THREE EXPEDITIONS
INTO THE INTERIOR OF
EASTERN AUSTRALIA;
WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RECENTLY EXPLORED REGION OF
AUSTRALIA FELIX,
AND OF THE PRESENT COLONY OF
NEW SOUTH WALES:
BY MAJOR T.L. MITCHELL, F.G.S. & M.R.G.S.
SURVEYOR-GENERAL.
SECOND EDITION, CAREFULLY REVISED.
...
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME 1.
LONDON:
T. & W. BOONE, NEW BOND STREET.
...
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
The following Journals were written at the close of many a laborious day,
when the energies both of mind and body were almost exhausted by
long-continued toil. The author trusts that this circumstance will
account for, and palliate, some of the defects which may be discovered in
his volumes. Conscious as he is of the deficiencies of his work, he
nevertheless hopes that the reader will not pronounce it to be wholly
devoid of interest. Though Australia calls up no historical
recollections, no classical associations of ideas, it has other, and not
less valid titles to our attention. It is a new and vast country, over
the largest portion of which a veil of mystery still hangs; many of its
productions vary in a singular manner, from those in other parts of the
world; within the memory of man one British colony has risen there, in
spite of adverse circumstances, to a high degree of prosperity; others
have been founded, which promise to be equally successful; and it seems
impossible to doubt that, at no distant period, the whole territory will
be inhabited by a powerful people, speaking the English language,
diffusing around them English civilisation and arts, and exercising a
predominant influence over eastern Asia, and the numerous and extensive
islands in that quarter of the globe.
In his expeditions into the interior of Australia, the author was led
cheerfully on, by an eager curiosity to examine a country which is yet in
the same state as when it was formed by its Maker. With respect to the
narrative of those expeditions, the sole merit which he claims is that of
having faithfully described what he attentively observed; neither his
pencil nor his pen has been allowed to pass the bounds of truth. There is
however one branch of his subject on which justice and gratitude render
it necessary for him to say something more. In those departments of
natural history, to which he owns himself a stranger, he has received
assistance of the utmost value from several distinguished persons. To the
few plants which, after his unfortunate fellow traveller had sacrificed
his life to the pursuit, the writer was able to collect, a permanent
place in the botanic system has been given by Dr. Lindley. Much
importance has been added to the work, by the researches and discoveries
which Professor Owen has made, with regard to the fossil remains; and the
few particulars gleaned relative to existing animals have enabled Mr.
Ogilby to introduce several interesting novelties to the attention of
zoologists. To these gentlemen, and also to Professor Faraday, Mr.
MacLeay, and other scientific friends, the warmest acknowledgments of the
writer are due, for whatever naturalists may deem worthy of praise in
these pages.
The aid thus liberally afforded, acting in unison with a feeling that, as
the surveys were undertaken by order of Government, it is his duty to lay
the result of them early before the public, has encouraged the author to
persevere steadily in bringing out these volumes; though he must candidly
own that, but for these considerations, he would rather have delayed the
performance of this task till he had completed another,* of a national
character, which, connected as it is with the days of his early service
in the cause of his country, may naturally be supposed to have stronger
and more attractive claims upon him.
August 18, 1838.
(*Footnote. Plans of the Fields of Battle in the Peninsula.)
...
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD GLENELG, HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES, ETC. ETC. ETC.
THIS WORK IS WITH PERMISSION DEDICATED BY HIS LORDSHIP'S VERY OBEDIENT
AND MOST HUMBLE SERVANT,
T.L. MITCHELL.
...
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1.
JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF THE KINDUR, IN 1831 AND 1832.
CHAPTER 1.1.
A Bushranger's story.
My plan of exploration.
Preparations.
Departure from Sydney.
A garden.
Country between Sydney and the Hawkesbury.
Beyond the Hawkesbury.
Summit of Warrawolong.
Natives of Brisbane Water.
The Wollombi.
Valley of the Hunter.
Fossils of the Hunter.
Men employed on the expedition.
Equipment.
Burning grass.
Aborigines and Colonists.
Cambo, a wild native.
A Colonist of the right sort.
Escape of the Bushranger, The Barber.
Burning Hill of Wingen.
Approach Liverpool Range.
Cross it.
A sick tribe.
Interior waters.
Liverpool Plains.
Proposed route.
Horses astray.
A Squatter.
Native guide and his gin.
Modes of drinking au naturel.
Woods on fire.
Cross the Turi Range.
Arrive on the River Peel.
Fishes.
Another native guide.
Explore the Peel.