468 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



3._GE0GRAPHICAL NOMENCLATURE OF SOUTH 

 AUSTRALIA. 



By C. HOPE HARRIS. 

 Plate XVI. 

 The main object of this paper is to account for the introduction 

 of well-known European names into South Australia, and to 

 narrate incidents, both of geographical and of historical interest, 

 connected with them. Native names are also recorded, with their 

 meanings, as far as possible ; but lack of time at the disposal of 

 the writer has necessarily limited the number of names dealt with. 

 Some of the facts given are gathered from official sources ; the 

 remainder have been contributed by old residents, and authenti- 

 cated by reference to documentary evidence contained in letters 

 and diaries of early colonists ; and it is hoped that this paper may 

 be of sufficient interest to form part of a permanent record of 

 events and circumstances which, though comparatively trivial in 

 themselves, are of considerable importance in their relation to the 

 geography of this jDrovince. 



In accounting for the existence of a name, the question naturally 

 occurs, Who has the right of naming ? This, by genera! consent, 

 is conceded to all discoverers and explorers, as regards places first 

 visited by them or made known to the public through their agency. 

 Strictly speaking, it is the prerogative of ownership, and in this 

 sense is an assertion of personal claim; but the practice referred lo 

 is sanctioned by usage and recognised by compilers of maps under 

 Government authority as a legitimate reward of enterprise ; and, 

 just as proprietorship carries with it the inalienable right of naming 

 that which lawfully belongs to an individual, so royalty or its 

 representatives, together with corporate bodies or duly constituted 

 committees, have, by virtue of their representative character, 

 similar privileges of conferring names to property under their 

 control unnamed or imclaimed by others. 



In the absence of public information, the appropriateness of 

 names is not always evident, and not unfrequently is subjected to 

 severe criticism. Upon this ground it seems desirable that a record 

 shonld invariably be kept, not only of the bare fact of naming, but 

 also of the reasons for the choice. This would have the advantage 

 of preserving details connected with them which would be of ever- 

 growing interest to posterity. Such a rule was almost invariably 

 observed by the distinguished geographer, Matthew Flinders, and 

 by inland explorers under Government direction ; also in later 

 years by leaders of similar expeditions under the ])atronage of 

 public-spirited men and the auspices of the Royal Geographical 

 Society. But from the difficulties which beset anyone engaged in 

 a search among public records contained in official documents for 

 details of early excursions from Adelaide into the surroimding 

 country and other items of geographical interest, it is evident. 



