An elegantly bound copy of the first edition.

An elegantly bound copy of the first edition.

In late 1845, with Edmund Kennedy as his second-in-command, Mitchell set out from Sydney in search of an overland route to the Port Essington settlement. Although he did not find the hoped-for route, over the next year he explored a vast area of unknown country in tropical Queensland, returning to Sydney in December 1846. As with his earlier expeditions, Mitchell showed contempt for official orders, preferring instead to follow his instincts. In this instance he seemed more interested in discovering the fabled Kindur River, one of his more enduring but erroneous beliefs. To justify his decision, he here represented his discovery of the Victoria River (which was in fact the Barcoo) as the legendary great north-flowing source. Although Mitchell did not succeed in finding a northward route and - if anything - further confused the riddle of the inland rivers upon his return, the expedition charted a vast area of previously unknown country without significant mishap or the loss of a single man.

The fine tinted lithograph views in the books are all after Mitchell's own drawings. His work as a topographical artist has gained increasing respect in recent years and can be appreciated in the plates prepared for this book. It is characterised by a fine attention to detail and an accomplished use of tone and shading.