Kind, or to examine the country beyond the immediate line of route;
still it is hoped that the passing notices which are made in the journal,
and the knowledge of the similarity of appearance and uniform character,
prevalent throughout the greater portion of the country passed through,
will be quite sufficient to give a general and correct impression of the
whole.
To Mr. Gray of the British Museum, the author is particularly indebted
for his valuable contribution on the Natural History of the Southern
coast of Australia, and to Mr. Gould, the celebrated Ornithologist, his
thanks are equally due, for a classified and most interesting list of the
birds belonging to the same portion of the continent.
To Mr. Adam White, of the British Museum, he is also indebted for an
account of some new insects, and to Dr. Richardson, for a scientific and
classified arrangement of fish caught on the Southern coast, near King
George's Sound. The plates to which the numbers refer in the
last-mentioned paper, are the admirable drawings made from life, by J.
Neill, Esq. of King George's Sound, and now lodged at the British Museum.
They are, however, both too numerous and too large to give in a work of
this description, and will probably be published at some future time by
their talented author.
For the account given of the Aborigines the author deems it unnecessary
to offer any apology; a long experience among them, and an intimate
knowledge of their character, habits, and position with regard to
Europeans, have induced in him a deep interest on behalf of a people, who
are fast fading away before the progress of a civilization, which ought
only to have added to their improvement and prosperity. Gladly would the
author wish to see attention awakened on their behalf, and an effort at
least made to stay the torrent which is overwhelming them.
It is most lamentable to think that the progress and prosperity of one
race should conduce to the downfal and decay of another; it is still more
so to observe the apathy and indifference with which this result is
contemplated by mankind in general, and which either leads to no
investigation being made as to the cause of this desolating influence, or
if it is, terminates, to use the language of the Count Strzelecki, "in
the inquiry, like an inquest of the one race upon the corpse of the
other, ending for the most part with the verdict of 'died by the
visitation of God.'"
In his attempt to delineate the actual circumstances and position of the
natives, and the just claims they have upon public sympathy and
benevolence, he has been necessitated to refer largely to the testimony
of others, but in doing this he has endeavoured as far as practicable, to
support the views he has taken by the writings or opinions of those who
are, or who have been resident in the Colonies, and who might therefore
be supposed from a practical acquaintance with the subject, to be most
competent to arrive at just conclusions.
In suggesting the only remedy which appears at all calculated to mitigate
the evil complained of, it has studiously been kept in view that there
are the interests of two classes to be provided for, those of the
Settlers, and those of the Aborigines, it is thought that these interests
cannot with advantage be separated, and it is hoped that it may be found
practicable to blend them together.
The Aborigines of New Holland are not on the whole a numerous people;
they are generally of a very inoffensive and tractable character, and it
is believed that they may, under ordinary circumstances, almost always be
rendered peaceable and well-disposed by kind and consistent treatment.
Should this, in reality, prove to be the case, it may be found perhaps,
that they could be more easily managed, and in the long run at a less
expense, by some such system as is recommended, than by any other
requiring means of a more retaliatory or coercive character. The system
proposed is at least one which by removing in a great measure temptation
from the native, and thereby affording comparative security to the
settlers, will have a powerful effect in inducing the latter to unite
with the Government in any efforts made to ameliorate the condition of
the Aborigines; a union which under present or past systems has not ever
taken place, but one which it is very essential should be effected, if
any permanent good is hoped for.
To Mr. Moorhouse the author returns his best thanks for his valuable
notes on the Aborigines, to which he is indebted for the opportunity of
giving an account of many of the customs and habits of the Adelaide
tribes.
To Anthony Forster, Esq. he offers his warmest acknowledgments for his
assistance in overlooking the manuscripts during the voyage from
Australia, and correcting many errors which necessarily resulted from the
hurried manner in which they were prepared; it is to this kind
supervision must be ascribed the merit - negative though it may be - of
there not being more errors than there are.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE EXPEDITION - CONTEMPLATED EXPLORATION TO THE
WESTWARD - MEETING OF THE COLONISTS, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS ENTERED INTO FOR
THAT PURPOSE - NOTES ON THE UNFAVOURABLE NATURE OF THE COUNTRY TO THE
WESTWARD, AND PROPOSAL THAT THE NORTHERN INTERIOR SHOULD BE EXAMINED
INSTEAD - MAKE AN OFFER TO THE GOVERNOR TO CONDUCT SUCH AN
EXPEDITION - CAPTAIN STURT'S LECTURE - INTERVIEW WITH THE
GOVERNOR - ARRANGEMENT OF PLANS - PREPARATION OF OUTFIT - COST OF
EXPEDITION - NAME A DAY FOR DEPARTURE - PUBLIC BREAKFAST AND COMMENCEMENT
OF THE UNDERTAKING
CHAPTER II.
FIRST NIGHT'S ENCAMPMENT WITH PARTY - REFLECTIONS - ARRIVAL AT SHEEP
STATION - RE-ARRANGEMENTS OF LOADS - METHOD OF CARRYING FIRE-ARMS - COMPLETE
THE NUMBER OF THE PARTY - THEIR NAMES - MOVE ONWARDS - VALLEY OF THE
LIGHT - EXTENSIVE PLAINS - HEAD OF THE GILBERT - SCARCITY OF
FIREWOOD - GRASSY WELL-WATERED DISTRICTS - THE HILL AND HUTT
RIVERS - INDICATION OF CHANGE GOING ON IN APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER OF THE
COUNTRY, TRACEABLE IN THE REMAINS OF TIMBER IN THE PLAINS AND IN THE
OPENINGS AMONG SCRUBS - THE BROUGHTON - REEDY WATERCOURSE - CAMPBELL'S
RANGE - COURSE OF THE BROUGHTON
CHAPTER III.
SPRING HILL - AN AGED NATIVE DESERTED BY HIS TRIBE - RICH AND EXTENSIVE
PLAINS - SURPRISE A PARTY OF NATIVES - ROCKY RIVER - CRYSTAL BROOK - FLINDERS
RANGE - THE DEEP SPRING - MYALL PONDS - ROCKY WATER HOLES - DRY
WATERCOURSE - REACH THE DEPOT NEAR MOUNT ARDEN - PREPARE FOR LEAVING THE
PARTY - BLACK SWANS PASS TO THE NORTH - ARRIVAL OF THE WATERWITCH
CHAPTER IV.
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR GETTING UP STORES FROM THE WATERWITCH - LEAVE THE
PARTY - SALT WATERCOURSE - MOUNT EYRE - ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY - LAKE
TORRENS - RETURN TOWARDS THE HILLS - NATIVE FEMALE - SALINE CHARACTER OF THE
COUNTRY - MOUNT DECEPTION - REACH THE EASTERN HILLS - LARGE
WATERCOURSES - WATER HOLE IN A ROCK - GRASSY BUT HILLY COUNTRY - RUNNING
STREAM - ASCEND A RANGE - RETURN HOMEWARDS - DECAY OF TREES IN THE
WATERCOURSES - SHOOT A KANGAROO - ARRIVE AT THE DEPOT - BURY STORES - MAKE
PREPARATIOUS FOR LEAVING - SEUD DESPATCHES TO THE VESSEL
CHAPTER V.
BREAK UP THE ENCAMPMENT - ARRIVE AT DEPOT POOL - GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF
THE COUNTRY - BAROMETERS OUT OF ORDER - ADVANCE TO RECONNOITRE - ASCEND
TERMINATION HILL - SURPRISE NATIVE WOMEN - THEY ABANDON THEIR
CHILDREN - INEFFECTUAL SEARCH FOR WATER - RETURN TOWARDS MOUNT
DECEPTION - BROKEN CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY - FIND WATER - THE SCOTT - REJOIN
THE PARTY - WATER ALL USED AT THE DEPOT - EMBARRASSING
CIRCUMSTANCES - REMOVE TO THE SCOTT - RECONNOITRE IN ADVANCE - BARREN
COUNTRY - TABLE-TOPPED ELEVATIONS - INDICATIONS OF THE VIOLENT ACTION OF
WATER - MEET NATIVES - REACH LAKE TORRENS - THE WATER SALT - OBLIGED TO
RETURN - ARRIVAL AT DEPOT - HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE NATIVES.
