WELLINGTON VALLEY. 
5 
I was detained at Bathurst longer than I intended, in 
consequence of indisposition, and during my stay there 
experienced many proofs of the kind hospitality of the 
settlers of that promising district ; nor was I ever more 
impressed with the importance of the service upon which 
I was employed, or more anxious as to the issue, than 
while contemplating the rapid advance of agriculture 
upon Its plains, and the formidable bar to its prosperity 
which I had left behind me, in the dark and gloomy 
ranges which 1 had crossed. 
On the 27th, Mr, Hamilton Hume, whose experience 
well qualified him for the task, and who had been asso- 
ciated with me in the expedition, having joined me, we 
proceeded on our journey, and reached Wellington Valley 
about the end of the month. 
I wished to push into the interior without any delay, or 
at least, so soon as we should have completed our arrange- 
ments and organized the party; but, although Mr. Max- 
well had paid every attention to the training of the cat- 
tle, he was of opinion that they could not yet be wholly 
relied upon, and strongly recommended that they should 
be kept at practice for another week. As we could not 
have left the settlement under the most favourable circum 
stances in less than four days, the further delay attendant 
on this measure was considered immaterial, and it was 
accordingly, determined upon. Mr. Hume undertook to 
superintend the training of the animals, and this left me 
at leisure to gather such information as would be of use to 
us in our progress down the river. 
