CHAPTER XLI 



THE TOURNEY OF FRANK AND ALEXANDER JARDINE (1864-5) 

 FROM ROCKHAMPTON TO SOMERSET 



CARPENTARIA DOWNS VIA EINASLEIGH RIVER TO THE 

 MOUTH OF THE ETHERIDGE RIVER 



PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT OF QUEENSLAND UP TO 1864. SOMERSET. NAMES OF MEMBERS 

 OF THE EXPEDITION. CATTLE AND HORSES TO STOCK A STATION. EQUIPMENT. 

 CAMP AT J. G. MACDONALD'S CARPENTARIA DOWNS STATION, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED 

 TO BE ON LEICHHARDT'S LYND RIVER. ALICK'S RECONNAISSANCE DOWN THE 

 RIVER, WHICH is NAMED THE EINASLEIGH. His RETURN TO CARPENTARIA DOWNS. 

 A. J. RICHARDSON, SURVEYOR. His NARRATIVE AND MAP. F. J. BYERLEY EDITS 

 THE BROTHERS' DIARY. EXPEDITION LEAVES CARPENTARIA DOWNS. DOWN 

 EINASLEIGH RIVER TO INFALL OF ETHERIDGE RIVER. CAMP 13. CANNIBALISM. 

 SUMMARY OF ITINERARY. EINASLEIGH RIVER FALLS INTO GILBERT RIVER. THE 

 DUTCH STATEN REVIER, DE JURE, is ONE OF THE MOUTHS OF THE GILBERT RIVER. 



QUEENSLAND was separated from New South Wales in 

 1859. The Governor of the new colony, SIR GEORGE 

 BOWEN, on his return from a voyage to the northern 

 ports, recommended SOMERSET, Cape York, as the site 

 of a settlement, " on account of its geographical importance, 

 as harbour of refuge, coaling station and entrepot for the trade of 

 Torres Strait and the North Pacific." MR. JOHN JARDINE, then 

 Police Magistrate and Gold Commissioner at Rockhampton, was 

 placed in charge of the new settlement as " Government Resident " 

 and a detachment of marines was landed in 1863. 



Gradually as it became evident that the prevailing industries 

 of the new settlement were destined to be chiefly maritime, 

 THURSDAY ISLAND, off the mainland of Cape York, became the chief 

 depot for the ships engaged in the search for pearls, pearl-shell and 

 beche de mer and the seat of Government was eventually transferred 

 to the island. 



Shortly after his installation, Mr. Jardine foresaw the necessity 

 for a regular supply of FRESH MEAT to the new settlement, and 

 proposed to the Government to send his two sons, Frank (22) and 

 Alick (20) overland with a herd of cattle to form a station from 

 which it might be supplied. The proposal was agreed to and the 

 Government instructed a surveyor to accompany the expedition. 



With all the advantages of health and youth, and above all, 

 of training from their childhood in the bushmanship which Australia 

 requires and bestows, the two brothers were unusually well qualified 



119 2 *> 



