34 
The Queensland Naturalist May, 1942 
answered the request for information about Gould, was 
drawn to Chisholm's letter in “The Times" by a relative 
in Ireland. 
The first part of “Strange New World" deals with 
Gilbert's wanderings and finding in Tasmania, West 
Australia, and what is now the Northern Territory. The 
major part of the book is based on Gilbert’s diary, kept 
when he was a member of the Leichhardt expedition 
from the 1st October, 1844, till his death from spearing 
in the Gulf Country on the 28th June, 1845. This diary 
meticulously kept in spite of all hardships, probably 
throws more light on the true character of Leichhardt 
than any other source previously found — even taking 
into consideration the fact that Gilbert was a sub- 
ordinate — and reading through the lines, was probably 
of a rather exacting nature, perhaps even a bit quarrel- 
some. Leichhardt in spite of his idiosyncrasies and his 
many faults, as an explorer and a leader must have been 
a very dominating personality. He certainly monopolises 
most of the scene in the present book. Chisholm stresses 
Leichhardt's knowledge of Geology and Botany, but the 
circumstances under which the party travelled, always 
behind schedule, and always trying to make both ends 
meet, did not give much encouragement to the study of 
natural history and especial^ to the collecting of speci- 
mens. In fact, in this respect the expedition was a great 
disappointment. It is strange that Leichhardt should 
have received such a reputation as a botanist and should 
have had so many plants named after him. His results 
were infinitesimal compared with those of Mitchell and 
some other Australian explorers. 
His specimens that are available at the present time 
are meagre and scattered through various Australian 
and European Herbaria, and for the most part they 
represent rather commonplace plants of no particular 
outstanding merit. 
“Strange New World" is one of the outstanding 
books published in Australia, and will probably run 
through many editions. 
C.T.W. 
