218 HISTORY OF 



some short pointed spears, supposed to Jbue made 

 for the killing calves caught. 



On the 9th of February, the three men who 

 had been sent out with the Irishmen, so desirous 

 of discovering a way to China, returned so ex- 

 hausted, that two of them were scarce able to 

 move. Wilson, who was the third, having 

 been in the habit of travelling in the woods, 

 kept them in spirits, and enabled them to reach 

 Prospect-Hillabout sun-set. Having been in want 

 of food for several days, except a few small birds, 

 the refreshment which they procured had nearly 

 overcome them. The Governor sent a free 

 servant of his with Wilson, who gave an ac- 

 count of the journey ; in the following very in- 

 teresting particulars : 



" From Mount Hunter, (which was the 

 highest land then known in that part of the 

 country, and distant from Paramatta from 30 to 

 34 miles S. W. they departed January 24, travel- 

 ling S. S. W. for 18 miles, VI of which was 

 line open country. There they fell in with th< 

 river Nepean, winding behind the cow-pastun 

 plains. The banks of the river being exceed- 

 ing steep and rocky, they had difficulty ii 

 crossing. The other side of the river had a 

 barren appearance ; during that day they saw a 

 few kangaroos of a particular kind, having long, 

 black, and brushy tails ; with a few birds, 

 which, from the length of the tail feathers they 

 called pheasants. 



i( On the 25th they continued in their 

 course S. S. W. about six miles. They saw 



