INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 13 



It is easy to be "wise after the e\'ent ; but before I recount my 

 reminiscences of the search for Burke's party and the finding of King it 

 will be well to consider some circumstances connected with the expedi- 

 tion which have always struck me as being of momentous importance, 

 either having led to the series of disasters which attended this party 

 or being of such a nature as to have contributed to the final tragedy. 



Reading of the start of the expedition, I was struck by the great 

 amount of the outfit which had to be conveyed with it. Then I read 

 of the dissensions in the party, the consequence of which was the 

 resignations of Landells and of Dr. Beckler, though the latter withdrew 

 his, I think, before Burke left Menindie. No expedition ever set out 

 to explore the interior of Australia with such a lavish supply of outfit, 

 equipment, and stores as this. I wondered by Avhom it had been 

 selected, and I have since looked into the matter, as far as the ^^^.■itten 

 and printed evidence has been available. 



It seems that the articles deemed necessary for the expedition 

 were suggested first by Burke, (u) being provisions, forage for camels 

 and horses, stores, medicines (including veterinar}' medicines), services, 

 horses, and pack-saddles. It seems that the term " services " included 

 the wagons, (v) The provisions were calculated to last for 18 months, 

 and, to speak precisely, the total cost of all the items enumerated was 

 £4,585 2s. lOd. 



The provisions were selected by a sub-committee working with 

 Burke ({•)• The wagons were supplied as being likely to be of great use 

 in carrying stores from Menindie to Cooper's Creek. One very large 

 wagon was fitted up as a boat for crossing rivers, (tc) The fact that a 

 boat carriage was taken reminds one of the equipment of the old type 

 of exploring expeditions. But the climatic and physical conditions 

 under which the old explorers travelled were quite different to those 

 to be met with in Central Australia. Sturt started with bullock teams 

 and drays ; but he did the most important part of his great journey — 

 namely, from Fort Grey to Eyre's Creek — with horses. 



The available means of conveyance were insufficient for the amount 

 to be carried. Wagons and teams were therefore hired, and yet there 

 were constant delays, so that, before reaching Menindie, Burke found 

 his progress impeded, and this seems to be one of the causes which 

 gave rise to the friction between himself and Landells. 



The difficulties and delays met with in conveying the stores — 

 using that term in its widest sense — may be estimated when one con- 



(m) Report of the Burke and Wills Commission, 1861-2, question 10. 

 (v) Op. cit., question 44. (ic) Op. cit., question 81. 



