the second expedition.

EXPEDITION DOWN THE BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE RIVER in 1828 and 1829.

CHAPTER I.

State of the Colony in 1828-29--Objects of the Expedition--Departure
from Sydney--Wellington Valley--Progress down the Macquarie--Arrival at
Mount Harris--Stopped by the marshes--Encamp amidst reeds--Excursions
down the river--Its termination--Appearance of the marshes--Opthalmic
affection of the men--Mr. Hume's successful journey to the
northward--Journey across the plain--Second great
marsh--Perplexities--Situation of the exploring party--Consequent
resolutions.

The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those
fearful droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of New
South Wales is periodically subject. It continued during the two
following years with unabated severity. The surface of the earth became
so parched up that minor vegetation ceased upon it. Culinary herbs were
raised with difficulty, and crops failed even in the most favourable
situations. Settlers drove their flocks and herds to distant tracts for
pasture and water, neither remaining for them in the located districts.
The interior suffered equally with the coast, and men, at length, began
to despond under so alarming a visitation. It almost appeared as if the
Australian sky were never again to be traversed by a cloud.

OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.

But, however severe for the colony the seasons had proved, or were
likely to prove, it was borne in mind at this critical moment, that the
wet and swampy state of the interior had alone prevented Mr. Oxley from
penetrating further into it, in 1818. Each successive report from
Wellington Valley, the most distant settlement to the N. W., confirmed
the news of the unusually dry state of the lowlands, and of the
exhausted appearance of the streams falling into them. It was,
consequently, hoped that an expedition, pursuing the line of the
Macquarie, would have a greater chance of success than the late
Surveyor General had; and that the difficulties he had to contend
against would be found to be greatly diminished, if not altogether
removed. The immediate fitting out of an expedition was therefore
decided upon, for the express purpose of ascertaining the nature and
extent of that basin into which the Macquarie was supposed to fall, and
whether any connection existed between it and the streams falling
westerly. As I had early taken a great interest in the geogra