Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia | Page 4

the limits of the
habitat of the Eastern Coast Birds, and also where those of the North
Coast commence; as well as of discovering forms new to Science
during the progress of the journey, that, from a desire to render all the
service in my power to Natural History, I found myself obliged to yield
to his solicitations, although for some time I was opposed to his wish.
These gentlemen equipped themselves, and added four horses and two
bullocks to those already provided.
Perhaps, of all the difficulties I afterwards encountered, none were of
so much real annoyance as those we experienced at first starting from
Brisbane. Much rain had fallen, which filled the creeks and set them
running, and made the road so boggy and soft as to render them almost
impassable. It took us the whole day to transport our party, cattle, and
provisions over the river, and the operation was not concluded before
sunset; but, as it was a fine moonlight night, I determined to start,
however short my first stage might be. Fortunately, my friends had lent
me a bullock dray to convey a portion of our stores as far as Darling
Downs; but, having purchased a light spring cart, it was also loaded;
and, flattering myself that we should proceed comfortably and rapidly,
I gave orders to march. After much continued difficulty in urging and
assisting our horses to drag the cart through the boggy road, we arrived,
at about one o'clock in the morning, at Cowper's Plains, about ten miles
from Brisbane.
I now found my cart an impediment to our movements; but, as it had
been an expensive article, I did not despair of its becoming more useful
after passing the boggy country. A few days afterwards, however, an
accident settled the question; the horses ran away with it, and thereby
the shaft was broken, and the spring injured, so that I was compelled to
leave it; which I then did most cheerfully, as it is always easier to man
to yield to necessity, than to adopt an apparently inconvenient measure
by his own free will. The load was removed to pack-horses, and we

proceeded with comparative ease to Mr. Campbell's station, enjoying
the hospitality of the settlers as we passed on, and carrying with us their
best wishes.
I was fortunate in exchanging my broken cart for three good travelling
bullocks, and afterwards purchased five draft-bullocks, which we
commenced to break in for the pack-saddle; for I had by this time
satisfied myself that we could not depend upon the horses for carrying
our load. Neither my companions nor myself knew much about
bullocks, and it was a long time before we were reconciled to the
dangerous vicinity of their horns. By means, however, of iron
nose-rings with ropes attached, we obtained a tolerable command over
their movements; and, at last, by dint of habit, soon became familiar
with, and even got attached to, our blunt and often refractory
COMPAGNONS DE VOYAGE.
By a present from Messieurs Campbell and Stephens of four young
steers and one old bullock, and of a fat bullock from Mr. Isaacs, our
stock of cattle consisted now of 16 head: of horses we had 17: and our
party consisted of ten individuals. Of provisions--we had 1200 lbs. of
flour: 200 lbs. of sugar: 80 lbs. of tea: 20 lbs. of gelatine: and other
articles of less consideration, but adding much to our comfort during
the first few weeks of our journey. Of ammunition--we had about 30
pounds of powder, and 8 bags of shot of different sizes, chiefly of No. 4
and No. 6. Every one, at my desire, had provided himself with two pair
of strong trowsers, three strong shirts, and two pair of shoes; and I may
further remark that some of us were provided with Ponchos, made of
light strong calico, saturated with oil, which proved very useful to us by
keeping out the wet, and made us independent of the weather; so that
we were well provided for seven months, which I was sanguine enough
to think would be a sufficient time for our journey. The result proved
that our calculations, as to the provisions, were very nearly correct; for
even our flour, much of which was destroyed by accident, lasted to the
end of May, the eighth month of our journey; but, as to the time it
occupied, we were very much deceived.
Our riding-saddles and pack-saddles were made of good materials, but
they were not fitted to the horses' backs, which caused a constant
inconvenience, and which would not have happened, had my means
allowed me to go to a greater expense. So long as we had spare horses,

to allow those with sore backs to recover, we did not suffer by it: