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 two years. Others considered the undertaking
exceedingly dangerous, and even the conception of it madness on my part;
and the consequence of a blind enthusiasm, nourished either by a deep
devotion to science, or by an unreasonable craving for fame: whilst
others did not feel themselves justified in assisting a man who they
considered was setting out with an intention of committing suicide. I was
not, however, blind as to the difficulties of the journey which I was
determined to undertake; on the contrary, and I hope my readers will
believe me to be sincere, I thought they would be many and great - greater
indeed than they eventually proved to be; but, during my recent
excursions through the Squatting districts, I had so accustomed myself to
a comparatively wild life, and had so closely observed the habits of the
aborigines, that I felt assured that the only real difficulties which I
could meet with would be of a local character.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 6 of 524
Words from 1454 to 1723
of 141354
