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Table of Contents
Objects of the expedition. — Unexpected
delay — by reference to Lord Stanley. — List of the
Party. — Departure from Buree. — Sheep stations.
— Scattered population. — Passage through Hervey's
Range. — Encroachment of sheep on cattle runs. — A
tea-totaller. — Meet an old acquaintance. — Sulphureous
springs. — Currandong — Necessity for damming up the
Bogan. Leave Bultje's country. — Ephemeral existence of
Aborigines. — Line between the squatters and the wild
natives. — Velocity of the Bogan. — Supply of young
bullocks. — Richard Cunningham — Young cattle
troublesome. — A night without water. — Distress from
heat and thirst. — Excessive heat. — Reunion of the
party. — Melancholy fate of the Bogan tribe. —
Interesting plants discovered. — Encampment at Mudaà. —
Carry water forward. — Arrive at Daròbal. — Nyingan.
— Water at Canbelègo. — Discovery of a lagoon. —
Encamp near Canbelègo. Explore the Bogan in search of water.
— Long ride. — Quit the Bogan. — Party attacked
with ophthalmia
Move to the ponds of Cannonbà. — Set up our
bivouac. — Hot wind. — Piper's intention to quit the
party. — Piper sent to Bathurst. — Change of weather.
— A day of rain. — Mr. Kennedy returns. — Salt
made from the salt plant. — Reconnoitre Duck Creek. —
Ophthalmia still troublesome. — Approach of a flood
announced. — It arrives in clear moonlight. —
(Frontispiece.) — Marshes of the Macquarie. —
Difficulty of watering cattle. — (Plate 2. p. 61.) A new
guide. — Cattle astray. — Yulliyally. — Docility
of the Aborigines. — Water insufficient for cattle. —
Want of water. — Small ponds destroyed by cattle. — At
last find abundance. — Aboriginal preferable to modern names.
— Cattle again astray — and delay the journey. —
Junction of the Macquarie and Bàrwan. — The Darling as at
present, and formerly. — Admirable distribution of water. The
ford at Wyàbry. — The party crosses the Darling
Plains and low hills. — The Caràwy ponds.
— Delayed by weak cattle. — The Narran. — Arrived
at — encamp by: — Narran swamp. — A bridge
required. — During the delay of drays take a ride forward.
— Rich pastures on the Narran. — New plants. —
Arrival of drays. — Bridge laid down for their passage.
— The party fords the Narran. — Advances but slowly.
— Low hills examined. — Good grassy country. —
Food of the natives. — Rising ground west of the river.
— Ride up. — Abodes and food of natives. — Rich
grass. — Parley with a native. — Gravelly ridges.
— Two natives conduct us to the river. — Approach the
assembled natives. — Interview with the tribes. —
Cordial reception. — Cross the Balonne. — Reach the
Culgòa. — Cross that river. — Route beyond. — The
Upper Balonne. — Explore its course. — Numerals cut on
trees. — A native scamp. — Fine country. —
Splendid reaches of the river (Plate 3. page 119.) — Lagoons
near it. — Lake Parachute. — Seek a position —
for a depôt camp. — Ride to the north-west. — Character
of the country. — Search for water. Uncommon birds. —
Return to the camp. — New Acacia
Advance with a light party. — Fine river
scenery. — Junction of rivers. — Trace one up, then
cross to the other. — Mr. Kennedy instructed to explore it.
— Fine country for grazing. — Turanimga lagoon. —
Trace up a small tributary. — Mountains discovered. —
Camp visited by three natives. — "Cogoon" the name of
tributary. — Charms of the Australian climate. — Mount
Minute. — Extreme cold. — Traces of high floods in the
Cnogoa. — -Mount Inviting. — Mount Abundance. —
Ascend that mountain. — Fitzroy Downs. — The Bottle
Tree, or DELABECHEA. — Frosty Creek. — Travel due north
over open downs. — Advantages of mountains. — Ascend
one. — Mount Bingo. — Thenod Tagando tribe. — The
party advances to the Amby — followed by the tribe. —
How we got rid of them. — Enter the country through the pass.
— Find one pond. — A large river discovered. —
Position taken up on its banks. — There await Mr. Kennedy's
arrival. — Explore to the north- west. — Ascend a hill
and tree to take angles from. — Interior country visited.
— View of the western interior. — Its character.
— Determine to trace the river upwards. — Ascend Mount
Kennedy. — Extensive prospect. — Native visit during my
absence. — Arrival of Mr. Kennedy's party. — The
Tagando tribe again. — Their visit to Mr. Kennedy. —
Prepare to advance again with a light party. — Instructions
left with Mr. Kennedy
My departure. — A team of bullocks sent
back for. — Good grassy country. — Ride north-west
during rain. — Hostile natives menace our camp. — The
party crosses Possession Creek. — A small river found.
— Another ride to the north-west. — Banks of the little
river. — Mount Owen seen. — Travel towards it. —
Flank movement to the Maranòa for water. — None found in its
bed. — View from Mount Owen. — Names of localities on
the map. — Scarcity of water impedes our progress. —
Water found in rocky gullies. — Excursion northward. —
Mount Aquarius. — View from northern summit of Mount Owen.
— Progress through a broken country. — Night without
water. — Another route explored amongst the gullies. —
Plants found near Mount Owen. — Route for the advance of the
carts. — View of mountains — from Mount P. P. King.
— View from western extremity of Table Land of Hope. —
Mount Faraday. — Strange Hakea. — A running stream
discovered. — Return towards the camp. — The party with
the carts advances. — (Pyramids, Plate IV., page 222.)
— Course of the new found river. — New plants. —
A large lake receives the river. — (Plate V., John Martin's
Range, page 225.) — The outlet dry. — Enter a scrub.
— Return to the Salvator. — Discovery of the Claude.
— Rich soil on the downs. — The party moves to the
Claude. — Cross that river. Fossil wood. — Again shut
up in a rocky country. — Slow progress in a gully. —
Balmy Creek. — New plants. — Emerge from the ravines.
— Tower Almond. — (Pl. 6. page 237.) — View from
Mount Kilsyth. — View from Mount Mudge. — Two natives
met. — Remarkable tree
Head of another river. — Water again
scarce. — Abundance found. — Climate and country
— under the Tropic Line. — Plants. — Peculiar
character of the water-course. — One cause of open spaces in
the woods. — New plants. — Causes of the outspread of
channel. — Plains of wild indigo. — Large river channel
from the south. — Cross. — Novelties beyond. —
The river much increased. — Long journey through scrub.
— New plants. — Journey along the river bank. —
Character of this river. — Distant prospect. — No
water. — Fatiguing journey through scrubs. Reach the river by
moonlight. — Large lagoons. — New tributary —
from the S. W. — Excursion to the N. W. — Night without
water. — Interview with natives. — Camp visited by
natives during my absence. — An affair at the camp. —
The party crosses the river. — Conclusions. — The party
returns. — Tilled ground of the natives. — The shepherd
astray. — Singular phenomenon. — Extraordinary
vegetable production. — Heavy rain comes on. —
Probability of finding a river. — Singular meteor. —
Intertropical temperature. — Effects of the rain. —
Recross the Tropic. — Regain the higher land. —
Remarkable tree. — (Hakea?) — Dip of the strata.
— Character of the Belyando. — How to explore a river
in brigalow. — A more direct way homewards. —
Successful passage with carts and drays. — Open downs.
— Fossil wood. — Recross the Claude. — Mantuan
downs. — Natives of the Salvator. — Position taken up
for a depôt camp. — Interesting plants. — (View on the
Salvator, Pl. 8.)
Preparations and departure. — Mount Pluto.
— Route amongst the three volcanic hills. — Interview
with a female native. — Cross a range beyond. — The
Nive and the Nivelle. — Burning of grass by the natives.
— Water found, after a night of thirst. — Pastures
green, and quiet waters at sunset. — Morning view from a
rock. — A new river followed down-over extensive open downs.
— Brigalow scrubs away from the river. — River much
increased. — Security from natives — Thoughts in these
solitudes. — The downs and the river. — An emu shot
there. — A river joins from the east. — Structure of
native's huts. — Two separate channels unite. — The
river well filled. — Packhorse unserviceable. — Rare
pigeon — numerous. — A wild tribe — surprised at
a lagoon. — Recross the river — and return homewards.
— The savage compared — with the civilized. —
Hills in the S. W. — Short cut along the left bank of the
river. — Name it the Victoria. — Privations in
exploring. — Return to the Nive and Nivelle. — Gallant
charge by a snake. — Sources of the Salvator. — View
from Mount Pluto. — Arrival at the camp of the pyramids.
— Rare and new plants collected there. — (View of
Lindley's Range, Pl. 9.)
Fossils and plants. — A new genus. —
LINSCHOTENIA DISCOLOR. — Ascend Mount Faraday. — Valley
of the Warregò. — Meet an old native. — Return to the
camp over the gullies. — Encamp by the Maranòa. — The
river found to be near our former track — with water in
abundance. — Loss of a horse. — Cattle tracks. —
Arrival at the camp of Mr. Kennedy. — Visits of the natives
— during our absence. — (Pl. 7. ABORIGINAL DANCE, page
358). — Plants gathered at the depôt camp. — New
plants. — Fossils at Mount Sowerby. — Ascent of Mount
Kennedy. — The party leaves the depôt camp following the
course of the Maranòa. — Discovery of a fine open country.
— Numbered trees at camps. — The country on the
Maranòa. — Singular habits of a fish. — Name of river
obtained from good authority. — (Pl. 10. VIEW ON THE MARANÒA,
page 372). — The Acacia varians. — Water scarce again.
— Some at length discovered by a dog. — Country between
the two routes. — Plants. — Arrive at the Balonne.
— Return to St. George's Bridge
Despatches sent forward. — Acquisitions
during the delay. — Mr. Kennedy's return and report. —
The party crosses the Balonne. — Arrives at the Mooni.
— A white woman. — Cattle stations. — Heavy rain.
— The country impassable. — Camp removed to a hill.
— Dam thrown up. — The waters subside. — The
party proceeds. — Arrival at the Barwan. — A flood.
— (Pl. 12. LAST USE OF THE BOATS, page 395). — Cross
the Màal, also in boats. — Country between the rivers.
— Mount Riddell recognised. — The Gwydir crossed.
— Termination of the journey. — A stockman. —
Night on the open plain. — The Nammoy. — First news
Instructions to Mr. Kennedy for the survey of the
river Victoria. — Of the Aborigines. — Simple
conditions of human existence. — Grass, fire, kangaroos, and
men. — Case of the aboriginal natives. — My native
guides. — Experiment worth trying. — Of the Convicts.
— Character of the men of the party. — Of convicts
generally. — Of the Colony of New South Wales, —
capabilities of soil and climate. — Progress of colonization,
— Division and appropriation of the territory. —
Capricornia and Austral-india
