp, on my return to which I found Mr. Hume still absent. When he joined, +he stated to me, that not making the Castlereagh as soon as he expected, +he had bent down westerly for the Macquarie, and that he ended his journey +at some gentle hills he had made; so that it appeared we must either have +crossed each other's line of route, or that they were very near, and that +want of length must alone have prevented them from crossing; but as such +all assumption led to the conclusion that the Macquarie no longer existed, +I determined to pursue a middle course round the swamps, to ascertain the +point; as in case the river had ended, a westerly course was the one which +my instructions directed me to pursue. + +In the immediate neighbourhood of the marshes we were obliged to sink +wells for water, and it was thus early that we began to feel the want of a +regular supply. + +Having made a creek about four miles from our position by cutting through +the reeds where there was a narrow space, we pursued a westerly course +over a plain, having every appearance of frequent inundation, and for four +or five days held nearly the same direction; in the course of which we +crossed both our tracks on the excursions we had made, which had +intersected each other in a dense oak brush; thus renewing the few doubts, +or rather the doubt we had as to the fate of the Macquarie, whose course +we had been sent to trace. Indeed, had I not felt convinced that that +river had ceased, I should not have moved westward without further +examination, but we had passed through a very narrow part of the marshes, +and round the greater part of them, and had not seen any hollow that could +by any possible exaggeration be construed into or mistaken for the channel +of a river. + +It appears, then, that the Macquarie, flowing as it does for so many +miles, through a bed, and not a declining country, and having little water +in it, except in times of flood, loses its impetus long ere it reaches the +formidable barrier that opposes its progress northwards; the soil in which +the reeds grow being a stiff clay. Its waters consequently spread, until +a slight declivity giving them fresh impulse, they form a channel again, +but soon gaining a level, they lose their force and their motion together, +and spread not only over the second great marsh, but over a vast extent +of the surrounding country, the breadth of ground thus subject to +inundation being more than twenty miles, and its length considerably +greater; around this space there is a gentle rise which confines the +waters, while small hollows in various directions lead them out of the +marshes over the adjacent plains, on which they eventually subside. On my +return from the interior, I examined those parts round which I had not +been, with particular attention, partly in company with Mr. Hume, and this +statement was confirmed by what we saw. Thus, at a distance of about +twenty-five miles from Mount Foster to the N.N.W. the river Macquarie +ceases to exist, in any shape as a river, and at a distance of between +fifty and sixty, the marshes terminate, though the country subject to +inundation from the river is of a very considerable extent, as shown by +the withered bulrushes, wet reeds, and shells, that are scattered over +its surface. + +Having executed the first part of the instructions with which I had been +honoured, I determined on pursuing a west, or north-west course into the +interior, to ascertain the nature of it, in fulfilment of the second, but +in doing this I was obliged to follow creeks, and even on their banks had +to carry a supply of water, so uncertain was it that we should meet with +any at the termination of our day's journey, and that what we did find +would be fit to drink. Our course led us over plains immediately bordering +the lower lands of the Macquarie, alternating with swamp oak, acacia +pendula, pine, box, eucalyptus, and many other trees of minor growth, the +soil being inclined to a red loam, while the plains were generally covered +with a black scrub, though in some places they had good grass upon them. +We crossed two creeks before we made the hills Mr. Hume had ascended, and +which he called New Year's Range. Around these hills the country appeared +better--they are gentle, picturesque elevations, and are for the most +part, covered with verdure, and have, I fancy, a whinstone base, the rock +of which they are composed being of various substances. I place New Year's +Range in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes, long. 146 degrees 3 minutes +30 seconds. Our course next lying north-west along a creek, led us to +within twenty miles of the hill that had terminated my excursion, and as I +hoped that a more leisurely survey of the country from its summit would +open something favourable to our view, I struck over for it, though +eventually obliged to return. From it Mr. Hume and I rode to the S.W. +mountain, a distance of about forty miles, without crossing a brook or a +creek, our way leading through dense acacia brushes, and for the most part +over a desert. We saw high lands from this mountain, which exceeds 1,300 +feet in elevation, and is of sandstone formation, and thickly covered with +stunted pine, in eight different points--the bearings of which are as +follows:-- + +Oxley's Table Land, N. 4O E., distant 40 miles. +Kengall Hill, due E. very distant. +Conical Hill, S. 6O E. +Highland, S.E. distance 30 miles. +Highland, S. 30 E. distance 25 miles. +Long Range, S. 16 E. distance 60 miles. +Long Range, S. 72 W. distance 60 miles. +Distant Range, S. 25 W. supposed. + +It was in vain, however, that we looked for water. The country to the +north-west, was low and unbroken, and alternated with wood and plain. + +The country from New Year's Range to the hill I had made, and which I +called Oxley's Table Land, had been very fair, with good soil in many +places, but with a total want of water, except in the creeks, wherein the +supply was both bad and uncertain; on our second day's journey from the +former, we came to the creek on which we were moving, where it had a +coarse granite bottom. The country around it improved very much in +appearance, and there was abundance of good grass on the surface of it, in +spite of the drought. On the right of this creek, a large plain stretches +parallel to it for many miles, varying in quality of soil. Near Oxley's +Table Land, we passed over open forest, the prevailing timber of which was +box. I have placed Oxley's Table Land in latitude 29 degrees 57 minutes +30 seconds, longitude 145 degrees 43 minutes 30 seconds. + +Finding it impracticable to move westward from the hill I again descended +on the creek, whose general course was to the north-west, in which +direction we at length struck upon a river whose appearance raised our +most sanguine expectations. It flowed round an angle from the north-east +to the north-west, and extended in longitude five reaches as far as we +could see. At that place it was about sixty yards broad, with banks of +from thirty to forty feet high, and it had numerous wild fowl and many +pelicans on its bosom, and seemed to be full of fish, while the paths of +the natives on both sides, like well-trodden roads, showed how numerous +they were about it. On tasting its waters, however, we found them +perfectly salt, and useless to us, and as our animals had been without +water the night before, this circumstance distressed us much; our first +day's journey led us past between sixty and seventy huts in one place, and +on our second we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives, having +previously seen some between two creeks before we made New-Year's Range. +At some places the water proved less salt than at others; our animals +drank of it sparingly: we found two small fresh-water holes, which served +us as we passed. After tracing the river for a considerable distance, we +came on brine springs in the bed of it, the banks having been encrusted +with salt from the first; and as the difficulty of getting fresh water was +so great, I here foresaw an end to our wanderings. And as I was resolved +not to involve my party in greater distress, I halted it, on overtaking +the animals, and the next morning turned back to the nearest fresh-water, +at a distance of eighteen miles from us. Unwilling, however, to give up +our pursuit, Mr. Hume and I started with two men on horseback, to trace +the river as far as we could, and to ascertain what course it took; in the +hopes also that we should fall on some creek, or get a more certain supply +of drinkable water. We went a distance to which the bullocks could not +have been brought, and then got on a red sandy soil, which at once +destroyed our hopes; and on tasting the river water we found it salter +than ever, our supply being diminished to two pints. Our animals being +weak and purged, and having proceeded at least forty miles from the camp, +I thought it best to yield to circumstances, and to return, though I trust +I shall be believed when I add, it was with extreme reluctance I did so; +and had I followed the wishes of my party, should still have continued +onwards. Making a part of the river where we had slept, we stayed to +refresh, and in consequence of the heat of the weather were obliged to +drink the water in it, which made us sick. While here, a tribe of blacks +came to us and behaved remarkably well. At night we slept on a plain +without water, and the next day we regained the camp, which had been +visited by the natives during our absence. + +We found the river held a south-west course, and appeared to be making for +the central space between a high land, which I called Dunlop's Range, at +Mr. Hume's request, and a lofty range to the westward. It still continued +its important appearance, having gained in breadth and in the height of +its banks, while there were hundreds of pelicans and wild-fowl on it. +Flowing through a level country with such a channel, it may be presumed +that this river ultimately assumes either a greater character, or that it +adds considerably to the importance of some other stream. It had a clay +bottom, generally speaking, in many places semi-indurated and fast forming +into sandstone, while there was crystallized sulphate of lime running in +veins through the soil which composed the bank. + +This river differs from most in the colony, in having a belt of barren +land of from a quarter of a mile to two miles in breadth in its immediate +neighbourhood, and which is subject to overflow. This belt runs to the +inland plains, where a small elevation checks the further progress of the +flood. There is magnificent blue gum on both sides the river, but the +right bank is evidently the most fertile, and I am mistaken greatly if +there is not a beautiful country north of it. + +Of the country over which we have passed, it is impossible for me to have +formed a correct opinion under its present melancholy circumstances. It +has borne the appearance of barrenness, where in even moderate rain, it +might have shown very differently, though no doubt we passed over much of +both good and bad land; our animals on the whole, have thrived on the food +they have had, which would argue favourably for the herbage. Generally +speaking, I fear the timber is bad--the rough-gum may be used for knees, +and such purposes, and we may have seen wood for the wheelwright and +cabinet-maker, specimens of which I have procured, but none for general or +household purposes. + +The creeks we have traced are different in character from those in the +settled districts, inasmuch as that, like the river, they have a belt of +barren land near then and but little grass--they have all of them been +numerously frequented by the natives, as appeared from the number of +muscle-shells on their banks, but now having scarcely any water in them, +the fish having either been taken, or are dead, and the tribes gone +elsewhere for food, while the badness of the river water has introduced a +cutaneous disease among the natives of that district, which is fast +carrying them off. Our intercourse with these people was incessant from +the time we first met them, and on all occasions they behaved remarkably +well, nor could we have seen less than than two hundred and fifty of them. + +Our return is to be attributable to the want of water alone, and it is +impossible for me to describe the effects of the drought on animal as well +as vegetable nature. The natives are wandering in the desert, and it is +melancholy to reflect on the necessity which obliges them to drink the +stinking and loathsome water they do--birds sit gasping in the trees and +are quite thin--the wild dog prowls about in the day-time unable to avoid +us, and is as lean as he can be in a living state, while minor vegetation +is dead, and the very trees are drooping. I have noticed all these things +in my Journal I shall have the honour of submitting through you, for the +Governor's perusal and information, on my return. Finally, I fear our +expedition will not pave the way to any ultimate benefit; although it has +been the means by which two very doubtful questions,--the course of the +Macquarie, and the nature of the interior, have been solved; for it is +beyond doubt, that the interior for 250 miles beyond its former known +limits to the W.N.W., so far from being a shoal sea, has been ascertained +not only to have considerable elevations upon it, but is in itself a table +land to all intents and purposes, and has scarcely water on its surface to +support its inhabitants. + +I beg you will inform His Excellency the Governor, that I have on all +occasions received the most ready and valuable assistance from Mr, Hume. +His intimate acquaintance with the manners and customs of the natives, +enabled him to enter into intercourse with them, and chiefly contributed +to the peaceable manner in which we have journeyed, while his previous +experience put it in his power to be of real use to me. I cannot but say +he has done an essential service to future travellers, and to the colony +at large, by his conduct on all occasions since he has been with me; nor +should I be doing him justice, if I did not avail myself of the first +opportunity of laying my sentiments before the Governor, through you. I am +happy to add that every individual of the party deserves my warmest +approbation, and that they have, one and all, borne their distresses, +trifling certainly, but still unusual, with cheerfulness, and that they +have at all times been attentive to their duty, and obedient to their +orders. The whole are in good health, and are eager again to start. + +I have the honor to be, +Sir +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + +* * * * * + + +MOUNT HARRIS, 5TH MARCH, 1829. + +SIR,--It having appeared to me, that after discovering such a river as the +one I have described in my letter of yesterday, His Excellency the +Governor would approve of my endeavouring to regain it. There being a +probability that it ultimately joins the Southern Waters, I thought of +turning my steps to the southward and westward; and with a view to learn +the nature of the country, I despatched Mr. Hume in that direction on +Saturday last. He returned in three days, after having gone above forty +miles from the river, and states, that he crossed two creeks, the one +about twenty-five miles, the other about thirty-two distance, evidently +the heads of the creeks we passed westward of the marshes of the +Macquarie. He adds, that, to the second creek the land was excellent, but +that on crossing it, he got onto red soil, on which he travelled some +miles further, until he saw a range of high land, bearing from him S.W.. +by W., when, knowing from the nature of the country around him, and from +the experience of our late journey, that he could not hope to find a +regular supply of water in advance, and that in the present dry state of +the low lands, a movement such as I had contemplated would be +impracticable, he returned home. I do myself the honour, therefore, to +report to you, for His Excellency's information, that I shall proceed on +Saturday next in a N.E. direction towards the Castlereagh, intending to +trace that river down, and afterwards to penetrate as far to the northward +and westward as possible; it being my wish to get into the country north +of the more distant river, where I have expectations that there is an +extensive and valuable track of country, but that in failure of the above, +I shall examine the low country behind our N.W. boundaries, if I can find +a sufficiency of water to enable me to do so. + +I am to inform you that in this neighbourhood the Macquarie has ceased to +flow, and that it is now a chain of shallow ponds. The water is fast +diminishing in it, and unless rain descends in a few weeks it will be +perfectly dry. + +I am also to report, that the natives attempted the camp with the supplies +before my arrival at Mount Harris, but that on the soldier with the party +firing a shot, after they had thrown a stone and other of the weapons, +they fled. It was in consequence of their fires, which I saw at a distance +of forty miles, and which they never make on so extensive a scale, except +as signals when they want to collect, and are inclined to be mischievous, +that I made forced marches up, and I am led to believe my arrival was very +opportune. The natives have visited us since, and I do not think they will +now attempt to molest either party when we separate. + +I have the honour to be, +Sir, +Your most obedient and most humble servant, +CHARLES STURT, +Capt. 39th Regt. + +THE HON. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. + + + +END OF VOLUME I + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Two Expeditions into the Interior of +Southern Australia Volume I by Charles Sturt + diff --git a/old/xpss112.zip b/old/xpss112.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..691fe0d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/xpss112.zip |