242 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Of THE 



was of a most harassing and anxious nature. The extent of 

 their journey was about 1200 miles, included within the 

 parallels of 34° 30', and 32° south latitude, and the meri- 

 dians of 149'' 43', and 143' 40' east longitude. The amount 

 of the botanical collections from this expedition, on a rough 

 calculation were about 450 species, principally of the families 

 LeguminoscB, Proteacets, Epacridece, and RutacecB. Oi Legu- 

 minosdB Mr Cunningham says, " they vie with all the others 

 in number, in variety, and beauty of their several species." 



On Mr Cunningham's arrival at Paramatta, he found 

 leLters from Sir J. Banks, desiring him to place himself under 

 the direction of Lieutenant P. P. King, R.N., who was ap- 

 pointed to command an expedition for surveying and explor- 

 ing the north and north-west coasts of New Holland. A 

 small vessel of only eighty-five tons burden, " The Mermaid," 

 had been purchased by the colonial government for the 

 purpose of the survey, and at the latter end of December, 

 she was reported ready for service. 



On the 22d of December, the Mermaid sailed from Port 

 Jackson,* taking a southerly course to reach her scene of 

 operations. They entered Bass's Straits on the 31st, and on 

 the 21st of January 1818, came to an anchor in King George's 

 Sound. Mr Cunningham landed at Oyster Harbour shortly 

 after this, and from his journal I shall make a short extract 

 of his remarks on the rich botany of this portion of New 

 Holland. 



" Aware that our stay here would be but short, I was the 

 more anxious to employ my time as profitably as it was pos- 

 sible. On the barren dry stony hills and ground rising from 

 the beach, Banksia grandis arrests the attention of the col- 

 lector more particularly than any other of its kindred around 



* For the details of Captain King's voyages, the reader is referred to 

 the very interesting work of that excellent officer, published in 1826, and 

 entitled, " Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts 

 of Australia, performed between the years 1818 and 1822. By Captain 

 Phillip P. King, R.N,," &c., &c.. 2 vols. 8to. 



