The boat-carriage was constructed according to a model made by my friend Mr. Dunlop, King’s Astronomer at Parramatta, and the plan of it will be easily understood by the accompanying figure.  One boat was made to fit within the other, the thwarts of the larger, or outer one, being taken out.  The double boat thus formed was suspended on belts of canvas which supported it buoyant and clear of the framework.  Those parts of the canvas of the carriage most liable to friction were guarded with sheepskin and greased hide.  The smaller boat was suspended within the larger, also on canvas, so as to swing clear of the outer boat’s sides; and the whole was covered by a tarpaulin thrown over a ridge pole.

NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTY.

Besides Mr. Richard Cunningham, who was attached to the expedition as botanist, Mr. Larmer, a very young assistant surveyor, was appointed to accompany me; the services of the other officers of the department being required for duties within the settled districts.

The following men composed the party: 

ALEXANDER BURNETT:  Overseer. 
ROBERT WHITING:  Carpenter. 
WILLIAM WOODS, JOHN PALMER, THOMAS JONES:  Sailors. 
JOHN SOUTER:  Medical Attendant. 
ROBERT MUIRHEAD, Charles Hammond, John Baldwin, Joseph Herbert, William
Thomas, Thomas Murray, Edward Gayton, Charles King:  Bullock-drivers. 
William Baldock:  Groom. 
JOSEPH JONES:  Shepherd. 
John Johnston:  Blacksmith. 
John Bulger:  Shoemaker. 
ANTHONY BROWN:  Servant to Major Mitchell. 
George Squires:  Servant to Mr. Cunningham. 
Thomas Reeves:  Servant to Mr. Larmer.

Nine of these men (distinguished by italics) had been under my command on my former expedition, and were consequently well acquainted with the service.  Their subsequent steady conduct also satisfied me as to their eligibility for the contemplated journey.

EXPEDITION LEAVES PARRAMATTA.

At noon on the 9th March, 1835 I had, at length, the satisfaction of seeing this party leave Parramatta with an equipment fit for the undertaking.  The boats appeared to swim very well in their carriage, which was followed by seven carts, and as many packhorses, affording the means of carrying provisions for five months.  Two mountain barometers were borne by two men, the only service required of them while travelling.  The whole party in motion towards the unknown interior, and prepared for sea or land, was to me a most gratifying spectacle.  The cares of preparation were at an end, and I could still count on three weeks of comparative leisure at Sydney, during which time I could arrange the business of my office.  The cattle station at Buree, where I intended to commence operations, was distant 170 miles from Sydney, and as it was necessary that the party should travel slowly in crossing the mountains with the boat-carriage, and equally indispensable that the cattle should rest some days after arriving at Buree; I calculated that the expedition could not be ready to advance from that point in less than three weeks from the time at which it left Parramatta.