90
country rocky and barren. Here they obferved a tree which they
had not before noticed, about the fize of an apple-tree ; the leaves o f
■ which were of a lighter blue than the powder blue ufed in wafhing,
and the bark refembling that o f the mahogany tree. They alfo
palfed the dung of an animal to appearance as large as that o f a horfe.
The party were now much exhaufted, having had nothing: to
eat for two days, except one rat, about-the fize of'a kitten. YVil-
fon was able to go forward ; but his companions were very unwell,
and began to wilh themfelves back.
On the 30th, they continued for 16 miles in the fame direction
o f W. S. W. In the courfe o f the day they fell in with the head
o f a river, very nearly as large as the Hawkelbury, appearing to
run from S. E. to N. W. Its banks were fo rocky and fteep that
they would have found infinite difficulty in defending them; «4
which they were ftrongly invited by the appearance o f a level open
country on the other fide ; and Wilfon propofed making a canoe to-
crofs over with; but both the others were fo faint and tired, having
had nothing to eat, in addition to the rat, but two fmall birds
each, that they were afraid to venture. Their Ihoes being worn
out, and their feet cut and bruifed by walking fo long, they propofed
returning.
This being agreed to, on the i l l o f this month they fleered back
in a direftion S. E. by E. in which having walked about nine
miles, they fell in with many fpacious meadows thinly chequered
with trees, extending for at lead fome hundred acres. The hills
which they met with were as flightly covered with timber; and
what there was, was light. The ground was o f a good quality,
except on the tops o f the hills, where it was flony. Here, for want
o f food, they were much exhaufted, and obferved many birds
which they had not before feen, but could not approach near enough
to ffioot.
On the 2d, their courfe was E. N. E . through a delightful country,
full o f capacious meadows, extending for fome thoufands o f acres,"
| with
with only a Angle tree here and there. Some o f thefe meadows
were watered by ponds o f great length, but they did not perceive
any wild fowl on them. From thence, to the S. W. the country
looked well. In the latter part of the day, having palfed the
firft ridge o f mountains, they fell in with a vaft number of kan-
gooroosj one o f which they had the good fortune to kill, and were
much refreffied by it.
On the morning of the 3d, they thought they heard the report
o f two guns in the S. E. which they anfwered ; but they were not
returned. They were now in that part o f the country which Wilfon
was acquainted with ; but it was an unfruitful fpot, and badly
calculated for travellers in their fituation, producing nothing but a
few roots and grub worms. They mull even here have periffied,
had it not been for the great exertions made by Wilfon, who kept
up their fpirits by affurances o f being near Profped H ill; which
place, after much toil and difficulty, they at length reached, when
defpairing o f living to fee it.
This is the fum o f the information given by thefe people. With
refped to the direction in which they travelled, that might not be
very corred, nor can much reliance be placed on their judgment
o f the diftances which they went in each day. Of the face of the
country their account may be more juft. Of its inability to
fupport the traveller, their appearance was a moft convincing argument
: and this narrative o f their journey has been detailed fo
much at length, not only becaufe thefe people had penetrated farther
than any European had ever been before ; but to Ihew the labour,
danger, and difficulties, which attended the exploring the interior
o f this extenfive country.
On arranging their courfes and diftances on paper, they appeared
to have travelled in a diredion S. W.'three-fourths W. about
140 miles from Parramatta. They brought in with them one of
the birds which they had named pheafants, but which on examination
appeared to be a variety o f the Bird of Paradife.
n 2 The