McKinlays Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia | Page 7

hot day,
wind north. On our way the natives informed us that the natives we had
left in the morning had murdered the man said to be at the end of our
day's stage. On some of the ridges and on crossing a large flat creek I
observed two new trees or shrubs (they are both) from one I obtained
some seeds like beans, and rather a nice tree; the other, when large, at a
distance looks like a shea-oak, having a very dark butt and long,
drooping, dark-green, narrow leaves, and did not appear to have any
seeds at present. Started at 7.17 till twenty-two minutes to 10, nine
miles, on a bearing of from 100 to 105 degrees; at 8.18 sighted a large
timbered creek, distant one mile, for about seven miles, 360 to 140
degrees. At twenty-two minutes to 10 observed a large dry salt lake
bearing 341 degrees, north-west arm 330 degrees, north arm 355
degrees, distance to extreme point of north bank nine miles. Bullingani
informed us that a large lake lay on a bearing of 110 degrees, some
distance off, named Murri Murri Ando. At 10.15 started on a fresh
course of 64 degrees, crossing, 11.15, a small salt lake rapidly drying
up. At 11.30 altered course to 100 degrees; at twenty-five minutes to 12
to ten minutes to 1 spelled on sandhill, waiting for the camels, they
feeling the effects of the steep sandhill. At nine minutes past 1 altered
course to 116 degrees; at 1.15 altered course to 161 degrees; at seven
minutes to 2 changed to 47 degrees; and at 2.20 reached Lake
Kadhibaerri. Found plenty of water and watered the horses (the camels
some distance behind, quite unable to keep up) and at once proceeded
northward along the side of a large beautifully-timbered grassed and
clovered swamp (or creek about one and a half miles across) to
ascertain the fact as to the presence of a European, dead or alive, and
there found a grave rudely formed by the natives, evidently not one of
themselves, sufficient pains not having been taken, and from other

appearances at once set it down as the grave of a white, be he who he
may. Returned to lake to await the coming of the camels which was not
till about 5 p.m. Determined in the morning to have the grave opened
and ascertain its contents. Whilst I went to top of sandhills, looking
round me, Mr. Hodgkinson strayed a short distance to some old
deserted native huts a short distance off, and by and by returned bearing
with him an old flattened pint pot, no marks upon it--further evidence
that it was a white, and felt convinced that the grave we saw was that of
a white man; plenty of clover and grasses the whole distance travelled,
about eighteen miles. Kept watch as usual (but did not intend doing so)
but just as we were retiring a fire suddenly struck up and we thought
some of the natives had followed us, or some others had come to the
lake, rather a strange matter after dark. The fire soon after disappeared,
which made us more certain still that it was natives. Intend spelling the
camels for a few days to recruit them; one on arrival was completely
done up and none of the others looking very sprightly.
Monday, October 21.
Up in good time; before starting for the grave went round the lake,
taking Mr. Hodgkinson with me to see if natives were really on lake, as
I did not intend saddling the camels today if there were no natives here,
intending to leave our camp unprotected, rather unwise, but being so
short of hands could not help it, the grave being much out of sight.
Found no natives round the lake nor any very recent traces saving that
some of the trees were still burning that they (when here last) had
lighted. We started at once for the grave, taking a canteen of water with
us and all the arms. On arrival removed the earth carefully and close to
the top of the ground found the body of a European enveloped in a
flannel shirt with short sleeves, a piece of the breast of which I have
taken; the flesh I may say completely cleared from the bones, and very
little hair but what must have been decomposed; what little there was I
have taken. Description of body, skull, etc: marked with slight sabre
cuts, apparently two in number, one immediately over the left eye, the
other on the right temple, inclining over right ear, more deep than the
left. Decayed teeth existed on both sides of lower jaw and right of
upper; the other teeth were entire and sound. In the lower jaw were