Expeditions into Central Australia | Page 8

westward, was that of opening a route for the transit of stock from one
colony to the other--nay it was even proposed and agreed to by a
majority of the gentlemen attending the public meeting that the first
party of exploration should be accompanied by cattle. Now, from my
previous examination of the country to the westward of the located
parts of South Australia, I had in 1839 fully satisfied myself, not only
of the difficulty, but of the utter impracticability of opening an overland
route for stock in that direction, and I at once stated my opinion to that
effect, and endeavoured to turn the general attention from the
Westward to the North, as being the more promising opening, either for
the discovery of a good country, or of an available route across the
continent. The following extract, from a paper by me on the subject,
was published in the South Australian Register of the 23rd May, 1840,
and contains my opinion at that time of the little prospect there was of
any useful result accruing from the carrying out of the proposed
expedition to the Westward:--
"It may now, therefore, be a question for those who are interested in the
sending an expedition overland to the Swan River to consider what are
likely to be the useful results from such a journey. In a geographical
point of view it will be exceedingly interesting to know the character of
the intervening country between this colony and theirs, and to unfold
the secrets hidden by those lofty, and singular cliffs at the head of the
Great Bight, and so far, it might perhaps be practicable--since it is
possible that a light party might, in a favourable season, force their way
across. As regards the transit of stock, however, my own conviction is
that it is quite impracticable. The vast extent of desert country to the
westward--the scarcity of grass--the denseness of the scrub--and the all

but total absence of water, even in the most favourable seasons, are in
themselves, sufficient bars to the transit of stock, even to a distance we
are already acquainted with. I would rather, therefore, turn the public
attention to the Northward, as being the most probable point from
which discoveries of importance may be made, or such as are likely to
prove beneficial to this and the other colonies, and from which it is
possible the veil may be lifted, from the still unknown and mysterious
interior of this vast continent."
On the 27th I dined with His Excellency the Governor, and had a long
conversation with him on the subject of the proposed Western
Expedition, and on the exploration of the Northern Interior. With his
usual anxiety to promote any object which he thought likely to benefit
the colony, and advance the cause of science, His Excellency expressed
great interest in the examination of the Northern Interior, and a desire
that an attempt should be made to penetrate its recesses during the
ensuing season.
As I had been the means of diverting public attention from a Western to
a Northern exploration, so was I willing to encounter myself the risks
and toils of the undertaking I had suggested, and I therefore at once
volunteered to His Excellency to take the command of any party that
might be sent out, to find one-third of the number of horses required,
and pay one-third of the expenses. Two days after this a lecture was
delivered at the Mechanics' Institute in Adelaide, by Captain Sturt,
upon the Geography and Geology of Australia, at the close of which
that gentleman acquainted the public with the proposal I had made to
the Governor, and the sanction and support which His Excellency was
disposed to give it. The following extract is from Captain Sturt's
address, and shews the disinterested and generous zeal which that
talented and successful traveller was ever ready to exert on behalf of
those who were inclined to follow the career of enterprise and ambition
in which he had with such distinction led the way.
"Before I conclude, however, having drawn your attention to the
science of geology, I would for a moment dwell on that of geography,
and the benefit the pursuit and study of it has been to mankind. To

geography we owe all our knowledge of the features of the earth's
surface, our intercourse with distant nations, and our enjoyments of
numberless comforts and luxuries. The sister sciences of geography and
hydrography have enabled us to pursue our way to any quarter of the
habitable and uninhabitable world. With the history of geography,
moreover, our proudest feelings are associated. Where are there names
dearer to us than those of the noble and devoted Columbus, of
Sebastian Cabot, of Cook, of Humboldt, and of Belzoni and La Perouse?