Preparations for departure — arrival at Moorundi — native guides — names of the party — Sir John Barrow’s minute — reports of Laidley’s ponds — climate of the Murray — progress up the river — arrival at Lake Bonney — grassy1 plains — Camboli’s home — tragical2 events in that neighbourhood — Pulcanti — arrival at the Rufus — visit to the native families — return of Mr. Eyre to Moorundi — departure of Mr. Browne to the eastward3.
Entertaining the views I have explained in my last chapter, I wrote in January, 1843, to Lord Stanley, at that time Her Majesty’s principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, tendering my services to lead an expedition from South Australia into the interior of the Australian continent. As I was personally unknown to Lord Stanley, I wrote at the same time to Sir Ralph Darling, under whose auspices4 I had first commenced my career as an explorer, to ask his advice on so important an occasion. Immediately on the receipt of my letter, Sir Ralph addressed a communication to the Secretary of State, in terms that induced his Lordship to avail himself of my offer.
In May, 1844, Captain Grey, the Governor of South Australia, received a private letter from Lord Stanley, referring to a despatch5 his Lordship had already written to him, to authorise the fitting out of an expedition to proceed under my command into the interior. This despatch, however, did not come to hand until the end of June, but on the receipt of it Captain Grey empowered me to organise6 an expedition, on the modified plan on which Lord Stanley had determined7.
Aware as I was of the importance of the season in such a climate as that of Australia, I had written both to the Secretary of State, and to Sir Ralph Darling, so that I might have time after the receipt of replies from Europe, in the event of my proposals being favourably8 entertained, to make my preparations, and commence my journey at the most propitious9 season of the year, but my letter to Sir Ralph Darling unfortunately miscarried, and did not reach him until three months after its arrival in England. The further delay which took place in the receipt of Lord Stanley’s despatch, necessarily threw it late in the season before I commenced my preparations for the long and trying task that was before me. By the end of July, however, my arrangements were completed, and my party organised, and only awaited the decision of Mr. John Browne, the younger of two brothers who were independent settlers in the province, whose services I was anxious to secure as the medical officer to the expedition, to fix on the day when it should leave Adelaide.
On the 4th of the month (August), I saw Mr. W. Browne, who informed me that his brother had determined to accept my proposals, and that he would join me with the least possible delay; upon which I felt myself at liberty to make definitive10 arrangements, and to direct that the main body of the expedition should commence its journey on Saturday, the 10th. On the morning of that day I attended a public breakfast, to which I had been invited by the colonists11, at the conclusion of which the party, under the charge of Mr. L. Piesse (who subsequently acted as storekeeper) proceeded to the Dry Creek12, a small station about five miles from Adelaide. At that place he halted for the night. Mr. Browne not having yet joined me, I kept Davenport, one of the men, who was to attend on the officers, with a riding horse for his use, and the spring cart (in which the instruments were to be carried), for the purpose of forwarding his baggage to the Murray, on the banks of which the party was to muster13.
I have said that on the 10th of August I attended a public breakfast, to which I and my party had been invited by the colonists, on the occasion of our quitting the capital. I may be permitted in these humble14 pages to express my gratitude15 to them for the kind and generous sympathy they have ever evinced in my success in life, as well as the delicacy16 and consideration which has invariably marked the expression of their sentiments towards me. If, indeed, I have been an instrument, in the hands of Providence17, in bringing about the speedier establishment of the province of South Australia, I am thankful that I have been permitted to witness the happiness of thousands whose prosperity I have unconsciously promoted. Wherever I may go, to whatever part of the world my destinies may lead me, I shall yet hope one day to return to my adopted home, and make it my resting-place between this world and the next. When I went into the interior I left the province with storm-clouds overhanging it, and sunk in adversity. When I returned the sun of prosperity was shining on it, and every heart was glad. Providence had rewarded a people who had borne their reverses with singular firmness and magnanimity. Their harvest fields were bowed down by the weight of grain; their pastoral pursuits were prosperous; the hills were yielding forth18 their mineral wealth, and peace and prosperity prevailed over the land. May the inhabitants of South Australia continue to deserve and to receive the protection of that Almighty19 power, on whose will the existence of nations as well as that of individuals depends!
Not having had time as yet to attend to my own private affairs, I was unable to leave Adelaide for a few days after the departure of Mr. Piesse. A similar cause prevented Mr. James Poole, who was to act as my assistant, from accompanying the drays. On the 12th Mr. Browne arrived in Adelaide, when he informed me that he had remained in the country to give over his stock, and to arrange his affairs, to prevent the necessity of again returning to his station. He had now, therefore, nothing to do but to equip himself, when he would be ready to accompany me. When I wrote to Mr. Browne, offering him the appointment of medical officer to the expedition, I was personally unacquainted with him, but I was aware that he enjoyed the respect and esteem20 of every one who knew him, and that he was in every way qualified21 for the enterprise in which I had invited him to join. Being an independent settler, however, I doubted whether he could, consistently with his own interests, leave his homestead on a journey of such doubtful length as that which I was about to commence. The spirit of enterprise, however, outweighed22 any personal consideration in the breast of that resolute23 and intelligent officer, and I had every reason to congratulate myself in having secured the services of one whose value, under privation, trial, and sickness, can only be appreciated by myself.
The little business still remaining for us to do was soon concluded, and as Mr. Browne assured me that it would not take more than two or three days to enable him to complete his arrangements, I decided24 on our final departure from Adelaide on the 15th of the month; for having received my instructions I should then have nothing further to detain me. That day, therefore, was fixed25 upon as the day on which we should start to overtake the party on its road to Moorundi. The sun rose bright and clear over my home on the morning of that day. It was indeed a morning such as is only known in a southern climate; but I had to bid adieu to my wife and family, and could but feebly enter into the harmony of Nature, as everything seemed joyous26 around me.
I took breakfast with my warm-hearted friend, Mr. Torrens, and his wife, who had kindly27 invited a small party of friends to witness my departure; but although this was nominally28 a breakfast, it was six in the afternoon before I mounted my horse to commence my journey. My valued friend, Mr. Cooper, the Judge, had returned to Adelaide early in the day, but those friends who remained accompanied us across the plain lying to the north of St. Clare, to the Gawler Town road, where we shook hands and parted.
We reached Gawler Town late at night, and there obtained intelligence that the expedition had passed Angus Park all well. I also learnt that Mr. Calton, the master of the hotel, had given the men a sumptuous29 breakfast as they passed through the town, and that they had been cheered with much enthusiasm by the people.
On the 16th we availed ourselves of the hospitality of Mrs. Bagot, whose husband was absent on his legislative30 duties in Adelaide, to stay at her residence for a night. Nothing however could exceed the kindness of the reception we met from Mrs. Bagot and the fair inmates31 of her house.
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1
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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organise
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| vt.组织，安排，筹办 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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definitive
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| adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的 | |
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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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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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outweighed
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| v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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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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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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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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nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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