Charles Sturt's expedition from Adelaide into the interior of the continent - he reached a point in the Simpson Desert within 120 miles of the centre - was of great significance in the European discovery and understanding of Australia.
On this expedition the confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers was discovered. The inland sea, which had been speculated about for nearly half a century, was finally proved to be mythical. Major features of the inland, Cooper Creek, Sturt's Stony desert and what was later to be called Simpson desert, were described for the first time.
Nicolas Rothwell, a senior writer for 'The Australian' has written an introduction for this book, in which he describes the country through which Sturt passed 'Even at the start of the 21st century, and in the air-conditioned cocoon of a four-wheel drive, the route ... up the Silver City Highway to Tibooburra leaves the traveller on edge. The sky shimmers; the hills lead off to nowhere; mirage-lakes dance before the eye. Depot Glen, and Mount Poole ... and Fort Grey, on the Cameron Corner track, have lost none of their primal charge of desolation. Examining Sturt's words on-site gives them a different quality: the party's efforts come to seem an attempt to withstand, to gain the acceptance of the landscape'.
This is a facsimile edition of Sturt's own account of the expedition in which he and fourteen other men set off in August 1844 to the centre of Australia - primarily to locate the inland sea. For his efforts Sturt was rewarded the gold medal if the Royal Geographical Society. He returned to England a few years later, and died in 1969.
Contents:
ntroduction by Nicolas Rothwell
Chapter 1
- Character of the Australian Continent
- Of its Rivers
- Peculiarity of the Darling
Chapter 2
- Preparations for Departure
- Arrival at Moorundi
- Native Guides
Chapter 3
- Mr Browne's Return
- His Account of the Country
- Change of Scene
Chapter 4
- Toonda's Tribe
- Dusposition of the Natives
- Arrival of Camboli
Chapter 5
- Native Women
- Sudden Squall
- Journey to the Eastward
Chapter 6
- The Depot
- Further Progress Checked
- Character of the Ranges
Chapter 7
- Migration of the Birds
- Journey to the Eastward
- Flooded Plains
Chapter 8
- Leave the Depot for the North-West
- Scarcity Water
- Fossil Limestone
Chapter 9
- Flood's Quick Sight
- Forrest Full of Birds
- Native Well
Chapter 10
- Reflections on Our Difficulties
- Commence the Retreat
- Eyre's Creek
Chapter 11
- The Horses
- Ascend the Hills
- Irresolution and Retreat
Chapter 12
- Continued Drought
- Terrific Effect of Hot Wind
- Thermometer Bursts
Chapter 13
- Remarks on the Season
- Dry State of the Atmosphere
- Thermometrical Observations
Part 2
Chapter 1
- Duties of an Explorer
- Geographical Position of South Australia
- Description of its Coast Line
Chapter 2
- Plains of Adelaide
- Bridges Over the Torrens
- Site of Adelaide
Chapter 3
- Season
- Cause Why South Australia Has Fine Grain
- Extent of Cultivation
Mr Kennedy's Survey of the River Victoria
List of Animals
Botanical Appendix by Robert Brown
