170 
MAJOR Mitchell’s report. 
various places, is now open, forming a tolerably direct line 
of communication in a N.W. direction from Sydney, to a 
river, beyond which the survey may be extended whenever 
His Excellency the Governor thinks fit. 
“ The natives had never troubled my party on our ad- 
vance; indeed I only saw them when I came upon them 
by surprise, and then they always ran off. Their first visit 
was received at my camp on the Karaula, during my ab- 
sence down that river, when they were very friendly, but 
much disposed to steal. Various tribes followed us on 
coming back, but never with any shew of hostility, al- 
though moving in tribes of a hundred or more parallel to 
our marked line, or in our rear ; it was necessary to be ever 
on our guard, and to encamp in strong positions only, 
arranging the drays for defence during the night: three 
men were always under arms, and I have much pleasure in 
stating, that throughout the whole excursion, and under 
circumstances of hardship and privation, the conduct of 
the men was very good. I took an armed party to the 
scene of pillage, and buried the bodies of the two men, 
who appeared to have been treacherously murdered while 
asleep by the blacks during the absence of Mr. Finch: 
no natives were to be found when I visited the spot, 
although it appeared from columns of smoke on hills which 
overlooked it, that they were watching our movements. 
The party has now arrived within a day’s journey of 
Brown s station, and I have instructed Assistant-Surveyor 
White (from whom I have received great assistance during 
