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.
