154 An Historical Review of the 



three weeks previous to their arrival at Western Port, hardly able 

 to force their way on foot through extensive and almost impenetra- 

 table forests, intersected by swamps, creeks, and morasses. The 

 exertions of Capt.Wickham and Stokes, the commanders of H. M.S. 

 the Beagle between 1837 and 1843, by which manifold additions 

 were gained to inland discoveries are praiseworthy in a high 

 degree, particularly when we recollect that in the engagements for 

 maritime surveys, the means for land exploration can be but 

 limited in the extreme. The finest stream of tropical Australia, 

 justly bearing a royal name, was then discovered. But since"" I 

 contemplate to lay the principal results of the last North Austra- 

 lian expedition, to which I was attached, in a special paper before 

 the institute, I will not dwell on this occasion on the import- 

 ance of that discovery. The Adelaide river, winding through a 

 level country, and doubtless rising in the same low table land 

 as the South Alligator Biver, was found to be navigable upwards 

 of fifty miles, and into fresh, offering thus to the fine pastures of 

 Arnheim's Land, a favourable access. The tall Bamboo imparts 

 to this river quite the aspect of an Indian stream. The discovery 

 of the Albert, the Flinders and the FitzBoy Bivers resulted from 

 the same expedition. Adansonia reaches its western limits on the 

 FitzBoy. 



In 1840 an expedition was fitted out conjointly by the 

 Government and the colonists of S*outh Australia for the explo- 

 ration of the northern interior of that colony, under the 

 command of the talented Mr. Eyre, now Governor in West India, 

 who in the year previous had gained the highest reputation as 

 an explorer by his discovery of Lake Torrens, Mount Bemark- 

 able, and many other mountains and several of the rivers of 

 South Australia ; Mount Eyre forming the northern limit of his 

 researches in 1839. 



No one can read the lucid account of this journey without 

 admiring his skill, his perseverance and courage, or without 

 sympathising with his sufferings and bitter disappointments. 

 Inhospitable tracts of country along the Flinder's Banges were 

 reconnoitered by Mr. Eyre, merely accompanied by a native 

 boy, on one occasion 120 miles ahead of his party. A desperate 

 push over a difficult country was necessary on more than one 

 occasion to reach water, fifty miles to and fro to be travelled 

 without a refreshing drink to either animals or men, and this at 

 a season of the year (August), when it would have been 

 abundantly expected. Travelling partially by night alone 

 rendered it possible for him to regain the camp of his party. 

 Although in the subsequent advance of the squatters permanent 



