APPENDIX I, 



INSTRUCTIONS TO ROBERT O'HARA BURKE, ESQ., 

 LEADER, VICTORIAN EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



Exploration Committee, Royal Society of Victoria, 

 Melbourne, August 18th, 1860. 



SiK, — I am directed by the Committee to convey to you the 

 instructions and vie^vs which liave been adopted in connection with 

 tlie duties which devolve upon you as leader of the party now 

 organised to explore the interior of Australia. 



The Committee having decided upon Cooper's Creek, of Sturt's, as 

 the basis of your operations, requests that you will proceed thither, 

 form a depot of provisions and stores, and make arrangements for 

 keeping o])en a communication in your rear to the Darling — if in 

 your opinion advisable — and thence to Melbourne, so that you may 

 be enabled to keep the Committee informed of your movements, and 

 receive in return the assistance in stores and advice of which you may 

 stand in need. Should you find that a better communication can be 

 made b}'' way of the South Australian Police Station near Mount 

 Serle, you will avail yourself of that means of writing to the 

 Committee. 



In your route to Cooper's Creek, you will avail yourself of any 

 opportunity that may present itself for examining and rej^orting on 

 the character of the country east and west of the Darling. 



You will make arrangements for carrying the stores to a point 

 opposite Mount McPhcrson, which seems to tlie Connnittee to be the 

 best point of departure from this river for Cooper's Creek; and while 

 the main l)ody of the party is proceeding to that point, you may have 

 further opportunities of examining the countiy on cither side of your 

 route. 



In your further progress from Mount McPherson towards Cooper's 



