7 
CHAPTER II. 
Commencement of the expedition in November, 1829. Joined by Mi. 
George M £ Leay — Appearance of the party — Breadalbane Plains 
Hospitality of Mr. O’Brien — Yass Plains — Hill of Pouni — Path 
of a hurricane — Character of the country between the Underaliga 
and Morumbidgee- Appearance of the latter river -Its junc- 
tion with the Dumot — Crossing and recrossmg — Geological 
character and general aspect of the country - Plain of Ponde- 
badgery — Few natives seen. 
The expedition which traversed the marshes of the Mac- 
quarie, left Sydney on the 10th day of Nov. 1828. That 
destined to follow the waters of the Morumbidgee, took its 
departure from the same capital on the 3d of the same 
month in the ensuing year. Rain had fallen in the inter- 
val, but not in such quantities as to lead to the apprehension 
that it had either influenced or swollen the western streams. 
It was rather expected that the winter falls would facilitate 
the progress of the expedition, and it was hoped that, as 
the field of its operations would in all probability be con- 
siderably to the south of the parallel of Port Jackson, the 
extreme heat to which the party and the animals had been 
exposed on the former journey, would be less felt on the 
present occasion. 
