LEICHHARDT'S EXPEDITIONS TO PORT ESSINGTON AND INTO THE INTERIOR.
Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt, who was born in Germany and educated in France,
came to Australia in the year 1840. He commenced his career in Sydney as
a lecturer on botany, his favourite science, and became immediately
popular. Naturally fond of travel, and being eager for enterprise,
Leichhardt took to the bush, where he earned his fame and lost his life.
His first essays in exploration were made in the country lying between
Brisbane and Wide Bay, which he traversed specially in the interests of
botanical and geological science. In these adventures he was associated
for the most part with the blacks, who welcomed him as a benefactor on
account of his medical skill, of which he gave them the full benefit
without fee or reward.
Having accomplished his object in this part of the country, Leichhardt
returned to Sydney, where he found public opinion strongly excited on
the question of exploration. Sir Thomas Mitchell, having led three
expeditions into the interior with great success, was mainly
instrumental in creating this outburst of enthusiasm, which called for
other enterprises of a like nature and purpose. At this period, also, a
keen desire was manifested for an overland route to Carpentaria as a
highway, so far, to India, which was supposed to offer an unlimited
market for Australian horses. Already a settlement had come into
existence at Port Essington, which was reckoned a suitable _entrepôt_
for the prospective traffic. The one thing wanted was an overland route
to this place, and it was generally thought the time had come when an
attempt should be made to discover it. Sir Thomas Mitchell was again to
the front, expressing himself ready for the undertaking, with Dr.
Leichhardt as second in command. He had already arranged to proceed to
his old depôt at Fort Bourke and to strike north for Carpentaria. But a
fatal obstacle was unexpectedly interposed. Sir George Gipps, being in a
bad humour with his advisers, refused to confirm the vote for supplies
which the Council had unanimously passed, and, as a natural consequence,
the whole project fell to the ground. This was a sore blow to
Leichhardt, but it did not unman him. Despairing of help or countenance
from the Governor, he volunteered to lead an expedition to Port
Essington on his own account if private liberality should prove itself
equal to the occasion. In a very short time sufficient resources were
forthcoming, and Leichhardt now set himself to redeem his promise.
I.
In this expedition it was resolved to start from Moreton Bay and keep
the eastern fall of the main range, thus avoiding the parched-up
interior and following a route which was likely to furnish an adequate
supply of water. Leichhardt could never have been far beyond the reach
of the sea-breeze--a circumstance which caused Mitchell to speak of him,
rather contemptuously, as a "timid coaster." The party, consisting of
ten persons, with seven months' provisions, made an auspicious start
from Brisbane, and had reached the outskirts of settlement by the 1st of
October, 1844. Crossing the Darling Downs, the River Condamine was
followed as far as practicable, after which a dividing range was
traversed and the Dawson River discovered. It flowed through a
magnificent valley, which was soon after proved to be an excellent
pastoral district. When it turned too much to the east a more northerly
course was steered, which led to the discovery of Palm-Tree Creek, in a
splendid valley abounding in palms, and hence the name. The next stage
was much impeded by brigalow scrub, but a succession of lagoons supplied
the party with plenty of water and excellent game. Zamia Creek followed
in the line of discovery, bounded by the Expedition Range, which was
crossed, and Comet Creek discovered soon after. This latter led on to
the Mackenzie, which had to be abandoned in a short time, as it flowed
too much to the east. The picturesque Peak Range was now passed. The
mountains not only appeared magnificent in point of scenery, but were
believed also to contain precious stones. Leichhardt says:--"A profusion
of chalcedony and fine specimens of agate were observed in many places
along the basaltic ridges." On the 13th of February they discovered an
important river, which was named the Isaacs, but it was not followed, as
the course was again directed towards the mountains. Shortly after they
had the good fortune to come upon the Suttor, which brought them to the
Burdekin. This was the best discovery yet made, as it served them for a
guide over more than two degrees of latitude. When this river also left
them for the coast, their route was directed more inland, with a view of
reaching Carpentaria. In this cross-country journey a conspicuous
mountain observed in the distance received the name of Mount Lang,
"after Dr. Lang, the distinguished historiographer of New South Wales."
A few unimportant creeks having been crossed, they found themselves on
the western fall, and discovered one of the Gulf rivers, which was named
the Lynd. Here, and at several later camps, the explorers were treated
with a visit from some awfully pertinacious intruders. "We had scarcely
left our camp," says Leichhardt, "when swarms of crows and kites took
possession of it, after having given us a fair fight during the previous
days whilst we were drying the meat. Their boldness was, indeed,
remarkable; and if the natives had as much we should soon have to quit
our camps." In this district a botanical novelty, in the form of a
bread-fruit tree, was found, and used to some advantage. As the Lynd did
not lead in the most suitable direction, it was left, and a straight
line taken to the Gulf. This was the occasion of the discovery of
another river, which was called the Mitchell, in honour of the
distinguished explorer; but it, too, was given up for a shorter course.
In this quarter a deplorable accident occurred. The camp was attacked
during night by the blacks, when Gilbert, the naturalist to the
expedition, was killed. From this point the journey was continued round
the head of the Gulf. Numerous rivers were crossed, some of which had
been long before discovered by exploring navigators, and others were now
for the first time brought to light. Among the latter were the Gilbert
and the Roper, both receiving names in honour of members of the
expedition. The Roper River had many tributaries, one of which was
called Flying-Fox Creek, from the myriads of these creatures which had
chosen it for their haunt. Leichhardt says:--"I went with Charley and
Brown to the spot where we had seen the greatest number of flying-foxes,
and whilst I was examining the neighbouring tree, my companions shot 67,
of which 55 were brought to our camp, which served for dinner, supper,
and luncheon." By the 24th of November the expedition had crossed the
watershed between the streams flowing into the Gulf and those heading
for the Indian Ocean. After much toilsome travel, the South Alligator
River was reached, about 60 miles from its mouth and 140 from Port
Essington. In this locality the waterfowl are described as being seen,
not in crowds, but in "clouds." "Here," says Leichhardt, "we should
have been tolerably comfortable but for a large green-eyed fly, which
was extremely troublesome to us, and which scarcely allowed our poor
horses to feed." In order to avoid some bad, rocky ground, the party
turned to the south and struck the East Alligator River. The last stage
of the journey was travelled under the direction of a native guide, and
the goal of the expedition reached in safety. After a month's rest in
this settlement, Leichhardt found a schooner bound for Port Jackson, and
embraced this opportunity of returning to Sydney by sea. His unexpected
appearance there seemed like an apparition from the other world. For a
long time he had been given up for lost, and a search expedition had
already come back unsuccessful. The citizens of Sydney at once
instituted a public subscription for Leichhardt and his associates, who
had thus travelled over 3,000 miles in fifteen months. The amount
reached the figure of £1,500, which was supplemented by a Government
grant of £1,000. The Royal Geographical Societies, also, hastened to
show their appreciation of the explorer's labours by presenting him with
their gold medals. These rewards had been as honestly earned as they
were handsomely made. The route he had laid open was, indeed, useless
for the purpose intended, as being impracticable for traffic, and
inferior to others which have since been discovered, but the expedition
brought to the knowledge of the colonists an immense extent of excellent
country, which was speedily occupied by pastoral tenants.
II.
A short period of repose sufficed to recruit the wearied explorer and
brace him up for future effort. Now more enthusiastic than ever,
Leichhardt conceived the heroic idea of traversing the entire continent
at its greatest width, starting from Moreton Bay and proceeding through
the deserts to Swan River in Western Australia. He was now in possession
of some private means, and his zeal was again supported by numerous
friends. This new expedition consisted of nine persons, and his
equipment, especially under the head of live stock, was provided on the
largest scale the colony had yet witnessed. These consisted of 108
sheep, 270 goats, 40 bullocks, 15 horses, and 15 mules. His plan was to
follow his former route for a few hundred miles, and then bear off to
the westward. All went tolerably well till the Dawson country was
passed, after which wet weather became a serious hindrance. At Comet
Creek the party began to suffer from fever and ague, but still pushed on
to the Mackenzie, where they found themselves in a deplorable plight.
The resources had been wasted, not so much as a dose of medicine being
left for the sick. No one being able to attend to the sheep and cattle,
the whole were irretrievably lost. It now became evident to Leichhardt,
as it had been for some time to his companions, that it would be the
part of madness to attempt the unknown desert so ill-furnished with
supplies. Conquered by dire necessity, Leichhardt returned home with a
heavy heart, after a fruitless journey of seven months. The expedition
had proved a total failure, and, as the old track had been followed, the
journey added nothing to what was already known of the distant parts of
the country.
III.
In the meantime Sir Thomas Mitchell had made a fourth exploring
expedition, and on this occasion had done his best to discover an
interior route to Carpentaria. He failed, however, in this object; but
in all other respects the undertaking had been eminently successful. In
one quarter the tracks of the two explorers had approached within a
short distance of one another, and Leichhardt, being in possession of a
considerable salvage from the wreck of his second expedition, proposed
to examine the intervening district--a fine territory, now known as the
Fitzroy Downs. This was a small undertaking for so great an explorer.
Nor was it a very necessary one either, for the squatters were already
in possession of the country, and the crack of the stockman's whip
suggested to Leichhardt the propriety of returning home and preparing
for an enterprise more worthy of his well-won reputation.
IV.
Arrangements were again made in earnest for crossing the continent to
Swan River, all being ready to set out from Moreton Bay with a party of
only six men, provisioned for a journey which was calculated to extend
over two or three years. The second in command was one Classan,
brother-in-law to Leichhardt, who had just arrived from Germany to join
the expedition. The late Rev. W. B. Clarke, being surprised at so
peculiar an arrangement, asked the "new chum" what qualifications he
possessed for the most perilous enterprise hitherto attempted in
Australia? Classan replied that he was a seaman who had suffered
shipwreck, and was, therefore, well fitted to endure hardship! In this
expedition Leichhardt resolved to abandon his old route for that of Sir
Thomas Mitchell, which he proposed to follow as far as the bend of the
Victoria (Barcoo), and then turn westward. He seems to have fallen into
this track near Mount Abundance, in the neighbourhood of the present
town of Roma, in Queensland. It is not possible to trace the expedition
much further, nor is there any hope of the veil of mystery ever being
lifted. Here are Leichhardt's last words to the civilized world, as
written from M'Pherson's station, on the Cogoon, under date of 3rd
April, 1848:--"I take the last opportunity of giving you an account of
my progress. In eleven days we travelled from Mr. Burrell's station, on
the Condamine, to Mr. M'Pherson's, on the Fitzroy Downs. Though the
country was occasionally very difficult, yet everything went on very
well. My mules are in excellent order, my companions in excellent
spirits. Three of my cattle are footsore, but I shall kill one of them
to-night, to lay in our necessary stock of dried beef. The Fitzroy
Downs, on which we travelled for about 22 miles from east to west, is,
indeed, a splendid region, and Sir Thomas Mitchell has not exaggerated
their beauty in his account. The soil is pebbly and sound, richly
grassed, and, to judge from the myalls, of the most fattening quality. I
came right on to Mount Abundance and passed over a gap in it with my
whole train. My latitude agreed well with Mitchell's. I fear that the
absence of water in the Fitzroy Downs will render this fine country, to
a great degree, unavailable. I observe the thermometer daily at 6 a.m.
and 8 p.m., which are the only convenient hours. I have tried the wet
thermometer, but am afraid my observations will be very deficient. I
shall, however, improve on them as I proceed. The only serious accident
that has happened was the loss of a spade, but we were fortunate enough
to make it up at this station. Though the days are still very hot, the
beautiful clear nights are cool and benumb the mosquitoes, which have
ceased to trouble us. Myriads of flies are the only annoyance we have.
Seeing how much I have been favoured on my present progress, I am full
of hopes that our Almighty Protector will allow me to bring my darling
scheme to a successful termination." This last communication,
unfortunately, says nothing about the direction in which he intended to
travel, and his route henceforth is a matter of pure conjecture. After
years of weary waiting Mr. Hovenden Hely was sent to search for his
tracks, but without avail. Hely was played upon by the blacks, who
pretended to show him several of Leichhardt's camping grounds, and
finally the bones of the murdered party. They turned out, however, to be
mutton-bones, and the search ended in nothing. Mr. A. C. Gregory,
himself a distinguished explorer, led two expeditions with the same
object in view, and discovered a tree marked "L," which may or may not
have been made by Leichhardt. Walker, when searching for Burke and
Wills, believed he had found some traces of the missing expedition; but
these marks were again successfully contested by Landsborough. Still
later a Mr. Skuthorpe, in a most mercenary fashion, tried to persuade
the public, and especially the Government of New South Wales, that he
had discovered certain relics of the expedition, including Leichhardt's
journal in good preservation; but the affair was looked upon as an
imposition, and nothing further has transpired. It cannot be said with
certainty that a single trace of Leichhardt has been discovered since he
wrote his letter from the Fitzroy Downs.