y, but much
disposed to steal. Various tribes followed us on coming back, but never
with any show of hostility, although moving in tribes of a hundred or
more parallel to our marked line, or in our rear; it was necessary to
be ever on our guard, and to encamp in strong positions only, arranging
the drays for defence during the night: three men were always under
arms, and I have much pleasure in stating, that throughout the whole
excursion, and under circumstances of hardship and privation, the
conduct of the men was very good. I took an armed party to the scene of
pillage, and buried the bodies of the two men, who appeared to have
been treacherously murdered while asleep by the blacks during the
absence of Mr. Finch: no natives were to be found when I visited the
spot, although it appeared from columns of smoke on hills which
overlooked if, that they were watching our movements.

The party has now arrived within a day's journey of Brown's station,
and I have instructed Assistant-Surveyor White (from whom I have
received great assistance during the whole journey) to conduct it
homewards, being desirous to proceed without delay to Sydney, and to
receive the instructions of His Excellency the Governor.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
T. L. MITCHELL,
SURVEYOR-GENERAL.

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 o