Range bore south, the north extreme N. 20.  E, then trends more easterly.  Westerly of the hill on which I stood and the range, the country is a perfect level, without the slightest apparent rise or inequality; what I could see of the country to the south-east, appeared to be very broken and rugged, detached rocks projecting like pillars and pyramids, in various parts of the ranges; there was a number of native fires about the base of the range, and we saw plenty of kangaroos, for the first time since quitting Mount Harris:  I also this day shot a new species of pigeon.  The distance travelled, I suppose sixteen or seventeen miles.

July 14.—­Set forward on my return to the tents in a south-west direction, and passed, for four or five miles, through a good open forest country, abounding with kangaroos:  after passing that, the country altered for the worse, becoming low and wet:  at twelve miles, we crossed a chain of ponds leading to the north.

Last evening we suspected that we had been watched by the natives.  I saw some of them, and our resting-place was surrounded by their smokes; they however did not attempt to molest us.  Stopped in an acacia pendula brush, having travelled about twenty miles.

July 15.—­It came on to rain in the night, and continued all this day.  Our journey was dreadfully bad and marshy; yet on the whole the country had a better aspect, not being so much overrun with the plant called atriplex as usual.  On my track out, plains, brushes, indeed almost the entire surface was covered with it, until within a few miles of Arbuthnot’s Range.  After going about three miles, we again fell in with and forded the river crossed on the 11th instant:  it was here not quite so wide as when first seen, but deeper.  Halted, having gone about ten miles.

July 16.—­I altered my course from south-west to west, 80 degrees south, and had an extremely tedious and unpleasant day’s journey, through a wet and dreary country; continued rain.  Travelled fifteen miles.

July 18.—­Arrived at the hut about one o’clock, p.m., having travelled yesterday and to-day about thirty-seven miles.

(Signed) G. W. Evans.

* * * * *

No.  V.

GOVERNMENT, AND GENERAL ORDERS.

Government House, Parramatta,
December 5, 1818.

Civil department.

The sanguine hope which his excellency the governor was induced to entertain, that, by pursuing the course of the Macquarie River, which had been discovered running in a north-west direction by John Oxley, Esq., on his return last year from tracing the course of the Lachlan to the south-west, would have amply compensated for the disappointment sustained on that occasion; and his excellency having in consequence accepted the farther services of Mr. Oxley, on a second expedition; the party consisting of John Oxley, Esq., surveyor