JOURNEY FROM SYDNEY TO EMU PLAINS. 3 
cellency’s commands to prepare for my journey ; and by the 
commencement of November, had organized my party, and 
completed the necessary arrangements. On the 9th of that 
month, I waited on the Governor, at Paramatta, to receive 
his definitive instructions. As the establishments at Sydney 
had been unable to supply me with the necessary number of 
horses and oxen, instructions had been forwarded to Mr. 
Maxwell, the superintendent of Wellington Valley, to train 
a certain number for my use ; and I was now directed to push 
for that settlement without loss of time. I returned to Syd- 
ney in the afternoon of the 9th, and on the 10th took leave 
of my brother officers, to commence a journey of very du- 
bious issue ; and, in company with my friend. Staff-sur- 
geon M‘Leod, who had obtained permission to accom- 
pany me to the limits of the colony, followed my men along 
the great western road. We moved leisurely over the level 
country, between the coast and the Nepean River, and availed 
ourselves of the kind hospitality of those of our friends 
whose property lay along that line of road, to secure more 
comfortable places of rest than the inns would have afforded. 
We reached Sheane, the residence of Dr. Harris, on the 
11th, and were received by him with the characteristic 
kindness with which friends or strangers are ever welcomed 
by that gentleman. He had accompanied Mr. Oxley as a 
volunteer in 1818, and his name was then given to the 
mount which formed the extreme point to which the main 
body of the first expedition down the banks of the Mac- 
quarie penetrated, in a westerly direction. 
B 2 
