An examination of Major Mitchells northern journeys in 1831-32 and 1845-6 with the emphasis on contact with Kamilaroi and Yuwaaliyaay/Yuwaalaraay people; includes supplementary evidence from other primary sources; maps constructed from Mitchells diaries and detailed historical investigation of place names and their origins with reference to recent linguistic work; the final essay deals with contact history and the impact of colonial settlement; includes an appendix of population estimates in the Upper Hunter Valley and north central New South Wales 1826-1910.