Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia Part 20

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

VOLUME II.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

EXPEDITION DOWN THE MORUMBIDGEE AND MURRAY RIVERS, IN 1829, 1830 AND 1831.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory--Remarks on the results of the former Expedition--The fitting out of another determined on--Its objects--Provisions, accoutrements, and retinue--Paper furnished by Mr. Kent--Causes that have prevented the earlier appearance of the present work.

CHAPTER II.

Commencement of the expedition in November, 1829.--Joined by Mr. George M'Leay--Appearance of the party--Breadalbane Plains--Hospitality of Mr.

O'Brien--Ya.s.s Plains--Hill of Pouni--Path of a hurricane--Character of the country between Underaliga and the Morumbidgee--Appearance of that river-- Junction of the Dumot with it--Crossing and recrossing--Geological character and general aspect of the country--Plain of Pondebadgery--Few natives seen.

CHAPTER III.

Character of the Morumbidgee where it issues from the hilly country-- Appearance of approach to swamps--Hamilton Plains--Intercourse with the natives--Their appearance, customs, &c.--Change in the character of the river--Mirage--Dreariness of the country--Ride towards the Lachlan river --Two boats built and launched on the Morumbidgee; and the drays, with part of the men sent back to Goulburn Plains.

CHAPTER IV.

Embarkation of the party in the boats, and voyage down the Morumbidgee-- The skiff swamped by striking on a sunken tree--Recovery of boat and its loading--Region of reeds--Dangers of the navigation--Contraction of the channel--Reach the junction of a large river--Intercourse with the natives on its banks--Character of the country below the junction of the rivers-- Descent of a dangerous rapid--Warlike demonstrations of a tribe of natives--Unexpected deliverance from a conflict with them--Junction of another river--Give the name of the "Murray" to the princ.i.p.al stream.

CHAPTER V.

Character of the country--Damage of provisions--Adroitness of the natives in catching fish--The skiff broken up--Stream from the North-East supposed to be the Darling--Change of country in descending the river--Intercourse with the natives--Prevalence of loathsome diseases among them--Apparent populousness of the country--Junction of several small streams--The Rufus, the Lindesay, &c.--Rainy and tempestuous weather--Curious appearance of the banks--Troublesomeness of the natives--Inhospitable and desolate aspect of the country--Condition of the men--Change in the geological character of the country--The river pa.s.ses through a valley among hills.

CHAPTER VI.

Improvement in the aspect of the country--Increase of the river--Strong westerly gales--Chronometer broken--A healthier tribe of natives-- Termination of the Murray in a large lake--Its extent and environs-- Pa.s.sage across it--Hostile appearance of the natives--Beautiful scenery --Channel from the lake to the sea at Encounter Bay--Reach the beach-- Large flocks of water fowl--Curious refraction--State of provisions-- Embarra.s.sing situation--Inspection of the channel to the ocean--Weak condition of the men--Difficulties of the return.

CHAPTER VII.

Valley of the Murray--Its character and capabilities--Laborious progress up the river--Accident to the boat--Perilous collision with the natives --Turbid current of the Rufus--Pa.s.sage of the Rapids--a.s.sisted by the natives--Dangerous intercourse with them--Re-enter the Morumbidgee-- Verdant condition of its banks--Nocturnal encounter with the natives-- Interesting manifestation of feeling in one family--Reach the spot where the party had embarked on the river--Men begin to fail entirely-- Determine to send two men forward for relief--Their return--Excursion on horseback--Reach Pondebadgery Plain, and meet the supplies from the colony--Cannibalism of the natives--Return to Sydney--Concluding remarks.

CHAPTER VIII.

Environs of the lake Alexandrina--Appointment of Capt. Barker to make a further survey of the coast near Encounter Bay--Narrative of his proceedings--Mount Lofty, Mount Barker, and beautiful country adjacent-- Australian salmon--Survey of the coast--Outlet of lake to the sea-- Circ.u.mstances that led to the slaughter of Capt. Barker by the natives-- His character--Features of this part of the country and capabilities of its coasts--Its adaptation for colonization--Suggestions for the furtherance of future Expeditions.

APPENDIX.

No. I. Geological Specimens found to the south-west of Port Jackson No. II. Official Report to the Colonial Government

ILl.u.s.tRATIONS TO THE SECOND VOLUME (Not included in this etext)

View on the Morumbidgee River Junction of the supposed Darling with the Murray Palaeornis Melanura, or Black Tailed Paroquet Pomatorhinus Temporalis Pomatorhinus Superciliosus Chart of Cape Jervis, and Encounter Bay Ma.s.s of Fossils of the Tertiary Formation Bulla Conus Genus Unknown Chrystallized Selenite Selenite Single Fossils of the Tertiary Formation

EXPEDITION DOWN THE MORUMBIDGEE AND MURRAY RIVERS, IN 1829, 1830 AND 1831.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory

Remarks on the results of the former Expedition--The fitting out of another determined on--Its objects--Provisions, accoutrements, and retinue--Paper furnished by Mr. Kent--Causes that have prevented the earlier appearance of the present work.

OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.