October 6. — In the course of the afternoon I learnt that a little boy about twelve years old, a son of Mr. Hawson’s, had been speared on the previous day by the natives, at a station about a mile and a half from my tent. The poor little fellow had, it seems, been left alone at the station, and the natives had come to the hut and speared him. The wounds were of that fatal character, being from barbed spears which had remained in the flesh, that no hopes could be entertained of his surviving their removal. The following account of the occurrence is extracted from a report, on the subject, to the Government by Dr. Harvey, the Colonial Surgeon at Port Lincoln, who attended the boy in his last sufferings.
“The poor boy has borne this heavy affliction with the greatest fortitude8, assuring us “that he is not afraid to die.” He says that on Monday (5th), he was left in the station hut whilst his brother came into town, and that about ten or eleven natives surrounded his hut, and wished for something to eat. He gave them bread and rice — all he had, and as they endeavoured to force themselves into his hut, he went out and fastened the door, standing9 on the outside with his gun by his side and a sword in his hand, which he held for the purpose of fighting them. He did not make any signs of using them. One of the children gave him a spear to throw, and while in the act of throwing it, he received the two spears in his chest — he did not fall. He took up his gun and shot one of the natives, who fell, but got up again and ran away; they all fled, but returned and shewed signs of throwing another spear, when he lifted the gun a second time, upon which they all made off.
“He remained with the two spears, seven feet long, sticking in his breast; he tried to cut and saw them without effect; he also tried to walk home, but could not; he then sat upon the ground and put the ends of the spears in the fire to try to burn them off, and in this position he was found at ten o’clock at night, upon the return of his brother Edward (having been speared eleven hours.) He immediately sawed the ends of the spears off, and placed him on horseback, and brought him into town, when I saw him.
“Mr. Smith (with the police force) has gone in search of the natives, one of whom can be identified as having thrown a spear at the boy, he having a piece of red flannel11 tied round his beard.
“This circumstance has thrown the settlement into great distress12. The German missionary13, Rev6. Mr. Schurman, has gone with Mr. Smith. I am told that the natives have been fired at from some of the stations. I hope this is not the case. The Rev. Mr. Schurman says that Mr. Edward Hawson told him he shot after some a short time ago to frighten them, after they had stolen something from the same hut where they speared his brother. This is denied by the family, but I will ascertain14 the truth upon the return of the party, Mr. E. Hawson having accompanied them.”
The natives immediately disappeared from the vicinity of the settlement, and were not heard of again for a long time. Such is the account of this melancholy15 affair as given to Dr. Harvey by the boy, who, I believe, also made depositions16 before a magistrate17 to the same effect. Supposing this account to be true, and that the natives had not received any previous provocation18 either from him or from any other settlers in the neighbourhood, this would appear to be one of the most wanton, cold blooded, and treacherous19 murders upon record, and a murder seemingly as unprovoked as it was without object. Had the case been one in which the European had been seen for the first time by the aboriginal20 inhabitants of the country, it would have been neither surprising nor at variance21 with what more civilised nations would probably have done under circumstances of a similar nature. Could we imagine an extraordinary looking being, whose presence and attributes were alike unknown to us, and of a nature to excite our apprehensions22, suddenly appearing in any part of our own country, what would be the reception he would meet with among ourselves, and especially if by locating himself in any particular part of the country he prevented us from approaching those haunts to which we had been accustomed from our infancy23 to resort, and which we looked upon as sacred to ourselves? It is not asserting too much to say that in such a case the country would be raised in a hue24 and cry, and the intruder would meet with the fate that has sometimes befallen the traveller or the colonist25 when trespassing26 upon the dominions27 of the savage28.
In the present lamentable29 instance, however, the natives could not have acted under the influence of an impulse like this. Here the Europeans had been long located in the neighbourhood, they were known to, and had been frequently visited by the Aborigines, and the intercourse30 between them had in some instances at least been of a friendly character. What then could have been the inducement to commit so cold and ruthless an act? or what was the object to be attained31 by it? Without pausing to seek for answers to these questions which, in the present case, it must be difficult, if not impossible, to solve, it may be worth while to take a view of the conduct of the Aborigines of Australia, generally, towards the invaders32 and usurpers of their rights, setting aside altogether any acts of violence or injury which they may have committed under the influence of terror, naturally excited by the first presence of strangers among them, and which arise from an impulse that is only shared by them in common with mankind generally. I shall be borne out, I think, by facts when I state that the Aborigines of this country have seldom been guilty of wanton or unprovoked outrages33, or committed acts of rapine or bloodshed, without some strongly exciting cause, or under the influence of feelings that would have weighed in the same degree with Europeans in similar circumstances. The mere34 fact of such incentives35 not being clearly apparent to us, or of our being unable to account for the sanguinary feelings of natives in particular cases, by no means argues that incentives do not exist, or that their feelings may not have been justly excited.
If we find the Aborigines of Australia ordinarily acting36 under the influence of no worse motives37 or passions than usually actuate man in a civilised state, we ought in fairness to suppose that sufficient provocative38 for retaliation39 has been given in those few instances of revenge, which, our imperfect knowledge of the circumstances attending them does not enable us satisfactorily to account for. In considering this question honestly, we must take into account many points that we too often lose sight of altogether when discussing the conduct of the natives, and more especially when we are doing so under the excitement and irritation40 arising from recent hostilities41. We should remember: —
First, That our being in their country at all is, so far as their ideas of right and wrong are concerned, altogether an act of intrusion and aggression42.
Secondly43, That for a very long time they cannot comprehend our motives for coming amongst them, or our object in remaining, and may very naturally imagine that it can only be for the purpose of dispossessing them.
Thirdly, That our presence and settlement, in any particular locality, do, in point of fact, actually dispossess the aboriginal inhabitants. 14
Fourthly, That the localities selected by Europeans, as best adapted for the purposes of cultivation44, or of grazing, are those that would usually be equally valued above others, by the natives themselves, as places of resort, or districts in which they could most easily procure45 their food. This would especially be the case in those parts of the country where water was scarce, as the European always locates himself close to this grand necessary of life. The injustice46, therefore, of the white man’s intrusion upon the territory of the aboriginal inhabitant, is aggravated47 greatly by his always occupying the best and most valuable portion of it.
14 Vide, Notes on the Aborigines, chap. I.
Fifthly, That as we ourselves have laws, customs, or prejudices, to which we attach considerable importance, and the infringement48 of which we consider either criminal or offensive, so have the natives theirs, equally, perhaps, dear to them, but which, from our ignorance or heedlessness, we may be continually violating, and can we wonder that they should sometimes exact the penalty of infraction49? do not we do the same? or is ignorance a more valid50 excuse for civilized51 man than the savage?
Sixthly, What are the relations usually subsisting52 between the Aborigines and settlers, locating in the more distant, and less populous53 parts of the country: those who have placed themselves upon the outskirts54 of civilization, and who, as they are in some measure beyond the protection of the laws, are also free from their restraints? A settler going to occupy a new station, removes, perhaps, beyond all other Europeans, taking with him his flocks, and his herds55, and his men, and locates himself wherever he finds water, and a country adapted for his purposes. At the first, possibly, he may see none of the inhabitants of the country that he has thus unceremoniously taken possession of; naturally alarmed at the inexplicable56 appearance, and daring intrusion of strangers, they keep aloof57, hoping, perhaps, but vainly, that the intruders may soon retire. Days, weeks, or months pass away, and they see them still remaining. Compelled at last, it may be by enemies without, by the want of water in the remoter districts, by the desire to procure certain kinds of food, which are peculiar58 to certain localities, and at particular seasons of the year, or perhaps by a wish to revisit their country and their homes, they return once more, cautiously and fearfully approaching what is their own — the spot perhaps where they were born, the patrimony60 that has descended61 to them through many generations; — and what is the reception that is given them upon their own lands? often they are met by repulsion, and sometimes by violence, and are compelled to retire again to strange aud unsuitable localities. Passing over the fearful scenes of horror and bloodshed, that have but too frequently been perpetrated in all the Australian colonies upon the natives in the remoter districts, by the most desperate and abandoned of our countrymen; and overlooking, also, the recklessness that too generally pervades62 the shepherds and stock-keepers of the interior, with regard to the coloured races, a recklessness that leads them to think as little of firing at a black, as at a bird, and which makes the number they have killed, or the atrocities63 that have attended the deeds, a matter for a tale, a jest or boast at their pothouse revelries; overlooking these, let us suppose that the settler is actuated by no bad intentions, and that he is sincerely anxious to avoid any collision with the natives, or not to do them any injury, yet under these even comparatively favourable64 circumstances, what frequently is the result? The settler finds himself almost alone in the wilds, with but few men around him, and these, principally occupied in attending to stock, are dispersed65 over a considerable extent of country; he finds himself cut off from assistance, or resources of any kind, whilst he has heard fearful accounts of the ferocity, or the treachery of the savage; he therefore comes to the conclusion, that it will be less trouble, and annoyance66, and risk, to keep the natives away from his station altogether; and as soon as they make their appearance, they are roughly waved away from their own possessions: should they hesitate, or appear unwilling67 to depart, threats are made use of, weapons perhaps produced, and a show, at least, is made of an offensive character, even if no stronger measures be resorted to. What must be the natural impression produced upon the mind of the natives by treatment like this? Can it engender68 feelings otherwise than of a hostile and vindictive69 kind; or can we wonder that he should take the first opportunity of venting70 those feelings upon his aggressor?
But let us go even a little further, and suppose the case of a settler, who, actuated by no selfish motives, and blinded by no fears, does not discourage or repel71 the natives upon their first approach; suppose that he treats them with kindness and consideration (and there are happily many such settlers in Australia), what recompense can he make them for the injury he has done, by dispossessing them of their lands, by occupying their waters, and by depriving them of their supply of food? He neither does nor can replace the loss. They are sometimes allowed, it is true, to frequent again the localities they once called their own, but these are now shorn of the attractions which they formerly72 possessed73 — they are no longer of any value to them — and where are they to procure the food that the wild animals once supplied them with so abundantly? In the place of the kangaroo, the emu, and the wallabie, they now see only the flocks and herds of the strangers, and nothing is left to them but the prospect74 of dreary75 banishment76, or a life of misery77 and privation. Can it then be a matter of wonder, that under such circumstances as these, and whilst those who dispossessed them, are revelling78 in plenty near them, they should sometimes be tempted79 to appropriate a portion of the superabundance they see around them, and rob those who had first robbed them? The only wonder is, that such acts of reprisal80 are so seldom committed. Where is the European nation, that thus situated81, and finding themselves, as is often the case with the natives, numerically and physically82 stronger than their oppressors, would be guilty of so little retaliation, of so few excesses? The eye of compassion83, or of philanthropy, will easily discover the anomalous and unfavourable position of the Aborigines of our colonies, when brought into contact with the European settlers. They are strangers in their own land, and possess no longer the usual means of procuring84 their daily subsistence; hungry, and famished85, they wander about begging among the scattered86 stations, where they are treated with a familiarity by the men living at them, which makes them become familiar in turn, until, at last, getting impatient and troublesome, they are roughly repulsed88, and feelings of resentment89 and revenge are kindled90. This, I am persuaded, is the cause and origin of many of the affrays with the natives, which are apparently91 inexplicable to us. Nor ought we to wonder, that a slight insult, or a trifling92 injury, should sometimes hurry them to an act apparently not warranted by the provocation. Who can tell how long their feelings had been rankling93 in their bosoms94; how long, or how much they had borne; a single drop will make the cup run over, when filled up to the brim; a single spark will ignite the mine, that, by its explosion, will scatter87 destruction around it; and may not one foolish indiscretion, one thoughtless act of contumely or wrong, arouse to vengeance95 the passions that have long been burning, though concealed96? With the same dispositions97 and tempers as ourselves, they are subject to the same impulses and infirmities. Little accustomed to restrain their feelings, it is natural, that when goaded98 beyond endurance, the effect should be violent, and fatal to those who roused them; — the smothered99 fire but bursts out the stronger from having been pent up; and the rankling passions are but fanned into wilder fury, from having been repressed.
Seventhly, There are also other considerations to be taken into the account, when we form our opinion of the character and conduct of the natives, to which we do not frequently allow their due weight and importance, but which will fully59 account for aggressions having been committed by natives upon unoffending individuals, and even sometimes upon those who have treated them kindly100. First, that the native considers it a virtue101 to revenge an injury. Secondly, if he cannot revenge it upon the actual individual who injured him, he thinks that the offence is equally expiated102 if he can do so upon any other of the same race; he does not look upon it as the offence of an individual, but as an act of war on the part of the nation, and he takes the first opportunity of making a reprisal upon any one of the enemy who may happen to fall in his way; no matter whether that person injured him or not, or whether he knew of the offence having been committed, or the war declared. And is not the custom of civilized powers very similar to this? Admitting that civilization, and refinement103, have modified the horrors of such a system, the principle is still the same. This is the principle that invariably guides the native in his relations with other native tribes around him, and it is generally the same that he acts upon in his intercourse with us. Shall we then arrogate104 to ourselves the sole power of acting unjustly, or of judging of what is expedient105? And are we to make no allowance for the standard of right by which the native is guided in the system of policy he may adopt? Weighing candidly106, then, the points to which reference has been made, can we wonder, that in the outskirts of the colony, where the intercourse between the native and the European has been but limited, and where that intercourse has, perhaps, only generated a mutual107 distrust; where the objects, the intentions, or the motives of the white man, can neither be known nor understood, and where the natural inference from his acts cannot be favourable, can we wonder, that under such circumstances, and acting from the impression of some wrong, real or imagined, or goaded on by hunger, which the white man’s presence prevents him from appeasing108, the native should sometimes be tempted to acts of violence or robbery? He is only doing what his habits and ideas have taught him to think commendable109. He is doing what men in a more civilized state would have done under the same circumstances, what they daily do under the sanction of the law of nations — a law that provides not for the safety, privileges, and protection of the Aborigines, and owners of the soil, but which merely lays down rules for the direction of the privileged robber in the distribution of the booty of any newly discovered country. With reference to the particular case in question, the murder of Master Hawson, it appears from Dr. Harvey’s report (already quoted), that in addition to any incentives, such as I have described, as likely to arise in the minds of the natives, there had been the still greater provocation of their having been fired at, but a short time previously110, from the same station, and by the murdered boy’s brother. We may well pause, therefore, ere we hastily condemn111, or unjustly punish, in cases where the circumstances connected with their occurrence, can only be brought before us in a partial and imperfect manner.
Native Graves
The 7th was spent in preparing my despatches for Adelaide. On the 8th I sent in a dray to Port Lincoln, with Mr. Scott’s luggage, and those things that were to be sent to Adelaide, comprising all the specimens113 of geology and botany we had collected, a rough chart of our route, and the despatches and letters which I had written. The boat was not ready at the time appointed, and Mr. Scott returned to the tents. In the evening, however, he again went to the settlement, and about ten, P.M., he, and the man who was to manage the boat, went on board to sail for Adelaide. I had been taken very ill during the day, and was unable to accompany him to the place of embarkation114. The following is a copy of my despatch112 to the Governor, and to the Chairman of the Northern Expedition Committee, embodying115 my reasons for going to the westward116.
“Port Lincoln, October, 1840.
“Sir, — Having fallen back upon Port Lincoln for supplies, an opportunity has occurred to me of writing a brief and hurried report of our proceedings117. I have, therefore, the honour to acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency, the Governor, and the colonists118 interested in the Northern Expedition, with the result of my examination of the country north of Spencer’s Gulf119, and of the further steps I contemplate120 taking to endeavour to carry out the wishes of the Committee, and accomplish the object for which the expedition was fitted out.
“Upon leaving our depot121, near Mount Arden, the low, arid122, and sandy nature of the country between the hills and Lake Torrens, compelled us to follow close under the continuation of Flinders range. Here our progress was necessarily very slow, from the rugged123 nature of the country, the scarcity124 of water, and the great difficulty both of finding and obtaining access to it. As we advanced, the hills inclined considerably125 to the eastward126, gradually becoming less elevated, until, in latitude127 29 degrees 20 minutes S., they ceased altogether, and we found ourselves in a very low and level country, consisting of large stony plains, varied128 occasionally by sand; and the whole having evidently been subject to recent and extensive inundation129. These plains are destitute130 of water, grass, and timber, and have only a few salsolaceous plants growing upon them; whilst their surface, whether stony or sandy, is quite smooth and even, as if washed so by the action of the water. Throughout this level tract7 of country were interspersed131, in various directions, many small flat-topped elevations132, varying in height from 50 to 300 feet, and almost invariably exhibiting precipitous banks. These elevations are composed almost wholly of a chalky substance, coated over on the upper surface by stones, or a sandy soil, and present the appearance of having formed a table land that has been washed to pieces by the violent action of water, and of which these fragments now only remain. Upon forcing a way through this dreary region, in three different directions, I found that the whole of the low country round the termination of Flinders range, was completely surrounded by Lake Torrens, which, commencing not far from the head of Spencer’s Gulf, takes a circuitous133 course of fully 400 miles, of an apparent breadth of from twenty to thirty miles, following the sweep of Flinders range, and almost encircling it in the form of a horse shoe.
“The greater part of the vast area contained in the bed of this immense lake, is certainly dry on the surface, and consists of a mixture of sand and mud, of so soft and yielding a character, as to render perfectly134 ineffective all attempts either to cross it, or reach the edge of the water, which appears to exist at a distance of some miles from the outer margin135. On one occasion only was I able to taste of its waters; in a small arm of the lake near the most north-westerly part of it, which I visited, and here the water was as salt as the sea. The lake on its eastern and southern sides, is bounded by a high sandy ridge136, with salsolae and some brushwood growing upon it, but without any other vegetation. The other shores presented, as far as I could judge, a very similar appearance; and when I ascended137 several of the heights in Flinders range — from which the views were very extensive, and the opposite shores of the lake seemed to be distinctly visible — no rise or hill of any kind could ever be perceived, either to the west, the north, on the east; the whole region around appeared to be one vast, low, and dreary waste. One very high and prominent summit in this range, I have named Mount Serle; it is situated in 30 degrees 30 minutes south latitude, and about 139 degrees 10 minutes east longitude138, and is the first point from which I obtained a view of Lake Torrens to the eastward of Flinders range, and discovered that I was hemmed139 in on every side by a barrier it was impossible to pass. I had now no alternative left me, but to conduct my party back to Mount Arden, and then decide what steps I should adopt to carry out the objects of the expedition. It was evident, that to avoid Lake Torrens, and the low desert by which it is surrounded, I must go very far either to the east or to the west before again attempting to penetrate140 to the north.
“My party had already been upwards141 of three months absent from Adelaide, and our provisions were too much reduced to admit of our renewing the expedition in either direction, without first obtaining additional supplies. The two following were therefore the only plans which appeared feasible to me, or likely to promote the intentions of the colonists, and effect the examination of the northern interior: —
“First — To move my party to the southward, to endeavour to procure supplies from the nearest stations north of Adelaide, and then, by crossing to the Darling, to trace that river up until I found high land leading to the north-west.
“Secondly — To cross over to Streaky Bay, send from thence to Port Lincoln for supplies, and then follow the line of coast to the westward, until I met with a tract of country practicable to the north. To the first of these plans were many objections; amongst the principal ones, were, the very unfavourable accounts given both by Captain Sturt, and Major Mitchell, of the country to the west of the Darling River — the fact of Captain Sturt’s having found the waters of that river salt during a continued ride of many days — the numerous tribes of natives likely to be met with, and the very small party I should have with me; lastly, the course of the river itself, which trending so much to the eastward, would take us from, rather than towards the centre of this Continent. On the other hand, by crossing to the westward, I should have to encounter a country which I knew to be all but destitute of water, and to consist, for a very great distance, of barren sandy ridges142 and low lands, covered by an almost impenetrable scrub, at a season, too, when but little rain could be expected, and the heat would, in all probability, be intense; still, of the two, the latter appeared to me the least objectionable, as we should at least be going towards the point we wished to reach, and through a country as yet quite unknown.
“After mature and anxious consideration, therefore, I decided143 upon adopting it, hoping that my decision may meet with the approbation144 of the Committee.
“Previous to our arrival at Mount Arden, we experienced very showery weather for some days, (otherwise we could not have attempted a passage to the westward); and as there were no longer any apprehensions of water being found on the route to Streaky Bay, I sent two of my teams across upon our old tracks, in charge of my overseer, whilst I conducted the third myself, in company with Mr. Scott, direct to Port Lincoln, to procure the supplies we required. In crossing from Mount Arden, towards Port Lincoln, we travelled generally through a low barren country, densely146 covered by brush, among which were scattered, at considerable intervals147, a few small patches of grass, with here and there some rocky elevations; in the latter, we were usually able to procure water for ourselves and horses, until we arrived at the districts already explored, in traversing which we passed (to the N. E. of Port Lincoln) some rich, well watered valleys, bounded by a considerable extent of grassy148 hills, well adopted for sheep or cattle, arriving at Port Lincoln on the 3rd of October. As a line of route from Adelaide for the emigration of stock, the course we followed, though it cannot be called a good one, is perfectly practicable in the winter season; and I have no doubt, when the country becomes better known, the present track might be considerably improved upon, and both grass and water obtained in greater abundance.
“I regret extremely to acquaint you, that on the morning of the 9th September, one of the police horses (called “Grey Paddy”) kindly lent to the Expedition by His Excellency the Governor, was found with his leg broken, apparently from the kick of another horse during the night, and I was obliged to order him to be shot in consequence. With this exception, no serious accident has occurred, and the whole of the party are in the enjoyment149 of good health and spirits. As the Expedition will still be absent, in all probability, upwards of five months, I have availed myself of a kind offer from Dr. Harvey, to send his boat over to Adelaide, and have sent Mr. Scott to receive any instructions his Excellency the Governor, or the Committee, may wish to give relative to our future proceedings; and immediately Mr. S. returns, I shall hurry up to Streaky Bay with the supplies, and at once move on to the westward, my overseer being now engaged in preparing for our forcing a passage through the scrub, to the north-west of Streaky Bay, as soon as we arrive there with the remainder of the party.
“I have the honour to be, Sir, “Your obedient servant, “EDW. JOHN EYRE.”
“The Chairman of the Committee for promoting the Northern Expedition.”
From the 9th to the 22nd of October, I was occupied a good deal at the camp, having only one man and a native boy to attend to the tent, the horses and the sheep, so that I was in a great measure confined at home, occasionally only making short excursions to the town to superintend the preparation of a large supply of horse-shoes, or visiting the stations of some of the nearest country settlers. I had lately bought a kangaroo dog, from the captain of an American whaler, and in these rambles150 had frequent opportunities of trying my new purchase, both after emus and kangaroos, but he was quite useless for hunting either, and did little credit to the honesty of the person who sold him to me, and who had asked and received a high price, in consideration of the animal being, as he assured me, of a better description than ordinary. Of the natives of the district I saw nothing whatever; the death of young Hawson, and the subsequent scouring151 of the country by police, had driven them away from the occupied parts, and forced them to the fastnesses of the hills, or to the scrubs; I was, however, enabled by the kindness of Mr. Schurman, a German Missionary, stationed at Port Lincoln, to obtain a limited collection of words and phrases in the dialect of the district, and which I hoped might be of some use to me hereafter. Mr. Schurman has since published a copious152 vocabulary and grammar, of the language in use in this part of Australia.
On the 22nd, upon going into the settlement, I found the Government cutter Waterwitch at anchor in the harbour, having Mr. Scott on board, and a most abundant supply of stores and provisions, liberally sent us by his Excellency the Governor, who had also most kindly placed the cutter at my disposal, to accompany and co-operate with me along the coast to the westward.
Mr. Scott had managed every thing confided153 to him most admirably; and I felt very greatly indebted to him for the ready and enterprising manner in which he had volunteered, to undertake a voyage from Port Lincoln to Adelaide in a small open boat, and the successful manner in which he had accomplished154 it. Among other commissions, I had requested him to bring me another man to accompany the expedition in the place of the one (R. M’Robert) who had driven the dray to Port Lincoln, and with whom I was going to part; as also to bring for me a native, named Wylie, an aborigine, from King George’s Sound, whom I had taken with me to Adelaide on my return in May last, but who had been too ill to accompany me at the time the expedition started; the latter he had not been able to accomplish, as the boy was in the country when he reached Adelaide, and there was not time to get him down before the Waterwitch sailed. The man, however, he had procured155, and I was glad to recognize in him an old servant, who had been with me in several of my former expeditions, and who was a most excellent carter and tent servant. His name was Thomas Costelow.
Having received large packets of papers and many letters, both from relations in England, and from many warm-hearted friends in Adelaide, I returned with Mr. Scott and Costelow to the tent, to make immediate10 preparations for our departure. The delay, occasioned by my having been obliged to send to Adelaide for our supplies, had so greatly protracted156 the period of my absence from the rest of my party, beyond what I had anticipated, that I became most anxious to rejoin them: the summer weather too, was rapidly approaching, and I dreaded157 the task of forcing a way through the low level scrubby waste, around Streaky and Smoky Bays, under a tropical sun.
From the despatches received, I was glad to find that the Governor and the Colonists had approved of the step I had taken, in moving to the westward, which was gratifying and satisfactory, notwithstanding the disappointments I had experienced. In the course of the day, I sent in a dray to Port Lincoln, with our heavy baggage to put on board the cutter, with orders to Mr. Germain the master, to sail immediately for Streaky Bay, and lose no time in communicating with the party there. Before the cutter sailed, I purchased an excellent little boat to be sent with her for use in our coast or inland explorations, should it be found necessary.
October 23. — The blacksmith not having finished all the shoes, I was compelled to remain another day in camp; the man too, who had been left in charge of the sheep had lost them all; whilst the one, therefore, was finishing his work and the other looking for his sheep, I employed myself in writing letters for Adelaide, and in arranging my business in Port Lincoln, etc.
October 24. — Having struck the tent, and loaded the dray, Mr. Scott and I rode into town to breakfast with Dr. Harvey, and take leave of our Port Lincoln friends. After transacting158 business matters, I settled with the man who was going to leave me, deducting159 the price of the sheep which by his carelessness he had lost, and which had not been recovered; I then paid Dr. Harvey for the hire of his boat, etc. and in arranging for it, he generously refused to receive more than 5 pounds as his boat had not been used in the return voyage from Adelaide. He also most kindly supplied us with some few small things, which we yet required, and was altogether most attentive160 and courteous161.
Upon returning to our camp, I moved on the party, delighted once more with the prospect of being actively162 employed. Whilst I conducted the dray, I sent Mr. Scott round by Mr. Brown’s station, to buy eleven more sheep in the place of those M’Robert had lost, and at night he rejoined us with them near Mr. White’s station, about ten miles from Port Lincoln; it was late before the sheep came, and the yard to put them in was made, and as there were so few of them, they were a good deal alarmed and would not go into the yard, rushing about violently, breaking away every time we drove them near it; at last we got ten safely housed, and were obliged to put up with the loss of the eleventh, the night being quite dark.
Mr. White and Mr. Poole visited us from their station, and I tried to purchase from the former a noble dog that he possessed, of the mastiff breed, but could not prevail upon him to part with it.
On the 25th I detained the party in camp, that I might get our sheep shorn, and send to Port Lincoln to inquire if there were any more letters for me by Dr. Harvey’s little boat, which was expected to arrive to-day. Mr. Scott, who rode into the settlement, returned in the afternoon.
October 26. — Sending the dray on under the guidance of the native boy, I rode with Mr. Scott up to Mr. White’s station to wish him good bye, and to make another effort to secure an additional dog or two; finding that he would not sell the noble mastiff I so much wished to have, I bought from him two good kangaroo dogs, at rather a high price, with which I hastened on after the drays, and soon overtook them, but not before my new dogs had secured two fine kangaroos. For the first few miles we crossed a low flat country, which afterwards became undulating and covered with dwarf163 scrub, after this we passed over barren ridges for about three miles, with quartz164 lying exposed on the surface and timbered by the bastard165 gum or forest casuarinae. We then descended to a level sandy region, clothed with small brush, and having very many salt lakes scattered over its surface; around the hollows in which these waters were collected, and occasionally around basins that were now dry, we found large trees of the gum, together with a few casuarinae. A very similar kind of low country appeared to extend far to the eastward and north-west.
Kangaroos were very numerous, especially near those hollows, that were surrounded by gum-trees, to which they retired166 for shelter during the heat of the day. We encamped at night in the midst of many of these salt lakes, without any water, but the grass was good. Our stage had been 25 miles upon a course of N. 25 degrees W. After watching the horses for a few hours, we tied them up for the night, not daring to trust them loose without water. A few natives had been seen during the day, but they ran away.
A singular feature attending the salt lakes, or the hollows where water had formerly lodged167, was the existence of innumerable small stones, resembling biscuits or cakes in shape, perfectly circular and flat, but a little convexed in the upper surface, they were of various sizes, and appeared to consist of lime, being formed into their present shape by the action of water. Very similar ones have since been found in the volcanic168 region near Mount Gambier, on the southern coast of New Holland. From our present camp were seen before us to the north-west some low green looking ranges, lightly timbered, and promising169 a better country than we had hitherto met with.
October 27. — Having arrived at the hills, in about three miles, we found them abundantly grassed, but very rugged and rocky, of an oolitic limestone170 formation, with occasionally a light reddish soil covering the rock in the flats and valleys. Between these ranges and the sea, which was about a mile beyond them, were rather high sand hills, having a few stunted171 trees growing upon them, but otherwise destitute of vegetation. No water could be found, nor were there any watercourses from the hills, where we examined them.
Keeping under the east side of the ranges for a few miles, we crossed the main ridge to the westward, and after a stage of about thirteen miles, halted under a high hill, which I named Mount Hope, in my former journey. In a gorge172 of the range where the granite173 cropped out among the limestone, we found a spring of beautiful water, and encamped for the day. Mr. Scott and one of the native boys shot several pigeons, which came to the spring to drink in the evening in great numbers. In the meantime I had ascended the hill for a view, and to take angles. At a bearing of W. S. W. I set Point Drummond only a few miles distant from the camp, and between it and a bearing of S. W. was a considerable salt water lagoon174 on the eastern side of the sand hills of the coast; the surrounding country was low, level and scrubby. To the westward a great extent of dense145 scrub was visible, amid which were one or two elevations; and a salt lake, at a bearing of S. 60 degrees E. I made the latitude of this camp 34 degrees 7 minutes 16 seconds S. and the variation of the compass 4 degrees 10 minutes E.
October 28. — Travelling onwards for four miles, we passed a fine spring, situated in a swamp to our left, and at two more we came to a sheet of water, named Lake Hamilton, 15 a large and apparently deep lake, with but a few hundred yards of a steep high bank, intervening between it and the sea; the latter was rapidly encroaching upon this barrier, and would probably in the course of a few years more force a way through, and lay under water a considerable extent of low country in that vicinity. Around the margin of the lake was abundance of good grass, but the bank between it and the sea was high and very rocky.
15 After my friend George Hamilton, Esq.
After leaving the lake we entered upon a succession of low grassy hills but most dreadfully stony, and at night encamped upon a swamp, after a stage of about sixteen miles. Here we procured abundance of good water by digging through the limestone crust, near the surface. The country around was still of the same character as before, but amidst the never-ceasing strata175 of limestone which everywhere protruded176, were innumerable large wombat177 holes — yet strange to say not one of these was tenanted. The whole fraternity of these animals appeared to have been cut off altogether in some unaccountable manner, or to have migrated simultaneously178 to some other part. No emus or kangaroos were to be seen anywhere, and the whole region around wore a singularly wild and deserted179 aspect.
October 29. — Our route was again over low stony hills, but with rather better valleys between them; this kind of country appeared to extend from five to twelve miles inland from the coast, and then commenced the low level waste of barren scrubby land, which we so constantly saw to the eastward of us.
I had intended to make a short stage to-day to a spring, situated in the midst of a swamp, in latitude 33 degrees 46 minutes 35 seconds S., but having kept rather too far away from the coast, I missed it, and had to push on for twenty-three miles to a rich and very pretty valley, under a grassy range, lightly wooded with casuarinae. The soil was somewhat sandy, but clothed with vegetation; in holes in the rocks we procured abundance of water from a little valley near our camp, and in a swamp about a mile and a half north-east was a spring. Our stage was a long one, and the day being excessively hot, our horses, sheep, and dogs were nearly all knocked up. Of the latter two were unfortunately missing when we arrived at our halting ground; one came up afterwards, but the other could nowhere be found, though both had been seen not two miles away. The missing dog16, was the best of the two which I had purchased of Mr. White, and I felt sorry for a loss which it would be impossible for me to replace. Many native fires were seen to-day, and especially in the direction of a high bare-looking detached range to the north-east, named by me from its shape, Mount Wedge; none of these people were, however, seen, but a fire still burning was found where we encamped for the night.
16 Upon returning to Adelaide in 1841, I learnt that the dog had gone back all the way to Mr. White’s station, and as Mr. White wished to keep the animal, he returned the money he had received at his sale.
On the 30th we remained stationary180 to rest the horses, and to try and recover the lost dog, but after a long and fruitless search, we were obliged to give up the attempt.
On the 31st, after crossing a ridge under which we were encamped, we passed through a very pretty grassy and park-like country, and what was very unusual, not stony on the surface. There were in places a great many wombat holes, but these were now all occupied by their tenants181, and the whole aspect of the country was more encouraging and cheerful; the extent of good country was, however, very limited. Towards the coast was a low scrubby-looking region with salt lakes, and to the east it was bounded by a dense brush, beyond which were extensive plains of a barren and scrubby appearance. In the midst of these plains were large fields of a coarse wiry-kind of grass, growing in enormous tufts, five or six feet high, and indicating the places where swamps exist in wet seasons; these were now quite dry, but we had always found the same coarse-tufted grass growing around the margins182 of the salt lakes, and in those places also where we had found water. This description of country seemed to extend to the base of Wedge Hill, which I intended to have ascended, but the weather was too cloudy to obtain a view from it. The character of the country to the north and north-east was equally low and unpromising, with the exception of two peaks seen at considerable distances apart.
Our stage to-day was sixteen miles to Lake Newland, 17 a large salt-water lake, with numerous fine and strong springs of excellent water, bubbling up almost in the midst of the salt. In one place one of these springs was surrounded by a narrow strip of soil, and the stream emanating183 from it took its winding184 course through the skirts of the salt-water lake itself, inclosed by a very narrow bank of earth, on either side; this slight barrier being the only division between the salt and the fresh water. From the abundance of fresh water at Lake Newland, and the many patches of tolerably grassy country around, a very fair station might be formed, either for sheep or cattle.
17 Named after my friend R. F. Newland, Esq.
November 1. — Leaving Lake Newland we passed through a scrubby country, which extended close under the coast hummocks185 for five miles, and then ascended a high barren range. The view from this was extensive, but only over a mass of low and desolate186 scrub, with the exception of one or two elevations to the north and north-east. Towards the coast, amidst the waste around, was a large sheet of salt water, with here and there a few openings near it, studded with casuarinae, to this we bent187 our steps, and at twelve miles from our last night’s camp took up our position in lat. 33 degrees 14 minutes 36 seconds S. upon the lagoon seen by Flinders from the masthead.
The traces of natives and their beaten pathways were here very numerous (of the latter of which there could not be less than thirty) all leading to a large deep hole, sunk about eight feet, principally through a soft limestone rock. This was carefully blocked up with large stones and mud, but upon clearing it out the water came bubbling up rapidly, and we got an abundant supply. The entrance from seawards to the sheet of water, or lagoon, is between two heads, (one of them being a high bluff188) little more than a mile apart. There appeared to be a reef off the entrance outside, but our being without a boat prevented us from ascertaining189 how far this inlet was adapted for a harbour. Inside, the water is shallow towards the south, but deeper in the northern half of the inlet.
November 2. — Tracing round the shores, we passed several other holes dug by the natives in the sand, to procure water; these, however, did not appear of so permanent a character as the first, for many had fallen in, and others contained but very little water. The huts of the natives were numerous, and of a large and substantial description; but we saw none of their owners.
After leaving the inlet we pushed on through the scrub to a high bluff of granitic190 formation, distant about sixteen miles N. 35 degrees W., and named by me Mount Hall. 18 The road being very heavy, it was late when we arrived there, and both our horses and sheep were much fatigued191. We got a little water from holes in the sheets of granite, and had very good grass in an opening under the hill.
18 After G. Hall, Esq. the Governor’s Private Secretary.
From the summit of Mount Hall the view was extensive, and I obtained many angles. The surrounding country was low, level, and barren, and densely covered with scrub, among which, to the north-west were seen many salt-water lakes. At intervals a few elevations were seen amidst this low waste, apparently similar to the hill we were upon, among them were one or two very distant at a little N. of E., and nearer, one at E. 16 degrees N.; the latter I named Mount Cooper. 19 At a bearing of S. 35 degrees W. another saltwater inlet was seen apparently communicating with the sea; but this we could not satisfactorily ascertain from its great distance. The latitude of Mount Hall, deduced from observations of a Lyrae and a Aquilae, was 33 degrees 2 minutes 40 seconds S. Several native fires were seen to the east and south-east in the scrub.
19 After Charles Cooper, Esq. the Judge of the colony.
November 3. — After seeing the party ready tomove on, I left Mr. Scott to conduct the dray, whilst I rode forward in advance to the depot near Streaky Bay, where I arrived early in the afternoon, and was delighted to find the party all well, and everything going on prosperously. They had expected me some time before and were looking out very anxiously for my arrival. The Waterwitch had arrived on the 29th of October, but the master did not communicate with my party before the 31st; so that until the last three days they had been quite ignorant of our movements, and uneasy at our so greatly exceeding the time originally fixed192 for rejoining them. Having sent back a man, and two fresh and strong horses to assist the dray, I reconnoitred once more our depot of 1839. Situated in the middle of some extensive grassy openings among the scrub, is a solid sheet of limestone of a very hard texture193: in the centre of this rock is a small oblong opening, a foot deep and only just large enough to admit of a pint194 pot being dipped in it. This curious little hole contained water from five to seven inches in depth, the level of which was maintained as rapidly as a person could bale it out; this was our sole supply for ourselves and horses, but it was a never-failing one.
20
20 The water had not a pleasant flavour, as it was of a chalybeate nature; but in a country where water was scarce, it was invaluable195. When I was here in 1839, it had even then this disagreeable taste, but now it was much worse, in consequence, probably, of the contaminating substance being washed off more abundantly than formerly from the
The spring is situated in latitude 32 degrees 49 minutes 0 seconds S. and about three miles south-east from the most southerly bight of Streaky Bay. About one mile and a half to the west is another small hole of better flavoured water, but not so abundant in its supply.
rocks enclosing the reservoir by the rapid flow of water necessary to replace the large consumption of my party.
I found all the horses in excellent condition, and one, a very fine mare196 of my own, had foaled about six weeks before. Around the camp were immense piles of oyster5 shells, pretty plainly indicating the feasting my men had enjoyed during my absence, whilst their strong and healthy appearance shewed how well such fare had agreed with them. The oysters were procured from the most southerly bight of Streaky Bay, on some mud banks about two or three hundred yards below low water mark, where they are found in immense numbers and of different sizes. The flavour of these oysters was excellent, and the smaller ones were of great delicacy197. The men were in the habit of taking a cart down to the beach frequently, where, by wading198 up to their knees in the sea at low water, they were enabled to fill it. This supply lasted for two or three days.
Many drays might easily be loaded, one after the other, from these oyster beds. The natives of the district do not appear to eat them, for I never could find a single shell at any of their encampments. It is difficult to account for the taste or prejudice of the native, which guides him in his selection or rejection199 of particular kinds of food. What is eaten readily by the natives in one part of Australia is left untouched by them in another, thus the oyster is eaten at Sydney, and I believe King George’s Sound, but not at Streaky Bay. The unio or freshwater muscle is eaten in great numbers by all the natives of New South Wales and South Australia; but Captain Grey found that a Perth native, who accompanied him on one of his expeditions, would not touch this kind of food even when almost starving. Snakes are eaten by some tribes, but not by others; and so with many other kinds of food which they make use of.
About three o’clock, Mr. Scott arrived with the dray, after a long and harassing200 stage of twenty miles over a low, stony, and scrubby tract of country, between Mount Hall and Streaky Bay, and which extended beyond our track to the coast hummocks to the west. These latter appeared somewhat high, and under them we had seen many salt-water lakes from the summit of Mount Hall.
My party were now once more all assembled together, after having been separated for nearly seven weeks; during which, neither division knew what had befallen the other, and both were necessarily anxious to be reunited again, since, in the event of any mischance occurring to either, the other would have been placed in circumstances of much difficulty, if not of danger; and the whole object of the undertaking201 would have been frustrated202.
The great delay caused by my having been obliged to send over from Port Lincoln to Adelaide for supplies, had thrown us very late in the season; the summer was rapidly advancing, the weather even now, being frequently intensely hot, whilst the grass was gradually drying up and losing its nourishment203. Our sending to Adelaide had, however, obtained for us the valuable services of the Waterwitch to assist us in tracing round the desert line of coast to the north-west, and had enabled us to procure a larger and more varied supply of stores, than we could possibly have brought up from Port Lincoln in a single dray. We were now amply furnished with conveniences of every kind; and both men and horses were in good plight204 and ready to enter upon the task before them.
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anomalous
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| adj.反常的；不规则的 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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depositions
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| 沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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colonist
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| n.殖民者，移民 | |
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trespassing
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| [法]非法入侵 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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incentives
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| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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infraction
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| n.违反；违法 | |
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valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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subsisting
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的现在分词 ) | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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pervades
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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66
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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67
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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68
engender
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| v.产生，引起 | |
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69
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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70
venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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71
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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72
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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73
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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74
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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75
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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76
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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77
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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78
revelling
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| v.作乐( revel的现在分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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79
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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80
reprisal
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| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
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81
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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82
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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83
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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84
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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85
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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86
scattered
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|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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87
scatter
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|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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88
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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89
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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90
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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91
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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92
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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93
rankling
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的现在分词 ) | |
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94
bosoms
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|
| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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95
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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96
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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97
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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98
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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99
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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100
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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101
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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102
expiated
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|
| v.为（所犯罪过）接受惩罚，赎（罪）( expiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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104
arrogate
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| v.冒称具有...权利，霸占 | |
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105
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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106
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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107
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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108
appeasing
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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109
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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110
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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111
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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112
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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113
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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114
embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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115
embodying
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| v.表现( embody的现在分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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116
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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117
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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118
colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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119
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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120
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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121
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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122
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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123
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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124
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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125
considerably
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|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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126
eastward
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|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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127
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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128
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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129
inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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130
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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131
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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132
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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133
circuitous
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|
| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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134
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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135
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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136
ridge
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|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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137
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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138
longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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139
hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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140
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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141
upwards
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|
| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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142
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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143
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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144
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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145
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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146
densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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147
intervals
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|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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148
grassy
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|
| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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149
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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150
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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151
scouring
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| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
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152
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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153
confided
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|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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154
accomplished
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|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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155
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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156
protracted
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|
| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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157
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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158
transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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159
deducting
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| v.扣除，减去( deduct的现在分词 ) | |
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160
attentive
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|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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161
courteous
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|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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162
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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163
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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164
quartz
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| n.石英 | |
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165
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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166
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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167
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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168
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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169
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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170
limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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171
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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172
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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173
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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174
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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175
strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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176
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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177
wombat
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| n.袋熊 | |
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178
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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179
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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180
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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181
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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182
margins
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| 边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数 | |
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183
emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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184
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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185
hummocks
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| n.小丘，岗( hummock的名词复数 ) | |
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186
desolate
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|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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187
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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188
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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189
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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190
granitic
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| 花岗石的，由花岗岩形成的 | |
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191
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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192
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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193
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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194
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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195
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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196
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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197
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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198
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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199
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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200
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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201
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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202
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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203
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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204
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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