t. They crossed three considerable rivers, falling
westerly, which they named the Goulburn, the Hume, and the Ovens; and
found a beautiful and well-watered country in the vicinity of the coast.

In 1826, Mr. Allan Cunningham, Botanical Collector to his late Majesty,
traversed a considerable portion of the interior to the north of
Bathurst, and, with a laudable zeal, devoted his labours to the
acquisition of general information, as well as to his more immediate
professional pursuits. In 1827, this gentleman again bent his steps
towards the northward, and succeeded in gaining the 28th parallel of
latitude; and, on a subsequent occasion, having taken his departure
from Moreton Bay, he connected his former journey with that settlement,
and thus contributed largely to our knowledge of the mountain country
between it and the capital. Mr. Cunningham, who, independently of his
individual excursions, had not only circumnavigated the Australian
Continent with Capt. King, but had formed also one of the party with
Mr. Oxley, in the journeys before noticed, had adopted this gentleman's
opinion with regard to the swampy and inhospitable character of the
distant interior. Its depressed appearance from the high ground on
which Mr. Cunningham subsequently moved, tended to confirm this
opinion, which was moreover daily gaining strength from the reports of
the natives, who became more frequent in their intercourse with the
whites, and who reported that there were large waters to the westward,
on which the natives had canoes, and in which there were fish of great
size.

It became, therefore, a current opinion, that the western interior of
New Holland comprehended an extensive basin, of which the ocean of
reeds which had proved so formidable to Mr. Oxley, formed most probably
the outskirts; and it was generally thought that an expedition
proceeding into the interior, would encounter marshes of vast extent,
which would be extremely difficult to turn, and no less dangerous to
enter.

It remained to be proved, however, whether these conjectures were
founded in fact. The chief difficulty lay in the character of the
country, and in providing the necessary means to ensure success. Those
which were resorted to will be found in the succeeding chapter. Whether
they would have been found sufficient and applicable had the interior
been wholly under water, is doubtful; and my impression on this point
induced me to make more efficient arrangements on