28 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



between two waterholes, and about a mile from the flat where they 

 gathered the nardoo on which they tried to exist. We collected the 

 remains of poor Wills, which the drifting sands no longer covered, and 

 placed them in a grave near a tree close by, on which we cut the in- 

 scription — 



W. J. WILLS 



XLV yds 



w N w 

 AH 



We also recovered the field-books, a note-book belonging to Burke, 

 various small articles — of no intrinsic value — but now sacred relics of 

 the honored dead. 



I found that King, though improving, Avas not yet strong enough 

 to make a pilgrimage with me to where he left the remains of Burke, 

 and, therefore, on the 21st of September, I went to the place described 

 to me by King, accompanied by Brahe, Welch, Dr. Wheeler, and 

 Aitkin. We searched the banks of the creek upwards for eight miles, 

 and at length, strange to say, found the remains of Burke lying in a 

 small hollow^ among the dried stems of tall plants, within 200yds. of 

 our last camp and not 30 paces from our track. It was still more 

 extraordinary that I, with three or four of the party and the two black- 

 boys, had been close to the spot without noticing anything. The 

 bones were entire with the exception of one hand and the feet. The 

 body had been moved from the spot where it first lay, and where the 

 natives had placed branches over it, to about five paces away. I 

 found the revolver, which Burke held in his hand when he expired, 

 partly covered with leaves and earth, and corroded with rust. We 

 interred the remains in a grave dug at the foot of a box tree, on which 

 the following inscription was cut : — 



E O'H B 



21 9 61 

 A H 



Before we left on our return journey I got all the blacks together, 

 who came to the camp in a long straggling procession of men, women, 

 and children. They were made happy by the presents which they 

 received, and I think they understood that these were given to them 

 for their kindness to the white men, and especially to King. It had 

 also the effect of making it easy for me, on my second expedition, ta 

 place myself in friendly relations not only with them, but also with 

 the neighboring tribes to the north, and to find guides ready and willing 



