THE EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1688, 26 November 1861, Page 5

THE EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA.

THE CONTINENT CROSSED. DEATH OF MESSRS. BURKE, WILLS, AND | GRAY. The Dart brings us advices from Sydney of the fate of Mr. Burkes Exploring Expedition. For some months past the most painful interest has been felt, aud relief parties have been despatched lo its assistance. Mr. Howitt's party succeeded in finding Mr. King, the only survivor, who, much exhaustedj had been three months living with the blacks and by his aid were able to discover the remains of Mr. Burke and Mr. Wills' so as to iuter them decently. The journals and maps are secured, and are now in possession of the Society under whose auspices the exploration was started. Thr Continent has been Crossed, and this fact will be an imperishable monument in memory of the brave men whose lives it has cost, though we are happy to find that their remains are to be fetched iv, and a public monument erected ov«r them at Melbourne. We extract from the Melbourne Argus the following particulars. L_xe on Saturday night (Nov. 2) information reached Melbourne from Sandhurst of the arrival of a messenger*— Mr. Brahe — from Mr. Howitt's searching expedition, with a despatch from the leader, conveying the melancholly intelligence that Burke and Wills had perished at Cooper' ( s Creek, in the month of June last, of exhaustion from fatigue and want of proper food, and tbat a third member of the party (Gray), had died some time previously. The fourth (King) was found on the Creek, living with the natives, by whom he was treated kindly, and, we are happy to say, is now restored to health. In his posession were the journals of the leader of the expedition and Mr. Wills' maps and notes (which aie now in ppssessiou of the Royal Society), which show that Burke and his companions successfully accomplished the crossing of the continent to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, which they reached on the 12th February. The chart kept by Mr. Wills shows that th.' party followed Stuart's track to its farthest point, in latitude 24, when, finding the country to the north utterly impracticable, a course was struck direct east to the 140 th parallel of longitude, tthich they followed north, almost in a straight line to Albert River. They rested three days at a point on the river, in latitude 17' 53' south, within the tidal influence, thus accomplishing the great feat of crossing the continent from sea to sea; and then turned back almost by the same route, travelling for the most part of the way on foot, killing their horses and some of the camels for food, and suffering much from hunger. They reached Cooper's Creek on the evening of the 21st | April,— the very day on which , Brahe and the depot party under his charge left the Creek to return to Meniudie. A.small quantity of provisions hidden by tbe depot party was found by by Burke and his companions, who feeliug themselves too weak to travel to Menindie (about 400 miles), made two successive attempts to reach the South Australian Settlements, and were driven back on both occasions by want of water.' In tbese attempts' the month of May was spent; the provisions that unnamed were rapidly becoming exhausted, the food which they were abl» to prepare from a native plant which they discovered was insufficient in quantity to recruit their failing strength, aud late in the mouth of June— just as _Tr. Howitt's party began its journey in search ol the missing party — podr Burke died while iv the act of making a last attempt to obtain succour for himself and Wills from the blacks ; and Wills, alone in his hut, and about the same time as his friend Burke, breathed his last. From June till the loth September, when he was found by. Howitt, King, the last survivor of the party, lived amongst the natives of Cooper's Creek, by whom he was kindly treated He was originally a soldier, and is a young, strong man. His narrative will be fouud extremely interesting. Melancholy interest attaches to the lust despatch written by Mr. Burke, briefly but comprehensively announcing the success he had achieved, and to the last, few lines traced despairingly by the hand of poor Wills. The following is Mr. Howitt's despatch, announciug tbe results of his mission. It is dated from a camp on the return journey to Menindie, where uo doubt he has now arrived :— Poria Creek, October 10, 1861. Sir, — I have the houor to report ray arrival here with the Contingent Exploring Party, on my return journey, having, on Septemher 15th, in latitude 27 deg. 44 mim, and longitude 140 deg. 40 mm., found John King, the only survivor of Mr. Burkes party, living with the Cooper's Creek natives. Mr. Burke and Mr. Wills had died some time previous to my arrival, from hunger and exhaustion, and Gray died before reaching Cooper', Crsek, oh their return journey from the Gulf. King was in a very weak, exhausted state when found, but I am happy to say has recovered wonderfully since, and Mr. Wheeler has just reported him to me as. being out of his hands. The full, particulars will be fouud in my diary, which, with King's narrative, is enclosed. I may state regarding my diary, I have only transcribed that portion subsequent to our reaching this place on our outward journey, as up to that time we had followed the expedition track, and nothing of interest had occurred. It may suffice for me to say that from leaving Menindie we had travelled without meeting with any particular hindrances, finding splendid feed almost the whole .way, and sufficient water for our use, with the exception of three nights, when our horses were without. The rain had been very partial, and ih places we only found just sufficient for our immediate use. Torowoto aud Carriapundy swamps and the mud plains were perfectly dry, and no water that coald long be relied on, without subsequent rain, from Nuntherungee Creek to this place, a' distance of about 180 miles. I had intended leaving the Expedition tract at Carriapundy, but was deterred from doing so hy tlie very dry appearance of the country; and therefore, followed' the truck to this creek, which is permanent.' 1 am happy to he able to state, tl^at the party are ; and have been in perfect health, and that the horses are iv excellent working order. The camels are, upou^the whole, in as good condition as when tbf^ left Menindie, and may be pronounced cured of the scab, which I cannot help attributing, in a great measure to the bad management of the sepoys. ' So far, I have met with no loss or accident of any kind, and the natives, wherever I have seen them, have

been friendly. I expect to be down at Menindie in three weeks, and may probably spend two or three days at Torowoto to endeavour to find permanent water, as I know of none there that can be relied on. * I forward these despatches by Mr. Brabe and Weston Phillips, with four of our best horses. I consider that they will have no particular difficulties in going down, excepting a*s regards water, which would not be lessened by a larger part), and I cannot well sp tie more men, from the number of camels and pack-horses to look after. Should there be horses at Menindie fit for- the journey down, I have instructed Mr. Brabe to proceed at once to town, taking with him the documents and field books belonging to Mr. Burke and Mr. Wills, and relating to the journey to and from the Gulf. King I shall send down on my arrival at the darling. I beg to urge on the committee the necessity of sending me immediate instructions to Menindie respecting the further disposal of the party and equipment. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, ! A. W. Howitt, Leader of the Contingent Exploring party. To the Hon. John Macadam, M. D., Hon. Secretary of the Exploration Committee Melbourne.