Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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There Is Not, However, In The Journals Of
Either Of The Brothers The Slightest Indication Of Despondency Or
Complaint.
'February' 2.
- The main camp was reached this morning early, and
everything found safe and right, save in one particular, that
deserves recording. In looking over the ration account, Mr. Jardine
found a deficiency of 30 lbs. of flour, accruing in the interval of
the four days of his absence. All denied any knowledge of it, and
all were equally certain that the allowance had not been exceeded;
"so" writes Frank Jardine, "where it is gone to, I am never likely to
know," and there the matter dropped. It is humiliating to think,
that amongst white men banded together in exploring parties, where
the success and safety of the enterprise are much dependent on the
good conduct of each individual member, there should be found
individuals so ignoble, as to appropriate an undue share of the
common stock of food on which the health, and perhaps the life of
each equally depends; and yet, sad to say, such instances are not
singular. The well-proved charge against Gray of cooking flour for
himself privately, for which he was chastised by poor Burke, is one
instance. Gray's excuse was that he was so ill, and his apologists
point to the fact that he subsequently died. Either Burke or Wills
would have died on the spot, rather than have taken an ounce more
than their meanest companion, and yet it has been asked why this man
has had no monument.
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