Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2: With Descriptions of the Recently Explored Region of Australia Felix, and of the Present Colony of New South WalesMitchell, T. L. (Thomas Livingstone)
History
Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2: With Descriptions of the Recently Explored Region of Australia Felix, and of the Present Colony of New South Wales
Mitchell, T. L. (Thomas Livingstone)
Australia -- Discovery and exploration; Mitchell, T. L. (Thomas Livingstone), 1792-1855
We had no alternative but to cross this bad ground and, after finding out
by careful examination the narrowest part, we prepared to puts to the
nearest firm ground beyond, an undertaking infinitely more difficult and
laborious to us than the passage of the broadest river. One of the carts
was with much labour taken across and, being anxious to know the actual
situation of the river, I rode southward into the wood taking with me the
chain or measuring men, and leaving the rest of the people at work in the
mud. I found much of the ground equally soft as I proceeded, but all
consisted of excellent open forest land covered with good grass. I found
there a woolly Correa, profusely covered with pink bell-shaped blossoms
and small round rufous leaves;* and the beautiful Kennedya prostrata was
climbing among the bushes and rendering them brilliant with its rich
crimson flowers.
(*Footnote. C. rotundifolia, Lindley manuscripts; ramulis rufis
villosissimis, foliis subrotundis brevi-petiolatis supra scabris subtus
villosis saepius emarginatis, corollis campanulatis brevibus
subtetrapetalis, calyce truncato rufo villosissimo.)
REACH A FINE POINT ON THE RIVER.
At length I approached a ravine on the left which I at first took for
that of the river; but I soon perceived through the trees on my right a
still greater opening, and there I at last found the valley of the
Glenelg. In the ravine to the left ran another small stream rather larger
than that crossed yesterday. We reached the bank of this at 2 3/4 miles
from the place where we left the party and at about half a mile above its
junction with the main stream. The high ground between the two streams
terminated in a round grassy promontory overlooking one of the finest
flats imaginable. I determined to endeavour once more to explore the
river's course with the boats; provided we should succeed in transporting
them over the mud to this spot; and I returned with this intention to the
muddy scene where I had left the men. It was quite dark before I found it
again and then they had succeeded in getting through only the three light
carts. I did not despair of accomplishing the passage, at least in the
course of time; but I was indeed impatient for daylight that I might
carefully examine with that view all parts of the country between our
camp and the place where I intended to launch the boats into the Glenelg
again.
THE CARTS EXTRICATED BY PROCEEDING WITH GREAT CAUTION.
August 16.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account