Expedition into Central Australia

Expedition into Central Australia

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Title: Expedition into Central Australia
Author: Charles Sturt
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4976] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 8,
2002]
Edition: 10

Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL ***

Produced by Col Choat [email protected]

EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL AUSTRALIA IN 2 VOLUMES.
(both in this one eBook) STURT, CHARLES (1795-1869)

PRODUCTION NOTES: 1. Notes have been placed in square brackets[]
where indicated in the published text or at the end of the paragraph, as
appropriate. 2. Italics in the published text have been capitalised in the
eBook, with the exception of common and scientific names appearing
in the appendices at the end of volume 2, which appear in the eBook as
normal text. 3. Plates and maps have not been included. Plates to both
volumess have been listed in the Table of Contents. 4. Errata have been
corrected. Original text has been placed in the eBook between
braces{}.

NARRATIVE OF AN EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
PERFORMED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT, DURING THE YEARS 1844, 5, AND 6,
TOGETHER WITH A NOTICE OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH
AUSTRALIA IN 1847.
IN 2 VOLUMES.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARL GREY, ETC. ETC. ETC.
MY LORD,
Although the services recorded in the following pages, which your
Lordship permits me to dedicate to you, have not resulted in the
discovery of any country immediately available for the purposes of
colonization, I would yet venture to hope that they have not been
fruitlessly undertaken, but that, as on the occasion of my voyage down

the Murray River, they will be the precursors of future advantage to my
country and to the Australian colonies.
Under present disappointment it must be as gratifying to those who
participated in my labours, as it is to myself to know that they are not
the less appreciated by your Lordship, because they were expended in a
desert.
I can only assure your Lordship, that it has been my desire to give a
faithful description of the country that has been explored, and of the
difficulties attending the task; nor can I refuse myself the anticipation
that the perusal of these volumes will excite your Lordship's interest
and sympathy. I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's Most obedient humble servant, CHARLES STURT.
London, November 21,1848.

NOTICE.
It might have been expected that many specimens, both of Botany and
Ornithology, would have been collected during such an Expedition as
that which the present narrative describes, but the contrary happened to
be the case.
I am proud in having to record the name of my esteemed friend, Mr.
Brown, the companion of Flinders, and the learned author of the
"Prodromus Novae Hollandiae," to whose kindness I am indebted for
the Botanical Remarks in the Appendix.
To my warm-hearted friend, Mr. Gould, whose splendid works are
before the Public, and whose ardent pursuits in furtherance of his
ambition, I have personally witnessed, I owe the more perfect form in
which my ornithological notice appears.
I have likewise to acknowledge, with very sincere feelings, the
assistance I have received from Mr. Arrowsmith, in the construction of
my Map, to whose anxious desire to ensure correctness and
professional talent I am very greatly indebted.
I hope the gentlemen whose names I have mentioned will accept my
best thanks for the assistance they have afforded me in my humble
labours. It is not the least of the gratifications enjoyed by those who are
employed on services similar to which I have been engaged, to be
brought more immediately in connection with such men.

London, November 21, 1848.

CONTENTS

VOLUME I.

CHAPTER I
CHARACTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT--OF ITS
RIVERS--