We passed some fine meadow land near the river, and were obliged to keep wide of it in consequence of fissures in the ground.  Traversing a large and blasted plain, on which the sun’s rays fell with intense heat, and on which there was but little vegetation, we skirted the first great morass, and made the river immediately beyond it.  It is of very considerable extent, the channel of the river passing through it.  We are encompassed on every side by high reeds, which exist in the woods as well as in the plains.  Mr. Hume and myself rode forward yesterday through the second morass, and made the river on slightly elevated ground, at a distance of about five miles; the country beyond appeared to favour our object, and we, to-morrow, proceed with the party to the north-west.  The river seems to bend to the north-east; but in this level country it is impossible to speak with certainty, or to give any decided opinion of the nature of it, beyond the flats on which we are travelling.  The reeds to the north-east and northward extend over a circumference of fifty miles; but if Mr. Hume really saw mountains or rising ground in the former point, the apparent course of the Macquarie is at once accounted for.  The country, however, seems to dip to the north, though generally speaking it is level, and I am inclined to think that the state of the atmosphere caused a deception in this appearance.

I regret to add, that the effects of the sun on the plain over which we passed on the 23rd produced a return of inflammation in the eyes of the men, I have named in my journals, and caused the same in the eyes of several others of my party.  I halted, therefore, to expedite their recovery.  They are doing well now, and we can proceed in the cool of the morning without any fear of their receiving injury by it.  One of the men, who were to return to Wellington Valley, was attacked slightly with dysentery, but the medicines I gave him carried it off in the course of a day or two.  I have taken every precaution with regard to the health of the men, in preparing them for the country into which they are going; and I have to request that you will inform the governor that the conduct of the whole party merits my approbation, and that I have no fault to find.  The men from Sydney are not so sharp as those from Wellington Valley, but are equally well disposed.  The animals, both horses and bullocks, are in good order, and I find the two soldiers of infinite service to me.  The boat has received some damage from exposure to intense heat, but is otherwise uninjured.  We still retain the carriage and have every prospect of dragging it on with us.

His Excellency, having been good enough to order a fresh supply of provisions to Wellington Valley, I have to beg they may be forwarded to Mount Harris, and that the person in charge thereof be instructed to remain at that station for one month.  We shall, during the interval, have examined the country to the north-west; and, in case we are forced back, shall require a supply to enable us to proceed to the northward, in furtherance of the views I have already had the honor to submit for the Governor’s approval.