LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 313 



spacious surface of the vast levels, which are covered very 

 generally with small trees, not a single smoke was seen to 

 arise to indicate the existence of the wandering native in these 

 solitary regions- As all observation easterly towards the 

 coast line, from the point of the ridge Mr Cunningham had 

 ascended, was prevented by the more elevated ranges in the 

 neighbourhood, he quitted the spot on which he had encamped 

 at its foot, and with the view of penetrating towards the 

 higher points of these mountains, proceeded south about four 

 miles; when, on passing round the base of a second hill, which 

 was named Mount Sturt, (in compliment to Captain Sturt, 

 39tli regiment,) the party entered a very beautiful grassy 

 valley, bounded by lofty lateral ridges, and extending several 

 miles in a north-eastern direction to the foot of the principal 

 range. Advancing a few miles up this vale, whicii was named 

 after Captain Logan, the then commandant of the penal 

 settlement on the Brisbane rivei', Mr Cunningham encamped 

 on a small brook meandering through it to the south ; and as 

 the condition of his horses, and the state of his provisions, 

 obliged him to close his journey northerly at this valley, he 

 determined to occupy a few days in a partial examination of 

 the adjacent country, and in making the necessary observa- 

 tions for ascertaining the situation of the encampment previ- 

 ous to commencing his return line of route. 



On the morning of the 11th of June, Mr Cunningham, 

 accompanied by one of his people, proceeded to climb the 

 hills immediately above the tents, the elevated summits of 

 which appeared likely to afford him a view of the surround, 

 ing country, particularly to the eastward. Gaining, after 

 some exertion, a lofty point of the lateral ridge, they observed 

 through some hollow parts of the back of the main range 

 (which stretched before them at a distance of about ten miles,) 

 portions of the country lying in the vicinity of the Brisbane 

 river, at north-east, as also parts of the more distant lands 

 situate at the base of the Mount Warning ranges, the cone 

 of which was distinctly seen crowning that group of moun- 

 tains at an estimated distance of 65 or 70 miles, bearing East 



Vol. IV.— No. 30. 2u 



