Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) Charles Cecil Gascoyne, Second Lieutenant.
...
Bunnawaunah, Darling River, June 2 1862.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that the exploring party under my command
arrived here yesterday in safety and in good health. From the Gulf of
Carpentaria we came, in search of Burke's party, without difficulty, to
Gregory's route from Queensland to South Australia, to a point within 280
miles of the point marked first depot on Burke's route on the map which
shows the routes of different explorers.
Our route from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Mr. Gregory's route to South
Australia, and the routes of other explorers demonstrate the fact that
sheep, cattle, and horses can be taken at a small cost and in the finest
condition from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and the inland
districts of Queensland to stock the country near the Gulf of
Carpentaria, or for exportation to India or elsewhere.
The road we came was so easy, from the richness of the pasturage and the
abundance of water, that a foal, named Flinders from his having been
foaled on the Flinders River, followed his mother most bravely from the
time he was a few hours old until he reached here. When we were on
Gregory's route to South Australia, and for some time previously, we took
many opportunities of asking the blacks respecting the explorers they had
seen. This we were enabled to do as Jemmy the native police trooper could
speak their language. We learned from them that they had seen during the
last ten moons explorers to the eastward, but that they had seen none
with larger animals than horses.
I am sorry to have to inform you that our familiarity at last led to our
having a hostile collision with them on the Barcoo River, near where the
blacks treacherously tried to take Mr. Gregory's party by surprise during
the night. They tried to take us at night by surprise. If they had
succeeded they would no doubt have overpowered us; but it was during
Jemmy's watch and, as he always kept his watch well, he awoke us when
they were within a few yards of our fire, and we fortunately succeeded in
driving them away. Next morning (very early) two of them came near our
camp. At my request Jemmy warned them to leave us, for we had now a most
hostile feeling towards them. Instead of their showing the least symptom
of leaving us they got their companions (who were in ambush, heavily
armed with clubs and throwing-sticks) to join them. Under these
circumstances we fired on them. In doing so, and in following them up to
where the horses were feeding, one was shot and another slightly wounded
in the leg.
I had very little assistance from Walker's previous discoveries as he had
left instructions that while his chart and journal were in Captain
Norman's charge no one should be allowed to take notes from them. I tried
to follow Mr. Walker's tracks to the Flinders River where he reported he
had left the tracks of Burke's party. After tracing Mr. Walker's tracks
for four days with considerable difficulty we reached plains near the
Leichhardt River where so much rain had fallen on the rich soft soil that
it was impossible to trace them further.
From the Leichhardt River we travelled over well-watered country to the
Flinders River; then travelled up that river, through fine rich pastoral
country, to about latitude 20 degrees 40 minutes; from there we reached
Bowen Downs in a few miles. The creeks and the river that water that
country I knew previously to a certain point down the river, but beyond
this point I did not know where the river flowed. On this expedition I
followed it down to near its junction with the Barcoo River (formerly
known as the Victoria and as the Cooper) and discovered that it was the
Thomson River. After leaving the well-watered country of Bowen Downs,
with the assistance of one of the blacks of that locality, we came
through a fine rich country to the Barcoo River; then without following
the river further, or searching ahead for water, we went across to the
Warrego River without the horses being at any time longer than a day and
part of a night without water. The country is therefore, I have no doubt,
on the whole well watered.
From the Warrego River we tried to go to the south-eastward, but, from
not knowing the country, we had to return, owing to the want of water. On
this occasion, although the weather was cold, the horses suffered very
much. We travelled almost incessantly, day and night. In going from and
returning to water the horses were without it for seventy-two hours. In
returning we found water in a creek in which we had found no water at the
place we crossed it in our outward route. If I had had plenty of rations
I probably would have searched with one of the aborigines for water
before taking the whole of the horses on a journey of that kind.
Afterwards we followed the river down to near Kennedy's Number 19 Camp to
the station of Messrs. Williams, where we met with a most hospitable
reception and learned for the first time the melancholy fate of Messrs.
Burke and Wills. Sold some expedition supplies which we thought we would
not require any more, and bought rations to take us here.
Following the Flinders River up from the Gulf of Carpentaria took us for
a long distance in a more southerly than easterly direction, then in a
more easterly than southerly direction. About twenty miles below where we
left the Flinders River we saw horse tracks, which were probably made by
Mr. Walker's party when on his route from the Nogoa River to the depot at
the Gulf of Carpentaria. Where we saw the tracks of Walker's party the
channel was about 120 yards wide, with a sandy bed and a shallow stream
flowing along the surface; lower down and higher up the river we saw the
fresh tracks of a steer or cow, and on Bowen Downs saw similar tracks. We
had so little meat that we would have tried hard to have found the beast
to kill it for provisions if I had not thought, from seeing the tracks of
a dray in the same locality, that we were near a station.
The point where we reached the Barcoo River, in latitude 24 degrees 37
minutes, is nearly south from where we left the Flinders River.
Several times in the course of our journey from the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gleeson, Jemmy, and Fisherman were unwell. This was owing, I have no
doubt, in a great measure if not altogether, to the rations I issued
being insufficient. Our usual ration was a pint of flour, in bad
condition, and barely half a pound of spoiled meat per day, without tea
or sugar. The annexed list of rations will show that the quantity
obtained on starting would not admit of my issuing a larger supply. The
remainder of us, namely, Mr. Bourne, Jackey, and myself, did not lose our
health on this meagre fare.
After reaching the Warrego River Jemmy unfortunately lay so near the fire
on a frosty night that his shirt caught fire and burned him severely; so
much so that he exhibited great pluck in continuing his journey here.
Last night I learned from the newspapers that Mr. Howitt had received
instructions to wait for us at the depot at Cooper's Creek. If I had
known that there was to be a depot there I would have gladly gone to it
from the Thomson River. Now I intend proceeding down the river to
Menindie, where I purpose if necessary to take the most advisable mode to
let Mr. Howitt know of our return from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
I might have sent a letter off yesterday to the neighbouring station if I
had only known that the postman had been delayed from starting until this
morning. There is a camel on this run which I will endeavour to get and
take to Menindie.
Mr. Bourne, who is an experienced bushman, has read this letter and
thinks I have not given too favourable an account of the country along
our route from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
When I reach town I will make a return of the money I received of Messrs.
Williams for the expedition stores, a copy of my journal, and a sketch
showing our route.