MR. OXI.EY’s discoveries. 
Ixxvii 
from the Macquarie, seemingly not inferior to it 
in size, originating in the mountains for which 
he was making, and flowing nearly parallel to 
the other rivers into a level country like that 
which he had just quitted. 
Mr. Evans, moreover, who accompanied Mr. 
Oxley on these journeys, and who had been 
detached by his principal from Mount Harris, to 
ascertain the nature of the country in the line 
which the expedition was next to pursue, having 
crossed the Castlereagh considerably below the 
place at which the party afterwards effected a 
passage, reported that the river was then run- 
ning through high reeds. The inference natu- 
rally drawn by Mr. Oxley, was, that it termi- 
nated as the Lachlan and the Macquarie had 
done ; and that their united waters formed an 
inland sea or basin. It is evident that Mr. 
Oxley had this impression on his mind, when 
he turned towards the coast ; but the wet state 
of the lowlands prevented him from ascertaining 
its correctness or error. Doubt, consequently, 
still existed as to the nature of the country he 
had left behind him ; a question in which the best 
interests of the colony were apparently involved. 
Subsequently to these discoveries, Mr. Surveyor 
