following which also in a south-west direction he stated that he had twice reached the sea-shore. He then described the tribes inhabiting the banks of the river, and gave the names of their chiefs, adding that he had first crossed vast plains called Balyran, and, on approaching the sea, had seen a burning mountain named Courada. As he also described, with great apparent accuracy, the courses of the known streams of the northern interior, which united, as he stated, the Nammoy, a river first mentioned by him, his story had, on the whole, enough of consistency in it to gain attention. Indeed, the readiness with which the sanguine minds of explorers naturally receive anything like information, the story of the escaped convert was even considered trustworthy, and Major Mitchell received orders to proceed in search of the great river Kirdur.
He started from Sydney on the 24th of November, 1831, having a distance of three hundred miles northward to travel before he quitted the precincts of civilized life. The party consisted of nine men, chosen from among the convicts, besides Mr. White, the second in command, and Mr. Finch, who had volunteered his services, and was ordered to follow with additional stores. The horses, oxen, and provision carts divided the cares of the men. On the 5th of December the party ascended the Liverpool range, which divides the colony from the unexplored country beyond. A wide expanse of open, level country extended in a northerly direction as far as human vision could reach, and, being clear of trees, presented a remarkable contrast to the settled districts of the colony. The abundant herbage of these plains indicated a rich soil, and herds of cattle
