16 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



order to carry the stores thence to Cooper's Creek. But he remained 

 there from the 5th November until the 27th or 29th of the following 

 January. (6) In this he totally disregarded Burke's instructions, as well 

 as his promise to Burke that he would take the remainder of the party 

 out as soon as he returned, (c) The reasons for this otherwise unaccount- 

 able — one might even say criixiinal — neglect of duty appear to have 

 been that some cheques of Burke's had been dishonored, and Wright 

 w^ould not move until his appointment had been confirmed and he had 

 someone to fall back upon for his pay. {d) Finally, when he reached 

 Bulloo, he remained there ; partly because some of his party were ill, 

 but perhaps mainly because, as he said, it would be difficult to find 

 Cooper's Creek, as he had no tracks to guide him and no natives to 

 take him there, (e) Wright was evidently incompetent, and Burke made 

 a mistake in appointing him to so important a position. 



Another mistake made by Burke was to again divide his party 

 when he started from Cooper's Creek, apparently intending to make 

 a preliminary excursion to Eyre's Creek, which might extend to a three 

 or four months' absence. I draw this inference from the evidence of 

 Brahe, McDonough, Patten, and King, and also from what the latter 

 said when I found him at Cooper's Creek. (/) It seems clear that when 

 Biu'ke left the depot he told them he intended to go to Eyre's Creek, 

 and to try to go to Carpentaria if he could do so without incurring any 

 risk ; that he was bound to be back in three months, as the provisions 

 he took with him were scarcely sufficient for twelve weeks. That he 

 had determined to try for Carpentaria is shown by what he said, 

 according to King, after they left Cooper's Creek : that he would not 

 turn his face backwards till he had reached the sea. This can be easily 

 understood if one considers that they found practically no difficulties 

 on their march to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The season was favorable, 

 and if the committee's instructions had been followed the joiirney 

 across the continent and the return to Menindie might have been made 

 without any loss of camels or horses, and also without the lamentable 

 loss of life caused by the " forlorn hope " led by Burke, which resulted, 

 certainly, in success, but also in the death of three of the four who 

 formed this gallant little party. 



The first of the small party of four to succumb to the hardships of 

 the return journey was Grey. He was thought to be shamming, but his 



(h) Wright, in his evidence before the Commission, said the 27th ; elsewhere, 



the date given is the 29th. (c) Evidence, 1235. 



(d) Evidence, 543, 560, 561, 583, 1312. (e) Evidence of Dr. Beckler, 1912. 

 (/) Commission's Report— Evidence, 175, 222, 320, 447, 697. 



