Chapter 1

PECULIARITY OF THE DARLING--SUDDEN FLOODS TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT--CHARACTER OF THE MURRAY--ITS PERIODICAL RISE--BOUNTY OF PROVIDENCE--GEOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE TWO RIVERS-- OBSERVATIONS--RESULTS--SIR THOMAS MITCHELL'S JOURNEY TO THE DARLING--ITS JUNCTION WITH THE MURRAY--ANECDOTE OF MR. SHANNON--CAPTAIN GREY'S EXPEDITION--CAPTAIN STURT'S JOURNEY--MR. EYRE'S SECOND EXPEDITION--VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE--MR. OXLEY'S OPINIONS--STATE OF THE INTERIOR IN 1828-- CHARACTER OF ITS PLAINS AND RIVERS--JUNCTION OF THE DARLING--FOSSIL BED OF THE MURRAY--FORMER STATE OF THE CONTINENT--THEORY OF THE INTERIOR.