2 THE .TABDINES' EXPEDITION 



which forced tliem to learn the arts of war.' Malays, and 

 other neighbours not less savage than themselves, had 

 invaded their country and compelled them to fight for their 

 rights continually ; and what to them were the white 

 explorers but invaders, who, if they had the opportunity 

 would tamper with their women, and rob them of what 

 they treasured most, if indeed they did not take their lives ! 

 The whites who trusted themselves amongst them 

 soon found this to their cost if they went unprepared. 

 The dangers to which they might be exposed did not, 

 however, ' deter some of Australia's sons from making 

 their way through the inhospitable and exceptionally 

 difficult country, which lay between tlie furthest north 

 settlements and Cape York ; and in 1864 the brothers 

 Jardine, Frank and Alick, aged respectively 22 and 20 

 years, left Rockhampton with their party, intending to 

 purchase cattle at the back of Bowen and drive them 

 through to the newly-formed settlement which the Imperial 

 authorities, on the recommendation of Sir G. F. Bowen, 

 had decided to establish at Port Albany. A diary of th^ii 

 trip w^as afterwards compiled by thsir friend, Mi'. F. J. 

 Byerley, who, liowevar, made home unfortunate errors 

 in his narrative. It was not a Government expedition 

 as lie dese-ibes it, but was undertaken by the brothers 

 as a private speculation, with the view of forming a cattle 

 station near the new settlement from which they would 

 be able to supply beef to the officials and their men, as well 

 as to such trading vessels as might call in for provisions. 

 As a matter of fact, the Government of the day were prepared 

 to place a sum on the Estimates, after the trip had ended, 

 to recoup some of the loss which the Jardines had sustained 

 during their exceptionally difficult journey. This, however, 

 they respectfully declined, giving as the reason that " inas- 

 much as the expedition was a private enterprise, and not 

 a public undertaking, they did not consider themselves 

 entitled to any indemnity from the public." At the outset 

 the Government had offered, and the Jardines had gratefully 

 accepted, the services of Mr. A. J. Richardson, District 

 Surveyor at Rockhampton, and four blackboys with horses, 

 saddles, and all equipments, to assist in the difficult task 

 the}" had taken in hand. Mr. Richardson was to act as 

 geographer, and generally to assist them. 



