tions to the North of New-Year's range, with which it is
doubtful whether they are connected.

Crystallized Sulphate of Lime.--Found imbedded in the alluvial soil
forming the banks of the Darling river. Occurring in a regular vein.
Soft, yielding to the nail; not acted on by acids.--See Plate.

Breccia.--Pale ochre colour, silicious cement, extremely hard.
Cellular, and sharp edges to the fractured pebbles. Has apparently
undergone fusion. Occurs in the bed of the Darling in one place only.

Sandstone Varieties.--Colour dull red and muddy white; appears like
burnt bricks; light, easily frangible; adheres to the tongue; occurs in
large masses in the bed of the Darling; probably in connection with the
rock-salt of the neighbourhood, which, from the number of brine springs
discovered feeding the river, must necessarily exist.

Variety of the same description of rock.

Jasper and Quartz.--Showing itself above the surface of a plain, from
which D'Urban's group bore S. 40 E. distant 33 miles.

It is a remarkable fact, that not a pebble or a stone was picked up
during the progress of the expedition, on any one of the plains; and
that after it again left Mount Harris for the Castlereagh, the only
rock-formation discovered was a small Freestone tract near the Darling
river. There was not a pebble of any kind either in the bed of the
Castlereagh, or in the creeks falling into it.

APPENDIX No. V.

OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.

* * * * *

GOVERNMENT ORDER

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 23RD JANUARY, 1829.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to order, that the
following communication, dated the 25th of December last, from Captain
Sturt, of the 39th Regiment, who is employed in an exploring expedition
into the interior of the country, be published for general information.

By his Excellency's Command,
ALEXANDER M'LEAY.

* * * * *

WESTERN MARSHES, 25TH DECEMBER, 1828.

SIR,--I do myself the honor to forward, for the Governor's perusal, a
copy of my journal up to the date of my arrival at Mount Harris. I
should not have directed the messenger to return so soon, had I not
subsequently advanced to Mount Foster, and surveyed the country from
that eminence. I could distinctly see Arbuthnot's Range to the
eastward. From that point the horizon appeared to me unbroken, but the
country to the northward and westward seemed to favour an attempt to
penetrate into it. I did not observ