Journal of Landsboroughs Expedition from Carpentaria

Journal of Landsborough's
Expedition from Carpentaria

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Title: Journal of Landsborough's Expedition from Carpentaria In search
of Burke and Wills
Author: William Landsborough
Release Date: July 8, 2005 [EBook #16243]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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OF LANDSBOROUGH'S ***

Produced by Sue Asscher

JOURNAL OF LANDSBOROUGH'S EXPEDITION
FROM CARPENTARIA,

IN SEARCH OF BURKE AND WILLS.
WITH A MAP SHOWING HIS ROUTE.
MELBOURNE: F.F. BAILLIERE, PUBLISHER, 85 COLLINS
STREET EAST. LONDON: H. BAILLIERE. PARIS: J.B.
BAILLIERE. NEW YORK AND MADRID. AND ALL
BOOKSELLERS.
1862.

LANDSBOROUGH'S EXPEDITION.
The readers of this pamphlet are no doubt aware that the anxiety
entertained for the fate of Burke and Wills led to the formation of
several expeditions in their search. The first of these was formed in
Melbourne and entrusted to the command of Mr. Howitt. The second in
Adelaide, under Mr. McKinlay. The third from Rockhampton, under
Mr. Walker; and the fourth from Brisbane, under Mr. Landsborough.
These several expeditions were organised and started within a short
period of each other. The steamship Victoria, Commander Norman,
was despatched by the Victorian Government to the Gulf of
Carpentaria to assist the explorers in carrying out their objects.
Mr. Howitt, as is well-known, early succeeded in ascertaining the
melancholy fate of Burke and Wills: but before his letter announcing it
reached Melbourne the other expeditions referred to had set out.
The brig Firefly was chartered in Melbourne to take from Brisbane to
Carpentaria Mr. Landsborough's party and equipments, and also some
stores for Mr. Walker's party, the latter having been instructed to
proceed from Rockhampton overland, by the shortest route, to a
rendezvous at the Gulf. The Firefly, having reached Moreton Bay and
shipped the horses, set sail for Carpentaria on the 24th August with Mr.
Landsborough and his party.
As it is the object of this pamphlet to give details, especially of his

expedition, the journal, letters, etc., which follow, are now presented.
...
(NUMBER 1.)
BRISBANE PARTY, W. LANDSBOROUGH, ESQUIRE, LEADER,
REPORT TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 1861.
(COPY.)
Sweer's Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, 30th September 1861.
To Captain Norman of Her Majesty's Colonial War Steamer Victoria,
and Commander-in-chief of Northern Expedition Parties.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that the greatest attention was paid by
my parties to the horses for the expedition on board the Firefly, and
they ought, during the eight days after leaving Moreton Bay, while we
had the finest weather, to have done well, if their allowance of five
gallons of water each a day had been sufficient for them; but with that
allowance they were so thirsty that they did not thrive well. That
quantity of water may do well for horses intended for the Indian market,
where they can be fattened afterwards; but for our expedition horses,
which were intended for immediate service on landing, to be kept in a
close hold, confined by the cargo of the vessel, and fed with dry forage
(they did not eat the carrots at first, until they had acquired a taste for
them) eight gallons of water each per day at least should have been
allowed to them.
On Sunday the 1st instant, when Captain Kirby expected to get through
the Raine Island passage on the following day, where he hoped to get
such calm weather that it would admit of your giving him a fresh
supply of water, he allowed our party to give the horses a good drink.
On that occasion they drank each, on an average, nine gallons. Towards
evening of the same day the breeze freshened into a gale, and about ten

at night, when the Firefly was head-reaching under close-reefed sails,
we had the misfortune to lose sight of H.M.C.S. Victoria, under your
command.
On Monday the 2nd instant the gale continued, and during the night the
ship was hove to with her head to the eastward.
On Tuesday the 3rd instant the gale still continued, but Captain Kirby,
having got observations of the sun, he boldly made sail in for the reefs,
and between eleven and twelve a.m. he sighted the Raine Island beacon,
and early in the afternoon he went through the passage, and got into
smooth water, where we congratulated ourselves, and were thankful, I
hope, to God, for the comparative safety of ourselves, and also of the
horses under our charge.
All the horses were alive except one, which, from the sand being
pumped from