They Began to Laugh, 1814
George William Evans arrived in Australia in 1804 and managed the government grain store at Parramatta. He went on to become acting surveyor-general, a farmer, an artist and a resolute explorer. In November 1813, in the wake of Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson, he became the first European to roam the lush plains to the west of the Blue Mountains. For this work he was awarded the sum of £100 and a thousand acres of land in Tasmania. He was to join other expeditions in both New South Wales and Tasmania.
In his later years, Evans opened a bookshop in Sydney. I wonder how many people dropped in just to chat with the old explorer. He loved children, for he had at least twelve of them himself, and seems to have delighted in their company, regardless of whether they were black or white. We join him in April 1814 near Bathurst.
Tuesday, 21st—Fine weather very warm; halted at the commencement of Bathurst Plains early, as I was desirous to examine this part. I ascended Mount Pleasant: the west end led me on a ridge of beautiful hills, along which I travelled about three miles; a small stream of water forming ponds run at their foot. I was gratified with a pleasant sight of an open country to the SW of them; at the space of seven or eight miles I could discern the course of a river winding to the west. I saw three or four large plains; the first of them I was on, the chain of ponds before mentioned running through it.
I feel much regret I am not able to travel a week or more in that direction. I imagine the flat open country extends thirty or forty miles; at the termination I can only discern one mountain quite pale with three peaks. I suspect an open country lay about the SW point; as I passed, the range of hills then obscured it from me, nor had I time to examine it.
I cannot speak too much of the country. The increase of stock for some 100 years cannot overrun it, the grass is so good and intermixed with variety of herbs. Emus and geese are numerous, but cannot get any.† We counted forty-one emus this day: our dogs will not follow them.
Returning we saw smoke on the north side of the river. At sunset as we were fishing I saw some natives coming down the plain. They did not see us until we surprised them: there were only two women and four children. The poor creatures trembled and fell down with fright; I think they were coming for water. I gave them what fish we had; some fish hooks, twine and a tomahawk they appeared glad to get from us. Two boys ran away; the other small children cried much at first. A little while after I played with them they began to be good-humoured and laugh. Both of the women were blind of their right eye.