Stimulated, however, by a desire of acquiring a further knowledge of the country, on the 26th instant, accompanied by Mr.Arndell, assistant surgeon of the settlement, Mr.Lowes, surgeon's mate of the 'Sirius', two marines, and a convict, I left the redoubt at day-break, pointing our march to a hill, distant five miles, in a westerly or inland direction, which commands a view of the great chain of mountains, called Carmarthen hills, extending from north to south farther than the eye can reach.

Here we paused, surveying "the wild abyss; pondering our voyage." Before us lay the trackless immeasurable desert, in awful silence.

At length, after consultation, we determined to steer west and by north, by compass, the make of the land in that quarter indicating the existence of a river.

We continued to march all day through a country untrodden before by an European foot.

Save that a melancholy crow now and then flew croaking over head, or a kangaroo was seen to bound at a distance, the picture of solitude was complete and undisturbed.