Overland Expedition of The Messrs dine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland | Page 4

CAPE YORK,
NORTHERN QUEENSLAND.
___________________
COMPILED FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE BROTHERS, AND
EDITED
BY FREDERICK J. BYERLEY,
(ENGINEER OF ROADS, NORTHERN DIVISION OF
QUEENSLAND).

BRISBANE
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. W. BUXTON, BOOKSELLER
AND STATIONER.
_____
1867.

TO
SIR CHARLES NICHOLSON, BART.,
CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, etc., etc., etc.,
AS ONE OF OUR OLDEST AND MOST DISTINGUISHED
COLONISTS.
THE NARRATIVE IS INSCRIBED WITH GREAT RESPECT, BY
THE EDITOR.

PREFACE.
THE Settlement of Northern Australia has of late years been of such
rapid growth as to furnish matter for a collection of narratives, which in
the aggregate would make a large and interesting volume. Prominent
amongst these stands that of the Settlement of Cape York, under the
superintendence of Mr. Jardine, with which the gallant trip of his two
sons overland must ever be associated. It was a journey which, but for
the character and qualities of the Leader, might have terminated as
disastrously as that of his unfortunate, but no less gallant predecessor,
Kennedy. A brilliant achievement in exploration, in a colony where
exploring has become common and almost devoid of interest, from the
number of those yearly engaged in it, its very success has prevented its
attracting that share of public attention to which its results very fully

entitled it. Had it been attended with any signal disaster, involving loss
of life, it would have been otherwise. Geographically, it has solved the
question hitherto undecided of the course of the northern rivers
emptying into the Gulf of Carpentaria, of which nothing was previously
known but their outlets, taken from the charts of the Dutch Navigators.
It has also made known, with tolerable definiteness, how much, or
rather, how little, of the "York Peninsula" is adapted for pastoral
occupation, whilst its success in taking the first stock overland, and
forming a cattle station at Newcastle Bay, has insured to the Settlement
at Somerset a necessary and welcome supply of fresh meat, and done
away with its dependence for supplies on importations by sea of less
nourishing salt provision.
Starting from the then farthest out-station of Northern Queensland with
a small herd of cattle, these hardy young bushmen met with and
successfully combated, almost every "accident by flood and field" that
could well occur in an expedition. First, an arid waterless country
forced them to follow down two streams at right angles with their
course for upwards of 200 miles, causing a delay which betrayed them
into the depths of the rainy season; then the loss of half their food and
equipment by a fire, occasioned by the carelessness of some of the
party; next the scarcity of grass and water, causing a further delay by
losses of half their horses, which were only recovered to be again lost
altogether -- killed by eating a deadly poison plant; and finally, the
setting in of the wet season, making the ground next to impassable, and
so swelling the rivers, that when actually in sight, and within a week's
journey of their destination, they were turned off their course, and were
more than six weeks in reaching it. Added to this, and running through
the whole journey, was the incessant and determined, although
unprovoked, hostility of the natives, which, but for the unceasing
vigilence and prompt and daring action of the Brothers, might have
eventually compassed the annihilation of the whole party. Had
Leichhardt used the same vigilance and decision the life of poor Gilbert
would not have been sacrificed, and in all probability we should not
now deplore his own loss. But the black tribes which dogged the steps
of each expedition, and amongst whom, probably, were the slayers of
Kennedy and Gilbert, met at the hands of the Brothers the treatment

they deserved. If the lessons were severe, they were in every case of the
native's own seeking, and were administered in fair and open combat,
in which few of the white party were without having narrow escapes to
record; but a providential good fortune seemed to attend them, for
every member got through the journey without accident. An account
has been furnished to the newspapers in the form of a journal by Mr.
Richardson, the Surveyor appointed to accompany the expedition, but it
is much too brief and epitomized to do justice to the subject, and omits
altogether the detached and independant trips of the Brothers whilst
exploring ahead to find the best country through which to take the herd;
and, as the Brothers Jardine themselves would probably much rather
repeat their journey than write a full account of it, it has devolved on
the Editor to attempt to put before the public a compilation of their
journals in such form as will give the narrative sufficient interest to
carry with it the attention of the reader to