Volltext Seite (XML)
31 bar prevented the river from being navigable. This noble water course was named after the Secretary of the Colonies, Lord Glenelg. Returning eastward, they approached Portland Bay, into which they thought to have seen fine rivers fall, but saw only the insignificant Surry, Fitzroy and Shaw. Shoe tracks and a tobacco pipe were such un mistakable signs of civilization, that Mitchell expected the presence of Englishmen. He was agreeably surprised at the sight of the flourishing whaling, farming, and pastoral establishment of the Messrs. Henty, from Launceston, and not from Swan River, as the major said in his report. From Mr. Henty of Melbourne, we learned the following story. When the explorers were approaching the station, considerable alarm was experienced; for what could they be but a party of bush rangers. The means of defence were hastily sought for. They did not intend passively to submit to the five and twenty banditti. Luckily a four pounder was there. Loaded with shot it was directed against the marauders. A conference, however, soon dispelled the illusion, and exhibited the leader of this formidable band to be none other than the Surveyor-General of New South Wales, one thousand miles from home. Procuring a little flour from the diminished stock of the new settlement, our explorers proceeded to round the Grampians, passing Mount Clay, the crater of Napier, &c. The precipitous south western point of the Grampians was pronounced to be Mount Abrupt. The mud here caused the death of a bullock. The leader, finding constant delays seriously affecting the commissariat, resolved to go ahead with a light party and one month’s provisions, leaving Mr. Stapylton behind with two months’ allowance. The natives gave them an account of a lake Cadong north west of Cape Otway, which received many tribut aries from the Dividing Range. A fine stream then was named the Hopkins, but certainly not for its euphony. The major somewhere says, “ To give names that may become current in the mouths of future millions has often been a perplexing subject with me.” Striking northward he approached Mount Cole of the Pyrenees, Sept. 23. Cole was an officer with Mitchell in the desperate campaign of the Pyrenees, some 44 years ago. The Mammeloid Lava hills of the Dividing Range attracted some attention. The Campaspe was crossed near Tarrengower. A range of granite, with meridional slate bands reposing on it, was called Mount Byng. Another noble mountain tempted Mitchell out of his homeward track. He ascended it, and from the top beheld the Bay of Port Phillip before him and Mount