[1]This poor man was unfortunately drowned, September 30th.
[2]According to Balbi, the course of the Murray is nearly 3,000 miles.
[3]This calculation can only be approximate.
[4]Expeditions into the Interior of Australia: 2 vols.
[5]The return of supplies taken each trip up the river, it is calculated, will be equivalent to about one-half the value of the cargo brought down; the orders for goods amounting already to £3,000 and upwards.
[6]The dimensions of the Lady Augusta (so called in honour of Lady Young), are as follows:—Extreme length on deck, 105ft.; extreme length of keel, 98ft. 6in.; depth of hold, 5ft 6in.; breadth of beam, 12ft.; on the cross guards, 21ft. She is built altogether upon the American principle and model, and cost about £5,000. Her engines, furnished from Sydney, are of twenty horse power each, and of best workmanship. Her total tonnage, including engines which weigh thirty tons, is ninety-one tons. Her beams and planking are of New Zealand pine, and her timbers are of honeysuckle. She draws 3ft. water when full, and 2ft. 4in. when light. She possesses accommodation for sixteen first-class passengers and half as many second. There is also accommodation in the Eureka barge, which tows alongside.
[7]The Eureka launch is built of blue gum below, her upper planks of New Zealand pine, and her decks of Baltic deal. Entire length on deck, 106 feet; entire length of keel, 96 feet; breadth of beam, 12 feet; breadth of cross guards, 21 feet; depth of hold, 8 feet. Her dimensions were:—Estimated measurement tonnage, 87 tons; draught of water, with cargo, 3 feet; draught of water, without cargo, 13 to 15 inches. The deck, which is covered with an awning, is, from her peculiar construction, large enough for a vessel of 300 or 400 tons.
[8]This man, for want of evidence, was released, and sent back from whence he came.
[9]From those lakes, salt, in considerable quantities, is gathered and transported into the interior, or to the nearest towns.
[10]October 4th, above Euston, three emus or cassowaries were observed swimming across the river. Amongst the Australian aborigines there has been an evident desire to preserve this gigantic bird, and for this purpose its flesh is forbidden, it is said, to their young men. The Europeans, however, hunt it down without any consideration, unless it be for the sake of its feathers or for a steak of its flesh. An emu, we are told, with a kick can kill a dog or break a horse’s leg, and to judge from the size of their claws (some of which we have on board) this can be no exaggeration. Dogs are, however, trained to seize them by the neck, and, in this way, overpower them easily.
[11]The Darling, during more than half the year, would, it appears, be navigable for upwards of 150 miles from its junction with the Murray. A few years ago indeed, it was settled as far as Lake Minindie, a Government Reserve, 200 miles from the mouth; but the outrages of the blacks—the distance from an available market—or other causes—led to the abandonment of these runs. It has now only 50,000 sheep upon its banks; but would, it is said, depasture four times that number, and might be occupied up to Fort Bourke, 500 miles from the junction. The waters of the Darling, at times fordable, begin to rise about July, and subside again in February.
[12]According to Mr. Jamieson, Mickie had a companion; and the native was alone.
[13]In Victoria, as much as 35s. had been demanded for one day’s stabling and food for one horse.
[14]These birds were afterwards brought on board and conveyed to Adelaide.
[15]These “store” sheep, as they are called, are sent overland to be fattened on the banks of the river, whence the clip is easily transported to Adelaide.
[16]In the Wakool we found three and a-half fathoms water.
[17]As in some degree confirmatory of this last extract, it may be mentioned that on taking in wood, at the Great Bend, we were informed that, of the woodcutters who had been working for us, one had been a West India proprietor, and the other the nephew of a noble Earl, whose ancestors have borne a prominent place in Irish history.
[18]It is worthy of remark, that the sheep on the Murray appear to be singularly exempt from disease—neither catarrh, scab, nor foot rot, being now known amongst them.
[19]The nearest diggings to Swan Hill are the Koorong, about 100 miles distant.
[20]On this voyage, up the Murray, has been remarked by more than one of our party the singular resemblance to Gothic arches presented by the overhanging trees. It is not impossible that the idea of their construction has thus originated; at any rate, of the notion we may, I think, say with the Italian, si non È vero È ben trovato.
[21]The Company, it appears, allowed the passengers 8s. a-day during their detention.
[22]Near this station, on the borders of a lake, is found a quantity of a kind of gypsum or talc, perfectly transparent, which possibly may yet be turned to some useful purposes.
[23]Strange to say, the Wakool is stated in the dry season to be quite salt; if so, the salt springs must predominate over the waters of the Murray, of which it receives the “backwaters.”
[24]The Royal Australian Bank have two other sheep stations in the vicinity of the Wakool, as also two cattle stations on the Neimur and Murray; the whole being under the s
