Got up at Day-break and Breakfasted immediately so as to prosecute our Journey up the River. At 1/2 past 7 a.m. I set out ahead of the heavy Boats with Capt. Wallis in his small light Gig accompanied by Mr. Meehan, leaving orders with Capt. Antill to proceed with the Heavy Boats up the 3d. Branch and encamp at "the Burying Ground" (or Schanks's Plains) on the Right Bank of the River. At 10 a.m. we arrived in the Gig at Point Reception, and at the confluence of the 2d. & 3d. Branches of the River. -- We proceeded up this Branch to the Farms some time since permitted by me to be occupied by 6 well behaved Convicts and two Free men. Arrived at the first Farm (young Tucker's) at 1/2 past 11 o'clock, distant about 9 miles from Point Reception, where we landed and walked about for some little time examining the improvements and nature of the Soil, which last is most excellent. We then proceeded to view the rest of the Farms on both sides of this beautiful River -- finding the soil of all of them very good -- and much more ground cleared & cultivated than I had any idea of. -- After we had explored most of the Farms, we quitted the Boat entirely and walked across the Country to the 3d. Branch -- leaving orders with the Gig to meet us next day at Reception Point on our way back. -- The Country between the two Rivers thro' which we travelled was principally fine open Forest Land, very fit for grazing but not for cultivation but we also passed through some very close thick Brush Country and indifferent land. -- At 1/2 past 3 p.m we reached the left Bank of the 3d. Branch (or main River) after a walk of about 7 miles, and were fortunate enough to find the Boats were very near us; my own Barge having come up to the Reach of the River we had arrived at in about a Quarter of an Hour afterwards -- two other Boats having passed on before her. -- I called this Junction Reach. -- We embarked in my own Barge -- and prosecuted the remainder of this day's journey in her to the Burying Ground, whither we arrived at 6 o'clock -- it being then quite dark -- and still three of our Boats a great way astern of us. -- This delay was occasioned by a great Fresh in the main Branch of the River -- which rendered the progress of the Boats very slow and tedious. -- By 7 o'clock, however they all arrived at our Camp, and by 8 o'clock we were all very comfortable with a great number of fine Fires around us, and we sat down to a good and plentiful Dinner. -- We did not go to Bed till 11 o'clock. --

29 July 1818 | 31 July 1818