2 bushranger's story. [cir. i. 



of the savage, that he might, approach the dwellings of the 

 colonists, and steal with less danger of detection. In con- 

 junction with the simple aborigines whom he misled, and 

 with several othei" I'unaway convicts, he had organized a 

 system of cattle stealing, which was coming into extensive 

 operation on Liverpool plains, when, through the aid of some 

 of the natives, who have in general assisted the detection 

 of bushrangers, he was at length discovered and captured 

 by (he police. 



After this man was taken into custody, he gave a circum- 

 stantial detail of his travels to the north-west, along the bank 

 of a large river, named, as he said, the " Kindur ;" by follow- 

 ing which in a south-west direction, he had twice reached the 

 sea shore. He described the tribes inhabiting; the banks of 

 the " Kindur," and gave the nances of their chiefs. He said 

 that he had first crossed vast plains named "Balyran," and, 

 on approaching the sea, he had seen a burning mountain 

 named " Courada." He described, with great apparent 

 accuracy, the courses of the known streams of the northern 

 interior, which united, as he stated, in the " Nammoy,'" a 

 river first mentioned by him ; and, according to his testi- 

 mony. Peel's river entered the " Nammoy," by flowing- 

 westward from where Mr. Oxlcy had crossed it. 



Now this was contrary to the course assigned to the Peel 

 in the maps by early travellers, but consistent, nevertheless, 

 with more recent surveys. Vague accounts of "a great river 

 beyond Liverpool plains," flowing north-w^est, were current, 

 about the time General Darling embarked for England. The 

 attention of the acting governor. Colonel Lindesay, was 

 particularly drawn to the question by this rcjwrt of Clarke, 

 and also by the subsequent proposals of various persons, to 

 conduct any expedition sent in search of the "great river." 



Tiiorc are few undertakings more attractive to the vota- 

 ries of fame or lovers of adventure, than the exploration of 

 unknown regions; but Sir Patrick Lindesay, with due regard 

 to the responsibility whicii )iiy oflice seemed to impose upon 



