to follow it down, in hopes that he might ultimately be enabled to make his escape from the colony.  He accordingly started from Liverpool Plains, and kept on a river called the Gnamoi, for some time, which took him N.W.  After a few days’ journey, he left this river, traversed the country northwards, and crossed some lofty ranges.  Descending to the N.E. he came to another large river, the Keindur, which again took him N.W.  He travelled 400 miles down it, when he observed a large stream joining it upon its left bank, which he supposed to be the Gnamoi.  The river he was upon was broad and navigable.  It flowed through a level country with a dead current and muddy water, and spread into frequent lakes.  He found that it ultimately discharged itself into the sea, but was uncertain at what distance from its sources.  He was positive he never travelled to the southward of west. He ascended a hill near the sea, and observed an island in the distance, from which, the natives informed him, a race of light-coloured men came in large canoes for a scented wood; but having failed in the immediate object of his journey, he was eventually obliged to return.

Major Mitchell’s report.

The following official report of Major Mitchell will sufficiently point out the incorrectness of the preceding statement.  It is most probable that Barber merely told that which he had heard from the natives, and that having a more than ordinary share of cunning, he made up a story upon their vague and uncertain accounts, in hopes that it would benefit him, as in truth it did.

* * * * *

Bullabalakit, on the River Nammoy, in lat. 30 degrees 38 minutes 21 seconds S., long. 149 degrees 30 minutes 20 seconds E. 23d December, 1831.

Sir,

I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the progress I have made in exploring the course of the interior waters to the northward of the Colony, with reference to the letter which I had the honour to address to Col.  Lindesay, on this subject, on the 19th ult.

On crossing Liverpool Range my object was to proceed northward, so as to avoid the plains and head the streams which water them, and avoiding also the mountain ranges on the east.

I arrived accordingly, by a tolerably straight and level line, at Walamoul, on Peel’s River; this place (a cattle station of Mr. Brown) being nearly due north from the common pass across Liverpool Range, and about a mile-and-a-half above the spot where Mr. Oxley crossed this river.

Peel’s river.

I found the general course of the Peel below Walamoul to be nearly west; and after tracing this river downwards twenty-two miles (in direct distance), I crossed it at an excellent ford, named Wallamburra.  I then traversed the extensive plain of Mulluba; and leaving that of Coonil on the right, extending far to the north-east, we passed through a favourable interval of what I considered Hardwicke’s Range, the general direction of this range being two points west of north.