Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia | Page 2

HOURS--FRIENDLY
NATIVES--SEPARATION CREEK--THE
LYND--PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF A SOJOURN IN THE
WILDERNESS--NATIVE CAMP--SALT EXHAUSTED.

CHAPTER IX
THE STARRY HEAVENS--SUBSTITUTE FOR
COFFEE--SAWFISH-- TWO-STORIED GUNYAS OF THE
NATIVES--THE MITCHELL--MURPHY'S PONY
POISONED--GREEN TREE-ANT--NEW
BEVERAGE--CROCODILE-- AUDACITY OF KITES--NATIVES
NOT FRIENDLY--THE CAMP ATTACKED AT NIGHT BY
THEM--MESSRS. ROPER AND CALVERT WOUNDED, AND MR.
GILBERT KILLED.

CHAPTER X
INDICATIONS OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE
SEA--NATIVES MUCH MORE NUMEROUS--THE SEA; THE
GULF OF CARPENTARIA--THE STAATEN--A NATIVE

INTRUDES INTO THE CAMP--THE VAN DIEMEN--THE
GILBERT--SINGULAR NATIVE HUTS--CARON
RIVER--FRIENDLY NATIVES--THE YAPPAR--MR. CALVERT
RECOVERED--MODE OF ENCAMPMENT--SWARMS OF
FLIES--ABUNDANCE OF SALT--NATIVES FRIENDLY, AND
MORE INTELLIGENT.

CHAPTER XI
SYSTEMATIC GRASS BURNINGS OF THE NATIVES--NATIVE
CARVING--AUDACITY OF THE NATIVES OVERAWED--THE
ALBERT, OR MAET SUYKER--NATIVE MODE OF MAKING
SURE OF A DEAD EMU-- BULLOCK BOGGED; OBLIGED TO
KILL IT--NATIVE DEVICE FOR TAKING EMUS--BEAMES'S
BROOK--THE NICHOLSON--RECONNOITRE BY
NIGHT--SMITH'S CREEK--THE MARLOW.

CHAPTER XII
HEAPS OF OYSTER-SHELLS--FALSE ALARM OF A NATIVE IN
THE CAMP--TURNER'S CREEK--WENTWORTH'S
CREEK--JOURNALS LOST; FOUND AGAIN--THE VAN
ALPHEN--IMPORTANCE OF TEA--CHOICE OF BULLOCKS FOR
AN EXPEDITION--CHOICE OF A DOG--THE CALVERT--THE
ABEL TASMAN--GLUCKING BIRD AGAIN--DISCOVER A
MODE OF USING THE FRUIT OF THE PANDANUS--SEVEN
EMU RIVER--CROCODILE--THE ROBINSON--SHOAL OF
PORPOISES--NATIVE METHOD OF PREPARING THE FRUIT OF
THE PANDANUS AND CYCAS FOR FOOD--MR. ROPER
CONVALESCENT--WEAR AND TEAR OF CLOTHES--SUCCEED
IN DRESSING THE SEEDS OF STERCULIA--THE
MACARTHUR--FRIENDLY PARLEY WITH CIRCUMCISED
NATIVES--STORE OF TEA EXHAUSTED--MEDICAL PROPERTY
OF THE GREVILLEA DISCOVERED.

CHAPTER XIII

CAPE MARIA--OBLIGED TO LEAVE A PORTION OF OUR
COLLECTION OF NATURAL HISTORY--LIMMEN BIGHT
RIVER--HABITS OF WATER BIRDS--NATIVE FISH TRAP--THE
FOUR ARCHERS--THE WICKHAM--THE DOG DIES--IMMENSE
NUMBER OF DUCKS AND GEESE--THE ROPER--THREE
HORSES DROWNED--OBLIGED TO LEAVE A PORTION OF MY
BOTANICAL COLLECTION--MORE INTERCOURSE WITH
FRIENLDY NATIVES, CIRCUMCISED--HODGSON'S
CREEK--THE WILTON--ANOTHER HORSE
DROWNED--ANXIETY ABOUT OUR CATTLE--AN ATTACK ON
THE CAMP FRUSTRATED--BOILS--BASALT
AGAIN--INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF THE SEEDS OF AN ACACIA.

CHAPTER XIV
INTERVIEW WITH A NATIVE--DISTRESSING HEAT--A HORSE
STAKED: IT DIES--MYRIADS OF
FLYING-FOXES--MAGNIFICENT VALLEY--FRIENDLY
NATIVES--SHOT EXHAUSTED--INSTINCT OF
BULLOCKS--SOUTH ALLIGATOR RIVER--FRIENDLY NATIVES
WITH AN ENGLISH HANDKERCHIEF, AND ACQUAINTED
WITH FIRE-ARMS--THEIR LANGUAGE--MIRAGE.

CHAPTER XV
JOY AT MEETING NATIVES SPEAKING SOME ENGLISH--THEY
ARE VERY FRIENDLY--ALLAMURR--DISCERNMENT OF
NATIVE SINCERITY--EAST ALLIGATOR RIVER--CLOUDS OF
DUST MISTAKEN FOR SMOKE-- IMPATIENCE TO REACH THE
END OF THE JOURNEY--NATIVES STILL MORE
INTELLIGENT--NYUALL--BUFFALOES; SOURCE FROM
WHICH THEY SPRUNG--NATIVE GUIDES ENGAGED; BUT
THEY DESERT US--MOUNT MORRIS BAY--RAFFLES
BAY--LEAVE THE PACKHORSE AND BULLOCK BEHIND--BILL
WHITE--ARRIVE AT PORT ESSINGTON--VOYAGE TO SYDNEY.
APPENDIX LETTER FROM THE COLONIAL SECRETARY TO
DR. LEICHHARDT

THE LEICHHARDT TESTIMONIAL
* * * * *
LIST OF PLATES (Not included in this etext)
Lagoon near South Alligator River Portraits of "Charley" and "Harry
Brown" Mount Nicholson, Expedition Range, &c. Peak Range Red
Mountain Fletcher's Awl, &c. Campbell's Peak Mount M'Connel.
Ranges seen from a granitic hill between second and third camp at the
Burdekin Robey's Range Grasshopper View near South Alligator River
Victoria Square, Port Essington

INTRODUCTION

ORIGIN OF THE EXPEDITION--PARTY FORMED--LEAVE
SYDNEY FOR BRISBANE--PARTY ENLARGED--OUTFIT AND
STORES.
On my return to Moreton Bay, from an exploratory journey in the
country northward of that district, which had occupied me for two years,
I found that the subject of an overland expedition to Port Essington on
the North Coast of Australia, was occupying much attention, as well on
the part of the public as on that of the Legislative Council, which had
earnestly recommended the appropriation of a sum of money to the
amount of 1000 pounds, for the equipment of an expedition under Sir
Thomas Mitchell, to accomplish this highly interesting object. Some
delay was, however, caused by the necessity of communicating with
the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and in the mean time it was
understood that Captain Sturt was preparing to start from Adelaide to
proceed across the Continent. From the experience which I had gained
during my two years' journeyings, both in surmounting the difficulties
of travelling through a broken mountainous country, and in enduring
privations of every sort, "I was inspired with the desire of attempting
it," provided I could be assisted in the expense that would necessarily
be incurred for the outfit, and could find a few companions who would
be contented with animal food, and willingly and patiently submit to
the privation of flour, tea, and sugar, and resign themselves to my
guidance.
I had well considered this interesting subject in all its bearings, and had
discussed it with many of my acquaintances at Brisbane and its

neighbouring district; who were generally of opinion that it was
practicable, under the plan I had marked out: but with others,
particularly at Sydney, I had to contend against a strong but kindly
meant opposition to my journey. Some, who took more than a common
interest in my pursuits, regretted that I should leave so promising a
field of research as that which offered itself within the limits of New
South Wales, and in which they considered I had laboured with some
success during the last