CXX FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Progress of Australian 



party arrived in Hanover Bay (lat. 15° S.) in 1837, whence several inland journeys were made to 

 the south-west, and the Glenelg River discovered. 



Captain Grey's second expedition was made in whale-boats, which he took with him in a 

 sailing-vessel from Swan River. He first landed on Bernier Island (lat. 25° S.), where he made a 

 depot ; thence he crossed to the Gascoyne River, and explored the coasts for some miles to the north- 

 ward, and after encountering great difficulties and hardships, he returned to Bernier Island, where 

 he found that the stores had been utterly destroyed by the ocean, which during the stormy interval 

 had swept over the island. This obliged Captain Grey to return to the mainland, which he 

 reached at Gantheaume Bay (lat. 27° 50' S.). Here the boats were abandoned, and the overland 

 journey to Swan River commenced, which was reached by a remnant of the party after having 

 suffered incredible hardships from starvation and the natural difficulties of the country. Of course 

 no collections of plants were brought back, but the commander's narrative abounds in valuable 

 observations on the vegetation of the countries visited. Amongst many other observations worthy 

 of note, are that of an Araucaria occurring on the mountains of the interior, of a Swan River 

 Banksia near Prince Regent's River, of Xanthorrhcea attaining the latitude of 28°, and Zamia of 

 29°, in which latitude the common Sowthistle appears to have been found abundantly. Many 

 notices of edible plants are scattered through the narrative, including that of a ' Wild Oat,' with 

 large grains, which Captain Grey states has been cultivated with success as a cereal in the island of 

 Mauritius. 



Major Mitchell's extensive journeys come next under review, aud owing to his great fondness 

 for natural history, and excellent system of observation, his writings and his collections have both 

 proved eminently useful in advancing our knowledge of Australian botany. 



Mitchell's first Expedition originated in a report of the existence of a large river in central 

 Australia, called the Kindur, in search of which he started in November, 1831. His party pro- 

 ceeded northward from Sydney, crossed the rivers Hawkesbury and Hunter, and then the water- 

 shed in lat. 32° S., long. 151° E. ; thence they traversed Liverpool Plains, and traced the Gwydyr 

 to lat. 29° S.j returning to Sydney in March. The collections were divided between Mr. Brown and 

 Dr. Lindley. 



The second Expedition was organized in 1835, to explore the course of the Darling River. On this 

 journey the Boga? River was followed from its sources to its junction with the Darling in lat. 30° S., 

 long. 146° E., and the latter river, thence traced in a south-western direction to lat. 32° 30' and long. 

 142° 30'. Richard Cunningham, the brother of Allan, who was then Colonial Botanist, accompanied 

 Major Mitchell, and was murdered by the Blacks. The plants were given to Dr. Lindley, by whom 

 many have been described in notes to the ' Journal of the Expedition!' The Trigonella suavissima 

 was found on this journey, and copiously used as an excellent Spinach. 



Mitchell's third Expedition left Sydney in 1836, with the object of following the Darling from the 

 point where he had left it to its confluence with the Murray. This plan was however modified, and 

 the Lachlan river was followed instead to its junction with the Murrumbidgee, and the latter to its 

 confluence with the Murray, which was traced to the Darling in lat. 34° S. and long. 142° E. : thence the 

 party returned to the Murrumbidgee, and proceeded in a south-western direction to the mountains of 

 Victoria. There Mount William (alt. 4,500 feet) was ascended, and many plants found and observa- 

 tions made on the peculiarity of the alpine vegetation. In July the party reached the Glenelg 

 River, and followed it to the sea at Discovery Bay, in Bass' Straits, which they reached in August. 

 The return journey was made through the heart of the Victoria alps, crossing the Bagungum, Mur- 



