Mauch 23, 1857.] DR. LEICHHARDT'S MISSING PARTY. 323 



They maintain tliat the route which Leichhardt took on his last 

 expedition, was in all probability on Sir Thomas Mitchell's track, as 

 far as that officer reached to the North. From thence, in his 

 attempt to proceed westward, he was too practical a Bushman to 

 attempt a desert so fearfully illustrated by Stnrt ; that he would 

 be sure to follow on one side of the coast range or backbone 

 of the colony, to make sure of water and the greatest probability of 

 food ; — that he probably reached the longitude of Port Essington, 

 and in endeavouring to push on south-west from thence, has got 

 into some difficulty — perhaps depending on some friendly tribe for 

 food. The south-west being in all probability badly watered, no 

 prudent man would attempt to cross it, except in a wet season, and 

 therefore Leichhardt might be stuck fast with a desert between 

 him and water, waiting for a wet season to travel. That the wild 

 blacks, less ferocious than those on the borders of the pastoral 

 districts, would be likely to retain him among them as a curiosity 

 or deity ; — ot that he may be gradually winding his way back, hunting 

 for food, at the rate of three or four miles a day ; — that therefore if it 

 took him three years to reach the spot where he had to turn back, it 

 would take double that period to return to the point of his departure. 



Mr. Sidney's correspondent concludes by suggesting an Expe- 

 dition in search of Leichhardt, which has been planned by practical 

 northern Bushmen. It should consist of fifteen disciplined abori- 

 ginal troopers of the native police force, under the command of 

 Frederick Walker, the late Commandant of that force, who had volun- 

 teered to serve without pay or remuneration of any kind, with 60 

 horses, 45 of which to be laden with supplies — meat rations to be 

 obtained by the hunting blacks. The expedition should start from 

 the farthest station in the Port Curtis district, and get upon Leich- 

 hardt's tracks, which would be plain for twelve or fourteen years in a 

 country unoccupied by cattle. As Leichhardt always marked trees 

 at his camp, and his cattle would travel in single file and denote 

 his route, the black troopers would follow these like blood-hounds, 

 and infallibly find Leichhardt's party or bring back his papers, 

 the brands of his cattle, or other complete solution of the mystery 

 that now hung over his fate. 



The expedition should be met by a coasting vessel at some con- 

 venient point, and provided with supplies for a second year. 



Mr. Sidney concluded by observing that nothing was to be ex- 

 pected from the Home Government ; or from the Kew South Wales 

 or Sydney citizens, with whom explorers and explonng expeditions 

 were alike unpopular. It rested with men of science and wealth to 

 subscribe the three or four thousand pounds needful for ascertaining 



