Chapter 2: Ascend the Canobolas. Choose the direction of my route. Ascend the hill north of Buree. Encamp on the Mundadgery. Cross a granitic range. King's Creek. Cross Hervey's range. First view of the interior. Parched state of the interior country. The dogs kill a kangaroo. Steep descent to the westward. Search for water by moonlight. Encamp without any. Follow a valley downwards and find water. Lifeless appearance of the valleys. Luxury of possessing water after long privation. Ascend Mount Juson with Mr. Cunningham. Enter the valley of the Goobang. Meet the natives. Social encampment. Mount Laidley. Springs on the surface of the plains under Croker's range. Cross Goobang Creek. The dogs kill three large kangaroos. Wild honey brought by the natives. Arrive at Tandogo. Allan's water of Oxley. Advantage of aboriginal names on maps. Excursion with Mr. Cunningham. Effects of a hurricane in the forest. Encamp without water. Natives leave the party. Cattle distressed for want of water. Mr. Cunningham missing. Desperate search for water. At length find water on reaching by night the river Bogan. Encamp on this river.

Australian History: Journals of the early explorers

Sir Thomas Mitchell: Journal of an expedition sent to explore the course of the River Darling

Chapter 1: Supposed course of the Darling. Mr. Dixon's survey of the Bogan. Expedition postponed. Description of the boat carriage. Number and description of the party. Expedition leaves Parramatta. My departure from Sydney. Western part of Cumberland. County of Cook. The Blue Mountains. Weatherboard Inn. Mounts Hay and Tomah. River Grose. Early attempts to trace it upwards. Intended Tunnel. Pass of Mount Victoria. Advantages of convict labour. Country of Mulgoey. Emu plains. Township. General arrangement of towns and villages. The mountain road. Vale of Clywd. Village reserve. Granite formation. Farmer's Creek. River Cox and intended bridge. Mount Walker. Solitary Creek. Honeysuckle Hill. Stony Range. Plains of Bathurst. The town. Inconvenience of want of arrangement in early colonization. Smallfarmers. Intended Bridge. Departure from Bathurst. Charley Booth. Road to Buree. Canobolas. Arrival at the camp of the party.

Chapter Six: Proposed movements - Hot wind - Heavy rains set in - Country impassable for several days - Excursion to the plundered camp of Mr. Finch - Recover the cart and trunks - Bury the bodies - Columns of smoke - Signals of the natives - Courage and humanity of one of the men - Homeward journey continued - Difficult travelling - Civility of the tribe first met - Musquitoes trouble-some - Regain the Nammoy - Ascend Mount Warroga - Re-cross the Peel - Conclusion.

Sir Thomas Mitchell: Journey in search of The Kindur in 1831 - 1832

Volume 1, Chapter Five: Excursion down the Karaula - Its unexpected course - Formidable insects - Junction of the Gwydir - Owls and Rats - Natives at the camp during my absence - Their attempts to steal - Native dogs - Tents struck to cross - Arrival of Mr. Finch - Murder of his men - Loss of his horses - and seizure of his stores by the natives - Destroy the boat and retire from the Karaula - Forced march to the Gwydir - Numerous tribes surround the party - Good effects of sky-rockets - Funeral dirge by a native female - Dog killed by a snake - Numerous tribes follow - The party regains the plains.

Volume 1, Chapter Four: Change the route to trace the course of the Gwydir - A native village of bowers - Effect of sudden moisture on the wheels - Tortuous course of the Gwydir - Lines of irrigation across the plains - Heavy rain - Crested pigeon - The party impeded by the soft state of the surface - Lagoons near the river - Excursion northward - Reach a broad sheet of water - Position of the party - The common course of the river, and the situation of the range considered - Nondescript tree and fruit - Plains of rich soil, beautifully wooded - Small branches of the Gwydir - Much frequented by the natives - Laughable interview of Dawkins with a tribe - Again reach the Gwydir - A new cucumber - Cross the river and proceed northward - A night without water - Man lost - Continue northward - Water discovered by my horse - Native wears for catching fish - Arrive at a large and rapid river - Send back for the party on the Gwydir - Abundance of three kinds of fish - Preparations for crossing the river - Natives approach in the night - View from one tree fastened to another - Mr. White arrives with the party and lost man - detained by natives - Mr. White crosses the river - Marks of floods on trees - Man lost in the woods - Natives' method of fishing - Native dog - Mr. White's account of the river.

Volume 1, Chapter 3: Fires in the Bush - Rocks of Bullabalakit - Boat launched - Bees load my rifle with honey - Embark on the Namoi in canvas boats - Impediments to the navigation - Boat staked, and sinks - The leak patched - She again runs foul of a log - Provisions damaged - Resolve to proceed by land - Pack up the boats, and continue the journey - Pass the western extremity of Nundewar Range - Unknown tree - Water scarce - Providential supply - Crayfish - Trap-hill on plains - Cut through a scrub - Meet a tribe of Natives - Again obliged to cut our way - Fortunate discovery of water - Dry valleys - Mount Frazer - The party in distress for want of water - Water found next day - Ducks - Wheel Ponds - Excessive heat and drought - Description of the woods - Meet with natives - Cross the dry bed of a river - A friendly native with his family - No water - Reach the Gwydir - Cross it with one man - Prevented by a native with spears, from shooting a kangaroo - Re-cross the river.

Sir Thomas Mitchell - Journey in search of The Kindur in 1831-1832

Volume 1, Chapter 2: Enter an unexplored region - Situation of Mr. Oxley's camp on the Peel - Westward course of the river, Kangaroo shot - Calcareous rocks - Acacia pendula first seen - Other trees near the river - Junction of the Peel and Muluerindie - View from Perimbungay - Ford of Wallanburra - Plains of Mulluba - View from Mount Ydire - Hills seen agree with The Bushranger's account - The river Namoi - Stockyard of The Bushranger - Singular fish - View from Tangulda - Cutting through a thick scrub - Want of water - Impeded by a lofty range of mountains - Marks of natives' feet - Maule's river - A grilled snake - View on ascending the range of Nundewar - Native female - Proposed excursion with packhorses - Native guide absconds - The range impassable - Return to Tangulda - Prepare to launch the boats on the Namoi.

Volume 1, Chapter 1: A bushrangers story - My plan of exploration - Preparations - Departure from Sydney - A Garden - Country between Sydney and The Hawkesbury - Summit of Warrawolong - Natives of Brisbane Water - The Wollombi - Valley of The Hunter - Fossils of The Hunter - Men employed on the expedition - Equipment - Burning Grass - Aborigines and Colonists - "Cambo", a wild native - A colonist of the right sort - Escape of the bushranger, "The Barber" - Burning hill of "Wingen" - Approach Liverpool Range - Cross it - A sick tribe - Interior Waters - Liverpool Plains - Proposed Route - Horses astray - A squatter - Native guide and his gin - Modes of drinking "au naturel" - Woods on fire - Cross the Turi Range - Arrive on the River Peel - Fishes - Another native guide - Explore the Peel.

There is much to learn from the journal keeping or Australia's early explorers and settlers. Fascinating first hand accounts of lands and people, virtually untouched by the outside world for over 60,000 years. Content warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised that these podcasts contain the names of deceased people. Please also generally be advised that these journals contain language in the vernacular of the day which listeners may find offensive; such language is not endorsed by the narrator. Note from the narrator: I have just finished reading Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe and was moved to investigate the early settler and explorer journals as a result. I hope that by releasing them in podcast form this may help others to access this information. I am an Aboriginal woman, mother of two, lover of art, music and history. Please enjoy.

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Australian History: Journals of the early explorers

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