perfidy, and who mistake her respect for other people’s independence for devotedness to her own gain. A good patriot can desire nothing better for Old England than that the views of her government should always coincide with the true interests of her people.
RETURN OF THE RIVAL EXPLORERS.
Indomitable perseverance has at length won the day, and the renowned explorer, John Macdouall Stuart, succeeded on a third attempt in making his way from the settlements of South Australia right across the Continent to the Indian Ocean.
It will be remembered that Stuart on his first exploration in 1860 (an account of which was given in our February number of 1861) was driven back by hostile natives after reaching 18° 47′ S., this brave man’s party being then composed of only two others besides himself.
Nothing daunted, in 1861 he again renewed the endeavour to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria; but was again doomed to disappointment, his course northward being checked in latitude 17° S. by a broad belt of scrub, which seemed to preclude all further advance. On the two first attempts, Stuart’s instructions had been to make if possible for the Victoria River; and, by so doing, come upon Gregory’s track: and, failing that, to push straight forward for the Gulf of Carpentaria.
On the present occasion, when he again came up with this interminable belt of scrub, which appeared to hem him in on all sides, Stuart at first endeavoured to make for the Victoria River, but finding that impracticable as before, he turned due north; and succeeded, after six weeks, in cutting a passage through the scrub.
Starting, as on previous trips, from some of the more northerly stations of Mr. Chambers (his great patron and supporter, who unfortunately did not live to see the final accomplishment of that project, the development and expense of which had been mainly borne by him), Stuart kept along his previous tracks until he reached his furthest limit of 1861, not far from the northern boundary line of South Australia, without encountering any difficulties more than a slight brush with the natives, who were, however, easily overawed by a few shots being fired over their heads.
From this point, the new features of interest as well as the difficulties of the present exploration began. Taking advantage of the neighbourhood of a large sheet of water called Newcastle Water, a depôt was formed, and Stuart and his party prepared to cut their way, as previously mentioned, through the dense scrub, an undertaking which cost them six weeks of most untiring exertions.
Before he started, the veteran explorer had foreseen that his greatest obstacle would be at this point, and had purposely fixed upon Newcastle Water as a spot from which supplies of that most necessary element could be carried forward into the scrub, or on which they could fall back in the event of being obliged to retreat. Even here however, they were agreeably disappointed, since ample supplies of water were discovered in the scrub. The idea which he had formed proved correct. No sooner had they got through this dense belt, the northern limit of which was in 16° 30′ N., than the character of the country entirely changed, and they entered a well-watered fertile territory. Following a north and north-east direction, the party came upon a branch of the Roper River, the course of which they continued to pursue until they reached the main stream, which rises in a rocky and hilly country. Besides the Roper, they crossed several creeks, and in latitude 13° 50′, and longitude 132° 30′, reached a high table-land. On the other side of the table-land they struck a large river with a strong current passing through a well-grassed country. The party then traced the banks of the river, which ran north-easterly, till they arrived in latitude 12° 50′, and longitude 131° 40′, when it turned and flowed towards the north, which being their course they kept company with it for about 30 miles.
Stuart then struck due east for about ten or fifteen miles, and, finally journeying due north, reached the seashore at Van Diemen’s Gulf on July 24th, having been out then nearly six months. What must have been the feelings of his indomitable spirit, when, after all his toils, after having been twice driven back by the dense scrub, he at length stood on the Arnheim hills, and looked out on the blue waters of the Indian Ocean, it is impossible to tell. The 10,000 Greeks, when, on their memorable retreat, they at last caught sight of the Mediterranean shores, were transported with delight, and shouted, “The Sea! the Sea!” The Spanish General Balboa, when he came unexpectedly on the Pacific Ocean, rushed in, and, sword in hand, took possession of it in the name of the king his master; but the man whose name hereafter will stand pre-eminent as the Australian explorer, whose unflinching resolution enabled him on this his third attempt to carry the point, in trying for which so many have perished, and whose own hand has cut through dense scrubs, and over sandy plains, the future highway of that continent, was satisfied with dipping his feet and washing his face and hands in the Indian Ocean.
As Columbus was not the first to get a glimpse of the land which betokened the existence of the New World, so neither was Stuart the first to catch sight of that sea which indicated that the task was done.
Thring, one of the party who rode in advance, called out “The Sea,” which so took them all by surprise, and they were so astonished, that he had to repeat the call before they knew what he meant. Hearing which, they gave three long and hearty cheers. In order to signalise the great event of their arrival on the northern seaboard, Stuart immediately hoisted the Union Jack, having had a tree denuded of its branches for that purpose, while at the foot of an adjoining one he planted a tin case, containing a statement of the date of his arrival and the object of his visit, signed by every one present. A few congratulatory words were addressed to the members of the expedition by Stuart, Kekwick, and Waterhouse, and other simple demonstrations were made in honour of the successful issue of the journey. The sea-coast turned out to be Point Hotham,