Saturday 28. Octr. ---
Got up at 5 o'clock after a very refreshing good night's rest, and Breakfasted at Half past 6. ---Mr. Throsby not having returned from his Excursion as was expected he would do, either last Night or very early this morning, we determined on going in quest of him -- and to explore the Southern part of the Lake, and the adjacent Country, for which purpose we set out at 8 o'clock, attended by some of our Servants, leaving the rest in charge of our Camp, which we left standing. ---We travelled over an open Hilly Country for about 3 miles along the East side of the Lake, and at 9, saw a Smoke on the Western Side of the Lake -- which we concluded proceeded from a Signal Fire made by Mr. Throsby -- which was soon confirmed to be the case by our Seeing with our Glasses Mr. Throsby himself riding along the Shore of the Lake on his way back to our Camp; but as we all wished to see the Southern extremity of this fine Piece of Water, we pursued our ride thither to meet Mr. Throsby; -- our way lying through a very great extent of Flat Land -- composed of Open Forest, Plains, and Meadows for 7 or 8 miles at least -- the Soil generally good, fine Herbage, and full of fine large Ponds & Lagoons of Fresh Water. ---These Ponds were full of Black Swans, Native Companions, and Ducks -- and when we came to the South end of the Lake it was covered with innumerable Flocks of Black Swans, Ducks, and Sea Gulls. ---We tasted the Water of the Lake here, and it was quite fresh. ---After having viewed and explored the Southern Extremity of the Lake we proceeded along the Western Shore of it for about a mile in hopes of meeting Mr. Throsby until such time as we discovered the Track of his Horse back the same way we came -- from which it was evident he had passed the Plains to the Southward of our Track out. ---We therefore returned back to Camp nearly the same way we came after a ride out of at least 12 miles -- and as much Home again; halting between 2 & 3 o'clock under a Tree about the middle of the Plains, and close to a fine running Fresh Water Creek, to take some Refreshment -- which I had directed to be carried out for us. ---These Plains being likely to terminate my present Tour of Inspection Southerly, I have named them in Honor of the Noble Chief of the Campbells -- "Argyle Forest". It now appears evident that there is no outlet -- or River flowing from this Lake -- which is the more extraordinary as the Waters of it are now proved to be positively Fresh -- and the size of it so great -- it being at least Eighteen Miles long by five Broad.---
We arrived in Camp at 1/4 before 5 -- and found Mr. Throsby had arrived there about Half a mile before us. ---He now states to us from the information of his Native Guide Taree that the new River Murumbidgee, which we came in quest of and were all so particularly anxious to see and explore, does not flow from the Great Lake at all -- but that it has its source at the back of the Hills which skirt the Western Shore of the Lake, and flows from thence in a South Easterly Direction towards the Coast -- and that it would take us three days to reach it. ---We have consequently abandoned all thoughts of going to explore the new River at this time, leaving it to be traced to the Sea by future Discoverers.
We sat down to Dinner today at 1/2 past 5, and after Dinner we drank a Bumper Toast to the Success of the Future Settlers of the Shores of "Lake George" -- which name I have given to this grand and magnificent Sheet of Water in Honor of His present Majesty. ---
We drank Tea early -- and went to Bed at 1/2 past 9. ---
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