(2)

[missing]       Georges River, with its branches, to a considera-
[missing] southward of Point Solander, the coast was
[missing]unknown, except from captain Cooks chart and de-
-scription. Thus the particular knowledge of the coast was con-
-fined to ten or twelve miles on the south side of Port Jackson,
and to fifteen or twenty on the north side, in September 1795.
      In conversing with those people, whom the pursuit of game
had brought to a more intimate knowledge of the inland parts
of the country, we learned, that there was a river navigable
for large boats, which was known to them by the name of the
third river; this river, they aƒserted, must fall into Botany
Bay; and from governor Hunters chart it appeared, that it conse-
-quently must be a continuation of Georges River. This point,
M ^r Baƒs – surgeon of the Reliance and myself, determined to as-
-certain, by exploring the river up to its navigable source.
To this, some difficulties opposed themselves: – there was no boat
within our reach but those belonging to the ship, all of which
were wanted; and we were given to understand, that the coast
was almost too dangerous for rowing boats.
      The furor [sic] of discovery, upon whatever scale it is, is perhaps as
strong, and can overlook obstacles, as well as most other kinds of
mania. We turned our eyes towards a little boat of about eight
^ ^feet keel and five feet beam, which had been brought out, by M ^r Baƒs
and others, in the Reliance, and from its size had obtained
the name of Tom Thumb. In this boat we embarked on October
26 ^th , which was the morning after our resolution had been formed;