Chapter XVI: Conclusion

On my arrival at Sydney I learnt that the life of the convict Clarke had been spared, and that my report of the course of the Peel and the Namoi coinciding, as notified in my first despatch, with his description of these rivers, had encouraged the Government to place more confidence in his story. It was now obvious however that the account of his travels beyond Tangulda was little else than pure invention. I examined him in the hulk at Sydney in the presence of the acting Governor, and was quite satisfied that he had never been beyond the Nundewar range. Nevertheless he persisted in his story of the river, and a party of mounted police commanded by Captain Forbes of the 39th regiment repaired to the Namoi, in search of a gang of bushrangers, but not without hopes of finding the Kindur.

That active and enterprising officer reached the Gwydir in latitude 29 degrees 27 minutes 37 seconds South, longitude 150 degrees 5 minutes East. Tracing upwards its course, or a branch of this river, he arrived near the western extremity of the Nundewar range, and ascended the hill named by him Mount Albuera. Being accompanied by a native of Bathurst, he ascertained that the aboriginal name of the singular-looking hill forming the western extremity of that range was Courada (the name of The Barber's burning mountain) and his plains of Ballyran were found to be those crossed by my party in returning from Snodgrass Lagoon.

This journey of discovery proved that any large river flowing to the north-west must be far to the northward of latitude 29 degrees. All the rivers south of that parallel, and which had been described by The Barber as falling into such a river as the Kindur, have been ascertained to belong wholly to the basin of the Darling.

The country we traversed was very eligible in many parts for the formation of grazing establishments, as a proof of which it may be mentioned that flocks of sheep soon covered the plains of Mulluba, and that the country around The Barber's stockyard has, ever since the return of the expedition, been occupied by the cattle of Sir John Jamieson. At a still greater distance from the settled districts much valuable land will be found around the base of the Nundewar range. The region beyond these mountains, or between them and the Gwydir, is beautiful; and in the vicinity, or within sight, of the high land, it is sufficiently well watered to become an important addition to the pastoral capabilities of New South Wales.

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METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL KEPT DURING THE EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH-WEST, AND COMMENCED ON CROSSING LIVERPOOL RANGE, DECEMBER 5, 1831.

COLUMN 1: DATE. COLUMN 2: WINDS, A.M. COLUMN 3: WINDS, P.M. COLUMN 4: CLOUDS, A.M. COLUMN 5: CLOUDS, P.M. COLUMN 6: THERMOMETER (IN THE SHADE), SUNRISE. COLUMN 7: THERMOMETER (IN THE SHADE), NOON. COLUMN 8: THERMOMETER (IN THE SHADE), 4 P.M. COLUMN 9: THERMOMETER (IN THE SHADE), SUNSET. COLUMN 10: REMARKS.

December: 5 : North-west : North-west : Clear : Clear : 70 : 96 : 94 : 86 : Hot wind. 6 : - : North-North-west : - : - : 64 : 95 : 98 : 90 : -. 7 : - : North-west : Cirrus : Nimbus : 84 : 92 : 96 : 84 : A.M., sultry, P.M., thunder and showers. 8 : Calm : South-South-East : Cirro-cumulus : Sky clear : 68 : 81 : 90 : 78 : - PM., sultry. 9 : - : North-east : Clear : Clear : 60 : 89 : 90 : 88 : Towards evening the wind unsettled. 10 : West-South-West : South : Nimbus : Rain : 70 : 68 : 66 : 64 : In the morning cloudy, rain in the afternoon. 11 : Light North-North-East : South-South-West : Cumulus : Clear : 63 : 79 : 78 : 75 : Fine during the day. 12 : South-West : Calm : Cirro-cumulus : - : 60 : 88 : 76 : 70 : -. 13 : North-North-East : South-South-West : Cumulostratus : Cirrus, Nimbi below : Clear : 68 : 85 : 78 : 66 : Thunder with light showers. 14 : Calm : South-West : Clear : Cirrus : 60 : 82 : 80 : 74 : Fine weather. 15 : North-North-East : - : Cumulostratus : Cloudy : - : 62 : 80 : 80 : 66 : Overcast and cloudy. 16 : South-South-West : - : Clear : Clear : 52 : 80 : 72 : 60 : The day clear and fine. 17 : South-West : Calm : - : - : 46 : 87 : 74 : 74 : -. 18 : North-West : North-West : - : - : 52 : 88 : 81 : 76 : -. 19 : West : South-West : - : Hazy : 46 : 84 : 80 : 70 : Strong winds from south-west. 20 : North-West : North-West : - : - : 46 : 92 : 84 : 74 : Hot wind. 21 : South-West : South-West : - : Clear : 45 : 84 : 82 : 70 : Fine weather. 22 : Light North-West : North-North-West : - : - : 53 : 92 : 84 : 70 : Close and sultry. 23 : North-West : Calm : - : - : 58 : 92 : 90 : 75 : -. 24 : South-West : - : - : - : 60 : 92 : 94 : 82 : Fine weather. 25 : North-West : - : - : Cirrostratus : 66 : 96 : 95 : 84 : Wind oppressively hot. 26 : - : South-South-West : Cirrus : - : 68 : 96 : 94 : 86 : P.M. a cooling South-west breeze. 27 : Calm : Light North-West air : Clear : Clear : 58 : 96 : 94 : 84 : Oppressively hot. 28 : - : Calm : - : Cirrus : 58 : 98 : 94 : 80 : Not a breath of wind. 29 : - : - : - : Nimbus : 56 : 94 : 91 : 83 : -. 30 : Light North-West airs : East-South-East : - : - : 54 : 93 : 87 : 78 : Thunder in the distance. 31 : Calm : Calm : - : - : 53 : 92 : 79 : 74 : Fine weather. January: 1 : North-West : West : - : - : 61 : 99 : 94 : 82 : Excessively sultry at noon. 2 : - : North-West : Cumulostratus : Thunderclouds : 69 : 91 : 95 : 88 : The breeze pleasantly cool from the North-west. 3 : - : Calm : Clear : - : 73 : 101 : 96 : 87 : - Distant thunder. 4 : - : North : Cirrus : - : 76 : 108 : 102 : 86 : Uncommon heat during the day. 5 : North-North-East : North-west : - : Clear : 76 : 100 : 98 : 88 : Air from the North-North-East cool and refreshing. 6 : North-west : Calm : Cirrus and Cumulostratus : Cloudy : 77 : 99.5 : 96 : 88 : Hot wind. 7 : West : - : Thunderclouds : Thunderclouds : 78 : 100 : 98 : 86 : A.M., light showers, PM., clearing off. 8 : North : North-West : Overcast : Overcast : 76 : 82 : 82 : 76 : Overcast and threatening. 9 : East : North-east : - : - : 70 : 82 : 80 : 76 : -. 10 : South-East : East-South-East : Rain : Rain : 70 : 80 : 76 : 71 : Light rain. 11 : South-South-East : South : - : - : 68 : 74 : 73 : 70 : Heavy rain during the day. 12 : South-South-West : South-West : Thunderclouds : Thunderclouds : 70 : 86 : 72 : 69 : Thunder, with light showers at intervals. 13 : North : North-West : Cirrus : Clear : 71 : 91 : 92 : 71 : Fine weather. 14 : North-East : - : Nimbus : Cirrus : 75 : 92 : 90 : 78 : -. 15 : North : North-East : Clear : - : 63 : 96 : 92 : 84 : -. 16 : - : North-North-East : Cirrus : Clear : 69 : 92 : 95 : 87 : -. 17 : Calm : South-West : Cumulostratus : Thunderclouds : 71 : 95 : 102 : 88 : Fair weather. 18 : North-North-West : North : Cirrus above Cumulostratus : Cirrus : 72 : 94 : 97 : 86 : -. 19 : North : North-East : Cumulostratus : Cumulostratus : 77 : 97 : 96 : 88 : Hot wind. 20 : North-West : North-West : Clear : Clear : 76 : 94 : 91 : 84 : -. 21 : West-North-West : - : - : - : 74 : 94 : 97 : 86 : -. 22 : North-East : East : - : Thunderclouds : 74 : 97 : 92 : 82 : -. 23 : - : North-North-West : Overcast : - : 75 : 89 : 88 : 80 : Fine but cloudy. 24 : East : East-South-East : Rain : Rain : 73 : 74 : 73 : 70 : Steady small rain. 25 : South-East : South-East : Overcast : Overcast : 68 : 82 : 81 : 68 : Continuing overcast. 26 : West-South-West : South-West : Cirrus above Cumulostratus : - : 58 : 84 : 78 : 62 : Clear fine weather. 27 : South-West : - : Cirrus : - : 61 : 85 : 88 : 80 : Fresh breeze. 28 : North-West : Light East-South-East : - : Clear : 64 : 85 : 86 : 78 : -. 29 : North-North-West : South-West : - : Cirrus : 66 : 86 : 84 : 78 : -. 30 : North-East : North-North-East : Cirrocumulus : - : 65 : 92 : 88 : 76 : Fine cool breezes. 31 : - : East-North-East : Overcast : - : 68 : 86 : 83 : 79 : -. February: 1 : East-North-East : - : Cirrus : - : 69 : 94 : 90 : 82 : -. 2 : North-East : North-East : - : - : 68 : 96 : 89 : 86 : -. 3 : North-North-East : East-North-East : Clear : Cumulus : 70 : 97 : 89 : 88 : Clear but sultry. 4 : East : East-South-East : Cumulus : - : 72 : 98 : 92 : 88 : -. 5 : North-East : North-East : Clear : Clear : 74 : 98 : 90 : 89 : -. 6 : Light North-East airs : - : - : - : 68 : 97 : 90 : 88 : -. 7 : East-North-East : - : - : - : 70 : 94 : 88 : 82 : -. 8 : South-South-East : South : Cirrus : Cumulus : 70 : 97 : 80 : 84 : Cloudy. 9 : South-East : South-East : Clear : Clear : 66 : 100 : 96 : 88 : A refreshing breeze. 10 : East-South-East : East-South-East : Cumulus : Cumulus : 68 : 97 : 94 : 84 : -. 11 : South-East : East : Clear : Cumulostratus : 63 : 92 : 93 : 85 : -. 12 : - : South-East : - : Clear : 65 : 97 : 101 : 86 : -. 13 : South-South-East : East : Cirrus : Overcast : 68 : 97 : 84 : 73 : Strong breeze. 14 : East-South-East : - : Rain : Rain : 72 : 73.5 : 72 : 72 : Heavy rains with strong squalls of wind. 15 : North-North-East : North : - : - : 74 : 76 : 75 : 72 : -. 16 : South-South-West : South-South-West : - : Cumulus : 73 : 76 : 77 : 72 : Changeable, the wind shifting in all quarters. 17 : North-West : - : Cirrus : Thunderclouds : 69 : 88 : 93 : 83 : Fair weather. 18 : North : North-East : Cirrus above Cumulus : Cumulus : 68 : 90 : 95 : 80 : -. 19 : North-East : North-North-West : Cumulus : - : 72 : 96 : 100 : 83 : Cloudy. 20 : East : North-East : Showers : Thunderclouds : 69 : 88 : 93 : 83 : A.M. showery and threatening rain. 21 : North-North-West : North-West : Cumulus : - : 72 : 93 : 98 : 83 : Sultry. 22 : Calm : Calm : Cirrus above Cumulus : Clear : 69.5 : 94 : 96 : 83.5 : -. 23 : - : Light South Airs : Cumulus : Cumulus : 71 : 95 : 96 : 83 : Fine. 24 : Light South Airs : West : Cirrus : Cirrus : 72 : 93 : 88 : 82 : -. 25 : Calm : South : Cirrus above Cumulus : Thunderclouds : 71.5 : 95 : 96 : 83 : Light thundershowers. 26 : South-South-West : South-West : Cumulus : Cumulus : 69.5 : 76 : 74 : 70 : Fine weather but overcast. 27 : Light North-East : Light North-East : - : - : 66 : 82 : 84 : 72 : -. 28 : South : South : Cirrus above Cumulus : Cirrus above Cumulus : 59 : 88 : 87 : 80 : -. 29 : Calm : North-North-West : Overcast : Overcast : 69.5 : 83 : 80 : 72 : Cloudy, likely to rain.

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JOURNAL OF AN EXPEDITION SENT TO EXPLORE THE COURSE OF THE RIVER DARLING, IN 1835,

BY ORDER OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.