INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 17 



physical breakdown was only too true, for lie died at a place called 

 Andaginni, about 40 miles from Brierili, where Wills died. It was the 

 delay of one day spent there for the purpose of burying their deceased 

 comrade that caused them to arrive at the depot in the afternoon of 

 the day on which Brahe started on his return journey. 



Andaginni was visited by McKjnlay, who misunderstood the native 

 guide, and believed that Burke and his companions had been killed 

 by the blacks, and therefore named this place Lake Massacre. 



My experience, subsequently, in going to the Diamantina from 

 my depot showed me how easily the journey across to Carpentaria 

 might be made. McKinlay's most successful journey from the northern 

 settlements of South Australia to the Gulf and thence to Queensland 

 is also proof positive of what Burke and Wills might have done had 

 the instructions of the committee been properly carried out. 



When Burke returned to the depot he buried a letter in the cache, 

 from which he had removed the provisions which Brahe left there, {h) 

 According to King, the cache was covered up as it was before they 

 opened it, and with horse and camel dung spread over it. The necessity 

 of leaving some mark to show that they had been there was overlooked. 

 According to King, they thought that the word " Dig " would answer 

 their purpose as well as it had Brahe's, who put it there, {h) This was 

 a fatal error, and one which bore bitter fruit. 



In Burke's opinion the provisions found in the cache would last 

 them 40 days ; and here occurs the final mistake, namely, the choice 

 of the route by Mount Hopeless to the northern settlements of South 

 Australia instead of their own track to the Darling, of which they knew 

 all the stages and on which they would meet any party bringing them 

 help. But in considering this matter it must be remembered that they 

 were all in the last stage of exhaustion. Grey had died before reaching 

 Cooper's Creek, and they were reduced to so low a state when they 

 arrived at the depot that, as King said, it was as much as one of them 

 could do to crawl to the side of the creek for a billy of water. (?) Had 

 they decided to proceed to Menindie, and allowing 10 days to rest and 

 recuperate at the depot, they would, according to Burke's calcula- 

 tions, (/) have had 30 days' provisions. Their journey up from Menindie 

 to the depot took 25 days, counting the camps ; but it is more than 

 doubtful whether they, in the state in which they and their two camels 

 were, could have done the back journey in that time. 



(h) Report Royal Commission— Evidence, 1024, 1025, 1027, 1028, 1031. 

 [(i) Op. cit., 1032. {j) Evidence, 1042. 



