The Hon.  The colonial Secretary,
“&c. &c. &c.”

Chapter VI.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Obstacles that attend travelling into the interior of Australia—­ Difficulty of carrying supplies—­Importance of steady intelligent subordinates—­Danger from the natives—­Number of men requisite,—­and of cattle and carriages—­Provisions—­Other arrangements—­Treatment of the natives—­Dimensions of the boat used in the second expedition.

Having now had considerable experience in the fitting out and management of expeditions in New South Wales, I cannot refrain from making some few observations on the subject.  And without presuming to lay dawn any fixed rules, I shall only refer to those by which I have best succeeded, in hopes that some of my remarks may prove of use to future travellers who may venture to penetrate into the trackless deserts over so small a portion of which I wandered.

Difficulties of exploring Australia.

The great difficulty of examining the interior of Australia, is that of carrying supplies; for increasing the number of individuals composing an expedition is of no avail, since an additional number of men must necessarily increase the consumption of food.  In order to meet this difficulty it has been proposed to establish depots upon which an expedition could fall back to recruit its supplies, and in ordinary cases this plan might answer; but I am decidedly of opinion that no party could long remain stationary in the distant interior without some fatal collision with the natives, which would be attended with the most deplorable consequences; and I do think, considering all things, that the experiment is too dangerous to be tried; for when I reached Mount Harris, on my first retreat from the Darling, I found the party who were awaiting me, with a supply of provisions, under very great alarm, in consequence of the hostile proceedings of the Mount Harris tribe.  The men had been obliged to put the camp into a state of defence.  The blacks had attempted to surprise them, and would, had I not returned, have combined in some general attack.  It appears to me that the most judicious plan would be to send a supply of provisions, with an expedition, to a distant point, under the charge of a minor party.  These provisions could replace those already expended, and the animals that carried them could be taken back.

Selection of subordinates.

The number of individuals of which the expedition down the banks of the Macquarie was composed, was fourteen:  that is to say, myself, Mr. Hume, two soldiers, one free man, and seven prisoners of the crown.  The latter behaved, on all occasions, as steadily as it was possible for men to do.  Yet the circumstance of the two soldiers being with me increased my confidence in the whole, for I was