Copy 1, Volume 1
Three expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia, with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the present colony of New South Wales / By Major T. L. Mitchell.
- Thomas Mitchell
- Date:
- 1838
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Three expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia, with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the present colony of New South Wales / By Major T. L. Mitchell. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Day-break was to be the signal for preparing for the journey, and no time was allowed for breakfast until after the party had encamped for the day. As we proceeded along the road leading to the pass in the Liverpool range, Mr. White ovei’took us, having obtained an additional supply of flour, tobacco, tea and sugar, with which Mr. Finch was to follow the party as soon as he could pro¬ cure the carts and bullocks necessary for the carriage of these stores. After travelling six hours we encamped beside a small water course near Muscle Brook, the thermometer at 4 p.M. being as high as 95^^. In the evening, the burning grass became rather alarming, especially as we had a small stock of ammunition in one of the carts. I had established our camp to the windward of the burning grass, but I soon discovered that the progress of the fire was against the wind, especially where the grass was highest. This may appear strange, but it is easily accounted for. The extremities of the stalks bending from the wind, are the first to catch the flame, but as they become successively ignited, the fire runs directly to the windward, which is towards the lower end of i the spikes of grass, and catching the extremities of other stalks still further in the direction of the wind, it travels in 1 a similar manner along them. We managed to extinguish the burning grass before it approached our encampment, but t to prevent the invasion of such a dangerous enemy, we in ( future adopted the precaution of burning a sufficient space } around our tents in situations where we were exposed to like i inconvenience and danger. i Dec. 1, 6 A.M.—The thermometer at 82. As the party proceeded the sky became overcast, and the absence of the ] sun made the day much more agreeable. Towards noon we had rain and thunder, and this weather continued until we 1 reached the banks of the Hunter. We forded this river where the stream was considerable at the time, and then en-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29335966_0001_0059.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
