Aimed at the casuall reader or the serious student or historian, Australian Explorers presents the journals of several great explorers of the Australian continent.

The whole Australian Explorers website can be searched, or else using the second search box, the currently open journal or chapter can be searched.xxx

JOURNAL OF MR. STUART'S FOURTH EXPEDITION--FIXING THE CENTRE OF THE CONTINENT. FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER, 1860.

Details
Category: John McDouall Stuart - Fourth Expedition
Hits: 2126
Tuesday, 8th May, Creek East of Mount Denison. I must remain here two days to allow the horses to recover. I am afraid if we have such another journey, I shall have to leave some of them behind. I do not know what is the cause of their giving in so soon; I have had horses that have suffered three times as much privation, and yet have held out. The light ones are all right; it is the heavy ones, of the cart-horse breed, that feel it most. I had been keeping them up on purpose for an occasion like this, and they all looked in first-rate condition, but the work of the past week has made a great alteration in some of them. I suppose the young grass is not yet strong enough for them. It is very vexing to be thus disappointed and delayed. To think that they should fail me at the very moment when I expected them to do their best, and after all the trouble and loss of time I have incurred in giving them short journeys! However, I cannot improve it by complaining, and must rest contented and hope for the best. Wind south-east. Storm brewing.

Details
Category: John McDouall Stuart - Fourth Expedition
Hits: 2124
Wednesday, 9th May, Creek East of Mount Denison. Resting horses and putting our things in order. Wind blowing very strong from the south-east; it has continued nearly in the same quarter since March.

Details
Category: John McDouall Stuart - Fourth Expedition
Hits: 2172
Thursday, 10th May, Creek East of Mount Denison. I find that I must give the horses another day; they have not yet recovered, and I expect we shall have some more hard work for them. We have not quite finished mending.

Details
Category: John McDouall Stuart - Fourth Expedition
Hits: 2163
Friday, 11th May, Creek East of Mount Denison. Ben was taken very ill during the night, and is still so bad that I am obliged to remain here another day. Afternoon: Ben feels much better, so I shall start to-morrow.

Details
Category: John McDouall Stuart - Fourth Expedition
Hits: 1997
Saturday, 12th May, Creek East of Mount Denison. Ben is better, and the horses look as if they can stand a little more hardship. Started at 8.20 on a bearing of 28 degrees east of north, to see if I can get on in that direction. For fourteen miles our course was through mulga scrub and spinifex, in some places very thick. At twenty-seven miles camped without water. The country that we have passed over the last two days is apparently destitute of water, even in rainy weather. I do not think the ground would retain it a single day. Very little feed for the horses.
  1. Sunday, 13th May, Scrub and Gum Flat.
  2. Monday, 14th May, Stony Hills, Mulga Scrub.
  3. Tuesday, 15th May, Centre.
  4. Wednesday, 16th May, Centre.
  5. Thursday, 17th May, Centre.
  6. Friday, 18th May, Centre.
  7. Saturday, 19th May, Centre.
  8. Sunday, 20th May, The Hanson.
  9. Monday, 21st May, The Hanson.
  10. Tuesday, 22nd May, The Hanson.

Page 15 of 37

Random Articles