Caledonian Mercury

7 September 1801

Botany Bay

Notwithstanding however the encrease and flourishing state of the settlement itself, little knowledge has yet been had either of the country, or of the natives, no one having traveled inland to a greater distance than 30 miles, indeed so great are the difficulties and impediments which present themselves in penetrating the country, that it must be the work of time, before a communication with the interior can be accomplished; and when effected, must be done by government, it being out of the power of any set of individuals to set about it. The ingenious Doctor Bass, accompanied with two or three friends, and some guides, has more than once attempted it, but after an almost fruitless ramble of extreme hardship and danger for near six weeks, found himself compelled to return without attaining any desirable or useful end. The principal difficulty is the stupendous and almost inaccessible mountains that surround the settlement on every side and when with extreme labour you have ascended one ridge another presents itself at a few miles distance, far more difficult apparently in ascent.

These mountains are divided by valleys of most delightful aspect, abounding with good pasturages, and in which the kangaroo is frequently found grazing in plentiful numbers, but so shy is this animal at the approach of man, that he bounds into the thickets, and the traveler has no chance of shooting one of them for subsistence, nor indeed has he any hopes of gaining food, but by killing a rat which is found in great plenty and which Dr. Bass and his companions were often obliged to regale on in the course of their journey. There are other impediments nearly as insurmountable as the mountains, the jungle with which they are covered, and the ravines into which you are in danger every moment of falling headlong, namely the number of snakes every where to be met with, whose bite is so venomous as to prove mortal in every instance where medical aid cannot be immediately had. The natives frequently lose their lives and the settlement has experienced a considerable loss in their cattle, while grazing in the cow pasture, from being bit by this reptile.