242 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



A PAIR OF COMPASSES which Jackey-Jackey expected to find was 

 missing. The blacks probably carried away the compasses, which 

 would make excellent barbs for spears, and left the papers, for which 

 they had no use. Captain Simpson observed in his report that he 

 feared the papers were " nearly destroyed," but thought the charts 

 might be deciphered, with care. This was, apparently, never 

 done, though the charts were carefully packed and sent to Sydney. 



It is evident that the memorandum books and time book 

 referred to in the letter quoted in the footnote were distinct from 

 the " big ones," to which Kennedy attached supreme importance, 

 and which probably contained his full journal. 



WHERE ARE THE CHARTS AND BOOKS ? Unless they can be 

 recovered, we now know all that can ever be known of the gallant 

 but unfortunate Kennedy. 



Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, and read at a meeting of the Society on 

 27th January, 1851 : 



" A river which runs into the centre of Newcastle Bay was next examined, and the 

 place found where Jackey had concealed the SMALL PAPERS in a hollow log, but a rat 

 or some animal had pulled them out where they had been exposed to the weather, and 

 were quite saturated with water. They consisted of a ROLL OF CHARTS, ON WHICH 

 HIS TRACK WAS LAID DOWN ; these, with care, may possibly be deciphered : I am sure 

 if you had them you could do it. There were some MEMORANDUM BOOKS, much defaced, 

 and also a TIME BOOK. I have sent everything carefully packed, to Sydney." It is 

 evident that Captain Simpson was of opinion that the roll of charts on which 

 Kennedy's route was laid down was, though damaged, not incapable of being 

 deciphered if placed in competent hands. 



