Appemhv I. 495 



wliich the gross neglect which alone could have rendered such a catas- 

 trophe possible can justly be charged. It is to this point that we pro- 

 pose mainly to direct the remarks which we have to make on Mr. 

 Jackson's volume ; and we shall recapitulate the history of the expedi- 

 tion only so far as is absolutely necessary to render our observations 

 generally intelligible. 



" The exploring party left Melbourne on August 20, 1860. It was 

 accompanied by a number of camels, which had been imported for the 

 purpose, on the supposition that these animals would be peculiarly fitted 

 to bear the privations incidental to such a journey. The party was 

 headed by Mr. Robert O'Hara Burke. Mr. Landells, who had charge 

 of the camels, was second in command ; and the third officer was Mr. 

 William John AYills, who also acted as astronomical and meteorological 

 observer to the expedition. On September 23 they reached Menindie, 

 on the Darling river, about 400 miles from Melbourne. Here Mr. Lan- 

 dells, in consequence of some disagreement with Mr. Burke, resigned his 

 post ; and Dr. Beckler, the medical officer to the expedition, declined to 

 go any further. Hereupon Burke appointed Wills in Landells' place, 

 and divided his part}^, leaving one section at Menindie, in charge of 

 Beckler, while he, with Wills and six others, pushed on, on October 19, 

 for Cooper's Creek, about 400 miles further north, under the guidance 

 of one Wright, a man acquainted with the country, whom he met with 

 on the spot. On October 31, when about half-way between Menindie 

 and Cooper's Creek, Burke appointed Wright third officer, and sent him 

 back to the Darling, with instructions to bring up the remainder of the 

 party and stores to Cooper's Creek without delay. He then pushed on, 

 and reached the Creek on November 11. He remained here about a 

 month, and then again divided his party. Three men, six camels, and 

 twelve horses were left at the dep6t on the Creek, under the command 

 of Mr. Brahe, whose instructions were to remain till Burke's return, or 

 until he was forced to retreat by want of provisions. Burke started on 

 December 16, taking with him Wills, King, and Gray, six camels, one 

 horse, and provisions for three months, which was the time he expected 

 to be absent ; but he told Brahe that he might be away four months, or 

 even more. On February 11, 1861, he reached a point only a few miles 

 from the shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and thus accomplished his 



