AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1003, 17 December 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION.

[Prom the Sydney Herald.] On Tuesday there arrived at Sydney, from Palmerston, Northern Territory, a gallant little band of explorers, comprising six white men and two aboriginals, under the leadership of Mr Alexander Forrest; Last year the Surveyor-General of ‘VV'est Australia succeeded in getting a grant towards defraying the expenses of the journey. The settlers gave twenty-six horses, arid on the 18th January last, taking provisions fdr six months; Fdrrfist and his plucky little band started frdtri Perth to go to Port Darwin, along the northwest coast of Australia. The last settlement they left was a statiori belonging to Messrs Grarit and Andetvdri, on the De Grey liiver, in latitude 20T0 and longtitude 119 east. This they left on the 15th February; and keeping from five to twenty miles inland, they travelled 400 miles to Beagle Bay; discovering a large tract of valuable country along the east coast suitable for sheep and cattle. From Beagle Bay they went to King's Sound, and followed its shores inland until they struck the Fitzroy Biver. The party then branched oft 1 and travelled along the river bank for 150 miles to the S.E; and about 100 miles to the N.E. They describe this as a noble stream, teeming ---■ with fish, navigable by small steamers for a distance of 100 miles inland, and running through a rich country ranged over by thousands of emus and kangaroos. As far as could be estimated, the river basin contains 5,000,000 acres of land suitable for pastoral purposes, and though the alluvial flats are subject to severe floods, stock could easily with a little care, be taken to the high land, which is only a few miles from the river. The Fitzroy was crossed in latitude 17 degs. 42 mins., and longtitude 126 degs., and the explorers then wrint north-west towards Collier Bay, making for the Glenelg, a river which was discovered by Sir George Grey. For 140 miles they toiled on at the base of a table-land 2000 feet high, until they managed to surmount the range, and then hill after hill rose before A fortnight was spent making tracks up these ascents, tracks which, after all were so rugged that of their twenty-two horses, weakened by toil, nine died j and finally, when within twenty miles ot the Glenelg, when Stephen Bange, fixed by Sir George, was quite visible, they had to abandon the attempt to go farther north. They returned to the

Fitzroy, keeping some twenty miles off their outward tracks and passing through very fine country, and took a little rest The scenery round Collier Bay is as magnificent, and, as might _be expected from the mountainous nature of the country, beautiful waterfalls abound. Although this rugged Country cost them a great deal of fruitless toil, the explorers have pleasant recollections of it. On the 10th July, with 13 horses and 50 days’ provisions, they started east-north-east for the overland telegraph line, Here, for the first time, they had to economise their rations, and as they consumed the load of a horse, they finished by consuming the horse itself, drying the flesh in the killed four altogether, and though horse-flesh is described by those who tasted it in Paris as juicy and delicate, it was natural enough that their charqui should be tough and tasteless. They travelled 100 miles to the Dividing Eauge, crossed in latitude 18 degrees 10 minutes-, then went 240 miles to the Victoria Eiver near its junction With Wickham, During this journey they discovered millions Of acres of fertile well-grassed country, intersected Vith numerous large rivers, all running north and north-west. They sllw no oig game, but flocks of! wild turkeys Were met with, and the rivers, well stocked with fish, were covered with geese and ducks. During his entire -journey, Mr Forrest saW 000,000 acres of pastoral land, the greater portion being in undulating flats, and poison plants being conspicuously absent. Large numbers of Natives were seen, and though they might be described in sailor fashion, as displaying “ manners none, customs nasty,” they did not molest tho travellers. For the most part, they are fine big men, and some of their customs would be extremely interesting to the ethnologist. That they had never met white men before was shown by their refusal to eat any of the food offered them, and by the fact that not a woman was ever to be seen though there must have been plenty of them with the different tribes encountered. These men who are cannibals, have an ingenious way of fishing. Across a stream they will build a series of dams, leave a sluice opening in each, a’id then, while oiie nian _ whips the pools, another takeh the fish in grass nets as they make in their fright for the sluice. On leaving the Victoria they came to an almost watei-less country, and their provisions beg in to give out; and when they were about 100 miles from the Telegraph line, Forrest determined to push oh ahead with oiie companion, Obtain a supply of food, and then Veturn to bring on the rest of the party. Accordingly they started from camp with full water drums and a few ponnds 'of flour, and commenced a 100-raile •journey which nearly cost them their lives. The blazing heat of a tropical sun dried up their store of . Water, and for forty hours they suffered the agonies of thirst. They pushed on day and night for hare life, while their senses began to reel, and each man’s tongue swelled up so that it nearly choked him, and fairly rendered him speechless. Sucking a stone gave them. relief at first, but, bye-and-bye, tho salivary glands refused to work, and the stones dropped 'out as dry as when they were pub in. At last, to their horror, the horses knocked up, and the two men had to dismount and toil on, leading the jaded beasts. Blit Forrest had taken his bearings well, and after a walk of two miles f hey struck the line-, and proceeding along it for three miles more, got Water. They say that they drank about a gallon each, before refilling their empty drums. Prior to this thev uad killed a ten-feet shake, and,-ttied in vain to get relief by sucking Che moisture from its half-roasted flesh. They soon encountered a party of linh-ve-pairersj and obtaining provisions from them, returned and brought the remainder of the party to the Catherine Telegraph Station, where Mr. and Mrs. Murray paid them every attention. Their troubles were now over, and on the 6th of October they arrived at Port Darwin. Next day they went to Palmerston, where they were presented with a congratulatory address, ahd honoured with a public reception. From PaltherSton the party started a journey h'ome, and sailed for Sydney. Mr Forrest’s exploration has bee thoroughly successful, for he has determined a number of geographical questions, and Opened up for pastoral occupation a Vast tract of splendid country.

For remainder of news see last page.