Mr. Cornelius O'Brien joined us at this station just as we were ready to set out. ---

At 10 mins. past 6. a.m. we set forward on our Journey; and after passing over some very bad Road, and crossing the Cataract River near it's [sic] source, we arrived at the summit of the great mountain that contains the Pass to the Low Country of Illawarra -- the Top of this mountain being three miles from our last station. ---On our arrival on the summit of the mountain, we were gratified with a very grand magnificent Bird's Eye view of the Ocean, the 5 Islands, and of the greater part of the low country of Illawarra as far as Red Point. ---After feasting our Eyes with this grand Prospect, we commenced descending the mountain at 20 mins. after 8, o'clock. The Descent was very rugged, rocky, and slippery, and so many obstacles opposed themselves to our progress, that it was with great difficulty that the Pack-Horses could get down this horrid steep descent. ---At length we effected it, but it took us an Hour to descend altho' the Descent is only one mile & a Half long. ---The whole face of this mountain is clothed with the largest and finest Forest Trees I have ever seen in the Colony. ---They consist chicfly of the Black-Butted Gum, Stringy Bark, Turpentine, Mountain Ash, Fig, Pepperment [sic], Box-Wood, Sassafrass, and Red Cedar; but the latter is now very scarce, most of it having been already cut down and carried away to Sydney. ---There are also vast Quantities of the Cabbage, Palm, and Fern Trees, growing in the face of the Mountain, the former being very beautiful and of great Height. ---

Finding that this mountain has never yet received any particular name, I have christened it the "Regent Mountain", as it was first descended by Mr. Throsby in the year 1815, when our present King was Regent of the United Kingdom.

We arrived at a Creek containing a very pretty Stream of Fresh running Water about 1 1/2 miles from the foot of the mountain at a qr. past 9, o'clock, and here we halted to Breakfast and to refresh our men and Cattle. ---I have named this stream of Fresh Water "Throsby's Creek", in honor of Mr. Throsby who first crossed it on his descending the Regent Mountain.

Having Breakfasted we pursued our Journey at 11. a.m. along the Sea shore towards Mr. Allan's Farm at Red Point, riding chiefly on a soft Beach for 12 miles -- and through very barren unprofitable Land. ---We crossed the Entrance of Tom Thumb's Lagoon which was at this time dry -- and soon afterwards arrived at Mr. Allan's Lands, meeting there with about 100 Natives, who had assembled at this place to meet and welcome me to Illawarra. They were of various Tribes, and some of them had come all the way from Jervis's Bay -- and they all appeared to be very intimate with Mr. O'Brien. ---They all knew who I was, and most of them pronounced my name (Govr. Macquarie) very distinctly. ---They were very civil, and I regretted exceedingly that I had no Tobacco for them. Having remained with them for about Ten minutes, we resumed our Journey to Mr. Allan's Establishment. It is a pretty enough Farm, and a good deal of it is cultivated, but it is too near the Sea, and falls far short of the fine description I have heard the Proprietor and others give of it. ---We ascended a Hill at the Eastern extremity of this Farm, from whence we had a very fine view of the Coast to the Southward as far as Basse's Head, as well as of the grand Sheet of Inland Water or Lake called Allowrie or Illawarra -- which is about 20 miles in circumference, and has a communication with the Sea by a very narrow channel.---

From Mr. Allan's Farm we proceeded on to Mr. Jenkins's, and thence through Mr. Brooks's, to Mr. Brown's Establishment situated on the Western Bank of the Lake. ---Here we arrived at 1/2 past 7, o'clock, and took up our station for the Night. ---Our Baggage however did not come up till 8, o'clock, altho' it came by a shorter Route than that we took, which was circuitous. The Lands we travelled over from Mr. Allans to Mr. Browns were chiefly open Forest Land of good quality -- and well wooded and watered.---

We have Travelled this day at least 30 miles from David's Valley to Mr. Brown's Establishment.

We had rather a late Dinner today -- not having Dined till 1/2 past 9, o'clock, and soon afterwards we went to Bed.---

14 January 1822 | 16 January 1822