McKinlays Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia

McKinlay's Journal of
Exploration in the Interior of
Australia

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Title: McKinlay's Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia
Author: John McKinlay
Release Date: August 22, 2004 [EBook #13248]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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MCKINLAY'S JOURNAL ***

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MCKINLAY'S
JOURNAL OF EXPLORATION

IN THE
INTERIOR OF AUSTRALIA.
(BURKE RELIEF EXPEDITION.)
WITH THREE MAPS.

MELBOURNE: F.F. BAILLIERE, PUBLISHER IN ORDINARY TO
THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT, AND IMPORTER OF
MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WORKS. LONDON. NEW YORK.
PARIS. MADRID.
COLONIAL AGENTS: SYDNEY, A. CUBITT; ADELAIDE, W.C.
RIGBY; TASMANIA, WALCH AND SONS.
* * *
MCKINLAY'S EXPLORATIONS.
DIARY OF MR. J. MCKINLAY,
LEADER OF THE BURKE RELIEF EXPEDITION:
BEING JOURNAL OF EXPLORATIONS IN THE INTERIOR OF
AUSTRALIA, TOGETHER WITH CHART.
TO THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF
CROWN LANDS.
Depot Camp, Cudye-cudyena, or Buchanan Lake,
October 26, 1861.
Sir,
The following is a brief resume of the proceedings of the Burke Relief
Expedition since the date of my departure from Adelaide.
Started from Adelaide with the camels, etc., on 16th August, 1861, and
overtook the remnant of the party, horses, cart, etc. etc., nothing of any
particular note occurring on the journey to Blanchewater (Mr. Baker's
station) more than ordinary on such journeys, save the worthlessness of
the cart and consequent detention thereon. A few days before arriving
at said station, I was informed that the natives had brought in a report
of some white men and camels being seen at some inland water by
them, or rather others of Pando or Lake Hope tribe, but did not give the
report much credit knowing how easy a person may be misled from the
statement he hears from natives, and the probability of putting a wrong
construction upon what he hears, more particularly from a tribe of
people who really do not understand what you say to them, having
hardly any English, but intend making every inquiry and, if at all

satisfactory on the point, will make a push for their relief.
BLANCHEWATER.
Got all the stores forwarded ex Lubra, and dray repacked, and started
on Tuesday, September 24; went about eleven miles, camels and cart
camped at small creek, the horses camped further on, having mistaken
their instructions; poor country.
Wednesday, September 25.
Tooncutchan, Mr. Baker's outstation--sixteen miles; met Mr. Elder and
Mr. Giles there, and Mr. Stuckey arrived in the afternoon; poor country.
Thursday, September 26.
Manawaukaninna, Messrs. Stuckey's outstation, unoccupied; thirteen
and a half miles. Mr. Stuckey and I went to Lake Torrens about three
miles distant to look out for a good crossing-place for the cart, which
we did, and returned to hut. Three of the horses had a narrow escape
from drowning before starting this morning. The country was a little
better today; filled all our water vessels and bags for the dry country
between this and Pando or Lake Hope.
Friday, September 27.
Started early; got all safe across the Lake Torrens, no water being at
our crossing nor in view. Horses and camels went on to camp about
twenty-five miles distant and leave what water was to spare for the dray
and my horse, and proceed on the next day to Lake Pando, which I
found afterwards they did, then bearing from 2 degrees 30 minutes to 3
degrees; cart and sheep came twelve and a half miles on same course;
at three miles crossed Lake Torrens, then over a fearful jumble of
broken sandhills quite unfit to be described, occasionally passing a
small flat trending west-north-west and east-south-east; at eleven and a
half miles passed on our left a small salt lake, dry, half a mile long;
watched bullocks and sheep.
Saturday, September 28.
Started early, came ten miles similar country; did not get to within two
miles of where the horses and camels camped on 27th. I rode on and
found the water there, and very welcome it was. The bullocks refused
to pull and several lay down in the dray and a couple of them charged
right and left; unyoked them and came on with them to where the water
was left, from which place I meant to start the two blacks, Peter and
Sambo, into the lake with them; gave the blacks each a canteen full of

water, also Jack, the native shepherd, with instructions to keep on to the
lake on the tracks of the advance party, intending