PREFACE. 
In offering to the public an account of Expedi- 
tions of Discovery in Australia, undertaken in the 
years 1840*1, and completed in July of the latter 
year, some apology may be deemed necessary for 
this narrative not having sooner appeared, or per- 
haps even for its being now published at all. 
With respect to the first, the author would re- 
mark that soon after his return to South Australia 
upon the close of the Expeditious, and when con- 
templating an immediate return to England, he 
was invited by the Governor of the Colony to 
remain, and undertake the task of re-establishing 
peace and amicable relations with the numerous 
native tribes of the Murray River, and its neigh- 
bourhood, whose daring and successful outrages in 
1841, had caused very great losses to, and created 
serious apprehensions among the Colonists. 
Hoping that his personal knowledge of and ex- 
tensive practical experience among the Aborigines 
might prove serviceable in an employment of this 
nature, the author consented to undertake it ; and 
from the close of September 1841, until December 
1844, was unremittingly occupied with the duties 
it entailed. It was consequently not in his power 
VOL. i. 
A 
