It would be presumptuous to hazard any opinion as to the nature of the interior to the westward of that remarkable river.  Its course is involved in equal mystery, and it is a matter of equal doubt whether it makes its way to the south coast, or ultimately exhausts itself in feeding a succession of swamps, or falls into a large reservoir in the centre of the island.

Return to mount Harris.

We reached Mount Harris on the 7th of the month, and moving leisurely up the banks of the Macquarie, gained Mr. Palmer’s first station on the 14th, and Wellington Valley on the 21st, having been absent from that settlement four months and two weeks.  The waters of the Macquarie had diminished so much, that its bed was dry for more than half a mile at a stretch, nor did we observe the least appearance of a current in it, until after we had ascended the ranges.  The lower tribes were actually starving, and brought their children to us to implore something to eat.  The men attempted to surprise the camp, but I believe they were urged from absolute necessity to procure subsistence for themselves, and that they intended robbery rather than personal violence.

Deplorable state of the country.

We left the interior in a still more deplorable state than that in which we found it; but it is more than probable that under other circumstances, we should have found it impossible to traverse its distant plains, as it is certain that unless rain fell in less than three weeks, all communication with the Darling would have been cut off: 

CHAPTER V.

General remarks—­Result of the expedition—­Previous anticipations—­ Mr. Oxley’s remarks—­Character of the Rivers flowing westerly—­ Mr. Cunningham’s remarks—­Fall of the Macquarie—­Mr. Oxley’s erroneous conclusions respecting the character of the interior, naturally inferred from the state in which he found the country—­The marsh of the Macquarie merely a marsh of the ordinary character—­Captain King’s observations—­ Course of the Darling—­Character of the low interior plain—­The convict Barber’s report of rivers traversing the interior—­Surveyor-General Mitchell’s Report of his recent expedition.

Result of the expedition.

Whether the discoveries that have been made during this expedition, will ultimately prove of advantage to the colony of New South Wales, is a question that time alone can answer.  We have in the meanwhile to regret that no beneficial consequences will immediately follow them.  The further knowledge that has been gained of the interior is but as a gleam of sunshine over an extensive landscape.  A stronger light has fallen upon the nearer ground, but the distant horizon is still enveloped in clouds.  The veil has only as it were been withdrawn from the marshes of the Macquarie to be spread over the channel of