PRODUCTION NOTES:1. Notes have been placed in square brackets[] where indicated in the publishedtext or at the end of the paragraph, as appropriate.2. Italics in the published text have been capitalised in the eBook, with theexception of common and scientific names appearing in the appendices at theend of volume 2, which appear in the eBook as normal text.3. Errata have been corrected. Original text has been placed in the eBook between braces{}.
NARRATIVE OF AN EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL AUSTRALIA PERFORMED UNDER THEAUTHORITY OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT,
DURING THE YEARS 1844, 5, AND 6,
TOGETHER WITH
A NOTICE OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1847.
IN 2 VOLUMES.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARL GREY, ETC. ETC. ETC.
MY LORD,
Although the services recorded in the following pages, which your Lordshippermits me to dedicate to you, have not resulted in the discovery of anycountry immediately available for the purposes of colonization, I wouldyet venture to hope that they have not been fruitlessly undertaken, butthat, as on the occasion of my voyage down the Murray River, they will bethe precursors of future advantage to my country and to the Australiancolonies.
Under present disappointment it must be as gratifying to those whoparticipated in my labours, as it is to myself to know that they are notthe less appreciated by your Lordship, because they were expended in adesert.
I can only assure your Lordship, that it has been my desire to give afaithful description of the country that has been explored, and of thedifficulties attending the task; nor can I refuse myself the anticipationthat the perusal of these volumes will excite your Lordship's interestand sympathy. I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Most obedient humble servant,
CHARLES STURT.
London, November 21,1848.
NOTICE.
It might have been expected that many specimens, both of Botany andOrnithology, would have been collected during such an Expedition as thatwhich the present narrative describes, but the contrary happened to bethe case.
I am proud in having to record the name of my esteemed friend, Mr. Brown,the companion of Flinders, and the learned author of the "Prodromus NovaeHollandiae," to whose kindness I am indebted for the Botanical Remarksin the Appendix.
To my warm-hearted friend, Mr. Gould, whose splendid works are before thePublic, and whose ardent pursuits in furtherance of his ambition, I havepersonally witnessed, I owe the more perfect form in which myornithological notice appears.
I have likewise to acknowledge, with very sincere feelings, the assistanceI have received from Mr. Arrowsmith, in the construction of my Map,to whose anxious desire to ensure correctness and professional talent I amvery greatly indebted.
I hope the gentlemen whose names I have mentioned will accept my bestthanks for the assistance they have afforded me in my humble labours. Itis not the least of the gratifications enjoyed by those who are employedon services similar to which I have been engaged, to be brought moreimmediately in connection with such men.
London, November 21, 1848.
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