Mitchell on the Devil's Backbone

Sir Thomas Mitchell was investigating the route that had been set out for the Great North Road and was travelling from Twelve Mile Hollow to Hungry Flat. He set out this piece of the story in his Field Note and Sketch Book 1828-1830 (C41 Mitchell Library):- "Saturday 12th, (1829) left the encampment at half past eight and travelled along a very bad path along the range - so bad that one of the horses names Sharper - making a false step - fell and rolling was precipitated from rock to rock, till he was out of sight, which the crash of his fall from rock to rock was still heard. To the surprise of everyone, he was afterwards found below, still alive and subsequently carried his load! Being only injured by a severe cut on one of his thighs which made him lame a little. My table and seat were broken to pieces, but the rest of the load consisting of my tent and bedding were uninjured. We continued with difficulty along a rugged crest of a winding ridge, Sharper falling down again and other animals requiring adjustment of their loads, so that we made with difficulty at sunset, a poor open spot, clear of timber from mere sterility, called Hungry Flat, where we encamped for the night, the distance travelled being only 10 miles.

"Sunday 13th, while the animals were loading, I went to the top of a hill to reconnoitre the country. Saw Warrawalong, apparently distant about 12 miles - but from the sinuosity of the ranges, I thought it would be better to proceed to Young Wiseman's and then strike across to it. Before we left the camp, I sent back an overseer with a note to Mr Abbott requesting him to come by the Mangrove Road, this being so bad, and I directed this man to conduct them as soon as he could to Warrawalong - and then find out my encampment and conduct the party to it - It having appeared to me that the road by Mangrove must be both better and more direct to the mountain.