Having reason to believe from a previous observation of a part of this Island to the westward of the River Tamar, that a passage existed from the Macquarie River to the north western Sea Coast, and that such a Passage was to be found by proceeding in the first instance along certain plains which I had seen at a distance extending to the westward for many Miles, between two ranges of high mountains and at the distance of about 30 Miles South of the Sea Coast of Bass's Straits: I proceeded for the purpose of exploring this passage to the Farm of Mr. Leith a Settler on the western or Quamby's River. Leaving Mr. Leiths on the 27th Novr. I followed the course of the River to the westward and on the 28th I entered by a narrow pass, where a branch of the River falls over high rocks, the unexplored country, On that day and the following we passed over plains of several miles in width composed partly of good dry Soil fit either for pasture or tillage, partly of Swampy pasture ground and lastly of boggy unproductive soil. Several Streams of excellent water forming part of Quamby's & the second western River intersected these plains numerous fires lighted by the natives were seen in every direction and though the nearest Hills were obscured by the smoke of the Grass to which they had set fire, we saw only one near. On the afternoon of the second day after making the plains, we entered an extensive forest the timber of which was of the various kinds usually found in the Island but chiefly of stringy Bark. Several rapid Streams ran through this forest and fell into the second western River. Occasional Strata of Rock rose above the Surface of the Ground and one of the Streams was for some distance confined in a very narrow and deep channel between rock of the same description. It was on the evening of the same day while halting for the night on the bank of this Stream, that I am confident I felt a slight Shock of an Earthquake which was followed at a considerable interval by two or three Crashes proceeding from the fall of trees on the side of the high mountains which had been overturned by the shock. —  On the 30th we crossed this Stream and were evidently entering a more wild Country. It was here for the first time we saw some circular pits or ponds in the Ground which we afterwards found to be numerous under the Mountains. At the distance of two miles from the Stream we were met by a scrubby bare hill of considerable height and we proceeded W.N.W. along the base of it, passing over numerous small runs of water, which fell down its sides— About 12 O'clock we descended by a steep bank, and entered a small plain covered with small high ferns at the extremity of which we found the second western River flowing rapidly over a rocky bottom at the base of the lower tier of the western mountains. At this place the body of water in the river appeared to be equal to that of the South Esk and its course was from West to East. Proceeding up the River in the Evening we found it made a sharp turn to the South and was hemmed in by two very high and Scrubby hills, the sides of which towards the River were perpendicular Rocks and it was impossible any longer to follow its course upwards. On the first of December I found it necessary to halt, and employed myself in collecting specimens of the Rocks, while two of the Soldiers were directed to ascend the lower western tier and endeavour to descry an opening to the N.W. After being absent for the greater part of the day they returned with their clothes much torn and reported that they could not ascend the highest part of the mountain so as to overlook the north-western part of the Island, but that they could see to the southwest as far as the Eye could reach and that it appeared a very scrubby mountainous

middle deep, and ascended the hill which bounded it to the west. After proceeding about 4 miles we came to the plain described by the men which was only a few acres of rushes; here we observed that the River divided into two parts, and the one which lay nearest to the direction which we wished to pursue again ran between perpendicular Rocks. To the N.W. the country presented an impenetrable high scrub which we attempted to pass through but were obliged to return not having made many yards progress after two hours exertion. We made our former halting place in the afternoon very much fatigued, the hills in this direction being covered with a very prickly Shrub, bound together by a tough though small Creeper which renders the ascent very laborious. For the three following days I searched in every direction for a pass between the two ranges of Mountains laid down in the accompanying Sketch. Penetrating through the first tier of scrubby hills which connect them we came on a small plain of 10 or 15 acres, filled with remarkable natural ponds in depth probably 40 or 50 feet and as many in diameter, two or three of these were dry, and in one the water appeared to have sunk into the Earth by a considerable opening at the bottom of it. I should conceive that in the rainy Season the whole of this plain is under water. Before making this plain my Compass which was in the pocket of my Waistcoat and fastened to it by a String had been torn out by the scrub. The country immediately to the westward of the plain, is not hilly but it is covered with various sorts of high Scrub and fallen Timber and though we penetrated a short distance into it we could not find any traces of the natives having been in that direction. At this time we had a good deal of heavy rain, and the sun was frequently obscured.

This together with the high scrub and the loss of my Compass made it impossible to proceed in that direction. On the 6th December when about to return for the purpose of exploring a passage to the Lake River, from the plains we had passed over I perceived an opening in the lower tier of the mountains which owing to the Country being so thickly wooded we had not previously been able to discern. Proceeding by the side of a considerable Stream we crossed the River by a good Ford when we found traces of the natives and a plain of about 300 acres on the opposite side— The natives first ran up the side of a tier, and having ascended it by what appeared to be their path, while the Soldiers were cooking I endeavoured to get a view of the north-western country. In this I was disappointed as the Hill on that side was thickly wooded. I however could perceive to the West. North. West. some hills which appeared less wooded and thickly covered with Grass. To the South West I had a complete view of the Country which appeared very hilly and thickly wooded; I could not in the whole extent of it perceive any vestige of plains or a good Soil. A remarkable Mountain (in this shape [sketch])