INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 31 



The performance of the duties placed upon me by my instructions 

 on my second expedition caused me to make several journeys to Blanche- 

 water, one to Angepina, and also several trips northward, which were 

 full of interest. Thus a considerable part of my time was spent away 

 from the depot. It was most gratifying to me, and creditable to the 

 members of my party, that during my absence the depot was main- 

 tained and all their respective duties carried on in such a manner that 

 no friction was apparent among those who remained there, and that 

 the horses and camels were properly looked after and kept in good 

 health and condition. I attributed the very satisfactory relations 

 between the members of the party when I was absent in great measure 

 to the tact and discretion of Alexander Aitkin, whom I selected to hold 

 authority during my absence. This was against the wish of Dr. J. P. 

 Murray, who had volunteered to accompany the expedition in his pro- 

 fessional capacity. My experience of him on my way up caused me to 

 select Aitkin in preference, and his subsequent action in the McInt\Te- 

 Leichhardt Search Expedition, and after that in the notorious Carl 

 " blackbirding " case, fully confirmed my opinion. 



Owing to the dryness of the season there was a scarcity of feed for 

 our 34 horses, which, in consequence, were scattered in small lots over 

 a frontage of 20 miles above and below the depot. This required two 

 of the men to be constantly on the move looking after them. In doing 

 this they found a horse rumiing wild, where we had seen the tracks on 

 our first journey. He was of a remarkable roan skewbald color, and 

 was so wild that it was with great difficulty he was captured. This 

 was not surprising, for he had a broken rib — probably by a club or a 

 boomerang having been thrown at him. It was a great regret to us 

 all that he was injured in being caught and died of inflammation. So 

 far as I can form an opinion, he was a horse left by Sturt on his last 

 trip to Cooper's Creek. 



At the times when I was at the depot I fostered the good feeling 

 between the native tribe there and ourselves. By the kindness of Mr. 

 l*'rank James, the manager of the Blanchewater Station, I obtained a 

 blackboy belonging to the Narrinyeri tribe who spoke the Dieri language, 

 and thus was able to communicate not only with the Dieri, but also with 

 the Yantruwunta blacks at Cooper's Creek, where we were, who undet- 

 stood that language. In this way I was, before long, able to make 

 myself understood sufficiently for ordinary purposes. Thus I was able 

 to obtain a guide to any place within their ken, which extended for a 

 radius of over a hunderd miles. But there was another advantage 

 which I had, for the old men of the tribal group which were located 



