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Rh and plunged into the abyss of mist and were lost. But the trapper, aware of the propensity to vengeance in the tribe, packed up his guns, and taking a last look at the happy valley, departed with his pack-horses on his western journey.

the year 1836, Mr. Grey, then a lieutenant in the British army, made an offer to the Government to explore the western coasts of Australia, in order to ascertain whether the surmise of the famous navigators, Dampier and King, as to the existence of a great river or water inlet opening up that portion of the continent, had any foundation. The offer was accepted, and an exploring party, headed by Mr. Grey, landed in 1837 in Hanover Bay. After some weeks spent in preparations, the party set out with their ponies and stores. The ground was rough and broken, and their way lay over that precipitate range of hills which, in this portion of the continent, rise almost directly from the coast. Some of the cliffs which they had to ascend were almost perpendicular, and one hundred and eighty feet in height.

By an accident the leader of the expedition had nearly perished at the outset. The pony which Mr. Grey was leading had accomplished about three-fourths of the ascent when, turning one of the sharp corners round a rock, the load struck against it, and knocked