[1]This poor man was unfortunately drowned, September 30th.
[2]According to Balbi, the course of the Murray is nearly 3,000 miles.
[3]This calculation can only be approximate.
[4]Expeditions into the Interior of Australia: 2 vols.
[5]The return of supplies taken each trip up the river, it is
calculated, will be equivalent to about one-half the value of the
cargo brought down; the orders for goods amounting already to £3,000
and upwards.
[6]The dimensions of the _Lady Augusta_ (so called in honour of Lady
Young), are as follows:--Extreme length on deck, 105ft.; extreme
length of keel, 98ft. 6in.; depth of hold, 5ft 6in.; breadth of
beam, 12ft.; on the cross guards, 21ft. She is built altogether upon
the American principle and model, and cost about £5,000. Her
engines, furnished from Sydney, are of twenty horse power each, and
of best workmanship. Her total tonnage, including engines which
weigh thirty tons, is ninety-one tons. Her beams and planking are of
New Zealand pine, and her timbers are of honeysuckle. She draws 3ft.
water when full, and 2ft. 4in. when light. She possesses
accommodation for sixteen first-class passengers and half as many
second. There is also accommodation in the _Eureka_ barge, which
tows alongside.
[7]The _Eureka_ launch is built of blue gum below, her upper planks of
New Zealand pine, and her decks of Baltic deal. Entire length on
deck, 106 feet; entire length of keel, 96 feet; breadth of beam, 12
feet; breadth of cross guards, 21 feet; depth of hold, 8 feet. Her
dimensions were:--Estimated measurement tonnage, 87 tons; draught of
water, with cargo, 3 feet; draught of water, without cargo, 13 to 15
inches. The deck, which is covered with an awning, is, from her
peculiar construction, large enough for a vessel of 300 or 400 tons.
[8]This man, for want of evidence, was released, and sent back from
whence he came.
[9]From those lakes, salt, in considerable quantities, is gathered and
transported into the interior, or to the nearest towns.
[10]October 4th, above Euston, three emus or cassowaries were observed
swimming across the river. Amongst the Australian aborigines there
has been an evident desire to preserve this gigantic bird, and for
this purpose its flesh is forbidden, it is said, to their young men.
The Europeans, however, hunt it down without any consideration,
unless it be for the sake of its feathers or for a steak of its
flesh. An emu, we are told, with a kick can kill a dog or break a
horse's leg, and to judge from the size of their claws (some of
which we have on board) this can be no exaggeration. Dogs are,
however, trained to seize them by the neck, and, in this way,
overpower them easily.
[11]The Darling, during more than half the year, would, it appears, be
navigable for upwards of 150 miles from its junction with the
Murray. A few years ago indeed, it was settled as far as Lake
Minindie, a Government Reserve, 200 miles from the mouth; but the
outrages of the blacks--the distance from an available market--or
other causes--led to the abandonment of these runs. It has now only
50,000 sheep upon its banks; but would, it is said, depasture four
times that number, and might be occupied up to Fort Bourke, 500
miles from the junction. The waters of the Darling, at times
fordable, begin to rise about July, and subside again in February.
[12]According to Mr. Jamieson, Mickie had a companion; and the native
was alone.
[13]In Victoria, as much as 35s. had been demanded for one day's
stabling and food for one horse.
[14]These birds were afterwards brought on board and conveyed to
Adelaide.
[15]These "store" sheep, as they are called, are sent overland to be
fattened on the banks of the river, whence the clip is easily
transported to Adelaide.
[16]In the Wakool we found three and a-half fathoms water.
[17]As in some degree confirmatory of this last extract, it may be
mentioned that on taking in wood, at the Great Bend, we were
informed that, of the woodcutters who had been working for us, one
had been a West India proprietor, and the other the nephew of a
noble Earl, whose ancestors have borne a prominent place in Irish
history.
[18]It is worthy of remark, that the sheep on the Murray appear to be
singularly exempt from disease--neither catarrh, scab, nor foot rot,
being now known amongst them.
[19]The nearest diggings to Swan Hill are the Koorong, about 100 miles
distant.
[20]On this voyage, up the Murray, has been remarked by more than one of
our party the singular resemblance to Gothic arches presented by the
overhanging trees. It is not impossible that the idea of their
construction has thus originated; at any rate, of the notion we may,
I think, say with the Italian, _si non è vero è ben trovato_.
[21]The Company, it appears, allowed the passengers 8s. a-day during
their detention.
[22]Near this station, on the borders of a lake, is found a quantity of
a kind of gypsum or talc, perfectly transparent, which possibly may
yet be turned to some useful purposes.
[23]Strange to say, the Wakool is stated in the dry season to be quite
salt; if so, the salt springs must predominate over the waters of
the Murray, of which it receives the "backwaters."
[24]The Royal Australian Bank have two other sheep stations in the
vicinity of the Wakool, as also two cattle stations on the Neimur
and Murray; the whole being under the superintendence of Mr. Walter
Murray.
[25]It is not fair to inflict upon the public the minutiæ of one's daily
ailments; but when one has not enjoyed a day's health for five
years--have suffered partial blindness for four years--and for
nearly two years have lain down nightly with the chance of falling
into a fit--as has been my case, I think this note may be pardoned.
[26]I crave the forgiveness of these gentlemen, if I have incorrectly
quoted their opinions or their words; but am reminded, as I write,
of the witty words of Voltaire, when told that Admiral Byng had been
shot by order of the British Government,--"_C'est pour encourager
les autres._"
[27]The Captain called it a spiral rock, and I understood there is only
four feet water over it.
[28]The excellent arrangement of which (small as it is), it is but just
to say, was chiefly due to the exertions of Mr. Younghusband's
valet, groom, and coachman; for, I believe, "James" combines these
three capacities in his own person.
[29]The trees on the Murray being of large size and lofty growth, it
cannot be doubted that timber cutting and rafting in all its
branches will erelong be introduced on the stream; on parts of which
saw mills might with advantage be erected: the timber, when cut down
and sawn, being formed into large rafts, and floated down, as on the
rivers of Europe and America.
[30]The result of this expedition to the Colony of South Australia may
truly be called the discovery of the Golden Fleece; for by the
successful achievement of the navigation of the Murray by Captain
Cadell's steamer, Sir Henry Young has obtained an immediate increase
to the exports of the Province of certainly 1,000,000lbs. of wool,
of the value of about £80,000. I limit the amount to about this sum,
because, for another twelve months, I doubt the steamer being able
to carry the estimated quantity of wool even from Swan Hill--and
amounting, with two years' clip, to £162,000--unless, indeed, the
boats navigated, as is expected, from England, for the Murray,
should arrive. But when the boats are equal to the freight, I
conceive the addition to the exports of South Australia will not
fall short of £350,000.
[31]For these statistics, with much other information, I am indebted to
Mr. Jamieson, of Mildura.