them of the seriousness of their duties. Their lives too, depended on the health of the horses. It would be a long walk back, or if a pack horse was lost, it was provisions that would have to be done without. A horse carried one hundred and twenty pounds and was loaded and unloaded each day the same; in four rows of eighteen horses. Auld recounts: “Thring, the third officer, who had the sundown, both men and horses suffered from the excessive heat. This is the hottest weather that I ever experienced in this latitude; during the day the horses will not eat a mouthful but stand about in groups.” The new chums learnt quickly. Water was to be conserved (in management of the horses, allotted eighteen horses to every two men, not including Stuart, Waterhouse and the cook, who had one packhorse to carry the tucker, and I had six to look after. By this plan Kekwick, who had charge of the packs, knew at once where to get anything he wanted. In a very short time the horses knew their own row, and would form into line. By giving the men certain horses they were brought to look upon them as their own, and did their level best to keep them right. When every horse was packed we would mount. Stuart would light his pipe– he was very fond of his pipe – take a bearing with his prismatic compass, replace it in the case, and start. Then Turpin, the bob-tailed cob would follow close behind, and the others come on, one behind the other, like ducks.” Chambers Creek had once been the furthest outpost, but settlement had rapidly progressed and now Mr Levi’s station at Mount Margaret was the last. They arrived there after travelling for a week. Some of the town horses were “knocking up” and looking very miserable; one had died. It was a big worry that they were not of the standard of James Chambers’ Cobdogla horses. The party stayed for a few days until a 1 pound meat, 1 pound sugar, 2 ounces tea, and 1⁄4 pound tobacco per week. This lasted for five months” Auld recounts “The conversation of the party now consisted entirely in informing each other of the visions we had seen on the previous night. In every case the subject was the same. Dinner parties, going into restaurants and astonishing everyone by the quantities we ate, and then not being satisfied. The food supplies troubled us sorely, and we were at considerable pains to replenish our poverty-stricken larder.” One morning “when called by the ‘doctor’ (the cook) to breakfast, we were horror-stricken when he informed us that the damper had been stolen. He had made that damper, said he and laid it against a tree to cool. Dogs had been heard in the night, therefore dogs were blamed. But their sins found them out. Next night we were all startled by hearing a shot. The man on watch had seen a dog crawling into camp, Chambers Creek had once been the furthest outpost, but settlement had rapidly progressed and now Mr Levi’s station at Mount Margaret was the last. They arrived there after travelling for a week. Some of the town horses were “knocking up” and looking very miserable; one had died. It was a big worry that they were not of the standard of James Chambers’ Cobdogla horses. The party stayed for a few days until a cool change appeared. They continued on leaving the last familiar faces they would see for many months. A further eight horses had to be left behind at various springs before the end of the month. Stuart reluctantly had to leave more provisions behind. “Orders were given to reduce the rations to 4 pounds flour, 1 pound meat, 1 pound sugar, 2 ounces tea, and 1⁄4 pound tobacco per week. This lasted for five months” Auld recounts “The conversation of the party now consisted entirely in informing each other of the visions we had seen on the previous night. In every case the subject was the same. Dinner parties, going into restaurants and astonishing everyone by the quantities we ate, and then not being satisfied. The food supplies troubled us sorely, and we were at considerable pains to replenish our poverty-stricken larder.” One morning “when called by the ‘doctor’ 12 Australia’s Explorers’ Way cool change appeared. They continued on leaving the last familiar faces they would see for many months. A further eight horses had to be left behind at various springs before the end of the month. Stuart reluctantly had to leave more provisions behind. “Orders were given to reduce the rations to 4 pounds flour, case there wasn’t any at the following night’s camp). The rule regarding the watch was most strict; the men changed every two hours, Stuart declaring if ever he found the watch asleep, he would “shoot him dead”– no doubt said to impress them of the seriousness of their duties. Their lives too, depended on the health of the horses. It would be a long walk back, or if a pack horse was lost, it was provisions that would have to be done without. A horse carried one hundred and twenty pounds and was loaded and unloaded each day the same; in four rows of eighteen horses. Auld recounts: “Thring, the third officer, who had the management of the horses, allotted eighteen horses to every two men, not including Stuart, Waterhouse and the cook, who had one packhorse to carry the tucker, and I had six to look after. By this plan Kekwick, who had charge of the packs, knew at once where to get anything he wanted. In a very short time the horses knew their own row, and would form into line. By giving the men certain horses they were brought to look upon them as their own, and did their level best to keep them right. When every horse was packed we would mount. Stuart would light his pipe– he was very fond of his pipe – take a bearing with his prismatic compass, replace it in the case, and start. Then Turpin, the bob-tailed cob would follow close behind, and the others come on, one behind the other, like ducks.” had fired, and had killed him. That dog was skinned, cut up, and put in the pot and eaten. Some of the men’s palates were so sensitive that they solemnly declared they detected the lost damper as they ate. We had imaginative men in our party.” The weather continued hot, but there were a few showers of rain. When they reached the Finke River they found the “grass quite green and abundant.” There were numerous native fires about. Over the next three weeks the party had several confrontations with the natives but left the area without bloodshed to either side and proceeded on to Central Mount Stuart. The end of March found them past Tennant Creek at Attack Creek and then on to the camp of the former journey. Stuart’s Prismatic Compass Stuart’s Prismatic Compas (the cook) to breakfast, we were horror-stricken when he informed us that the damper had been stolen. He had made that damper, said he and laid it against a tree to cool. Dogs had been heard in the night, therefore dogs were blamed. But their sins found them out. Next night we were all startled by hearing a shot. The man on watch had seen a dog crawling into camp, had fired, and had killed him. That dog was skinned, cut up, and put in the pot and eaten. Some of the men’s palates were so sensitive that they solemnly declared they detected the lost damper as they ate. We had imaginative men in our party.” The weather continued hot, but there were a few showers of rain. When they reached the Finke River they found the “grass quite green and abundant.” There were numerous native fires about. Over the next three weeks the party had several confrontations with the natives but left the area without bloodshed to either side and proceeded on to Central Mount Stuart. The end of March found them past Tennant Creek at Attack Creek and then on to the camp of the former journey. The local natives came by to see the new Stuart’s Telescope Stuart’s Telescope to examine the country, nothing visible but Sturt’s immense plains and belts of scrub.” Leaving the main party in camp, Stuart with a couple of men, again went on a series of trips, a painstaking examination of the country to find water. The first trip out, they found “Frew’s Waterhole” and “Howell’s Ponds” and the main party moved camp. It was hard trying work, but the small party persevered with two day journeys, (the limit of the horses’ endurance without water). Extracts from Stuart’s journal tell the story: “thick forest...not seen a drop...Sturt Plain... following the flight of the birds...not a drop...scrub almost impassable...” The plains were hot and waterless and the dense forest was suffocatingly hot and tore clothes and equipment to pieces. On one such trip, the pack horse died. remaining a long time... Newcastle Waters April 7 I shall require to rest my horses here for some days as they are very tired and leg weary, having accomplished the journey from Chambers Creek to this place in three months all but one day.” Stuart now began where he left off on the previous expedition. “Proceeded to the top of the Ashburton Range to examine the country, nothing visible but Sturt’s immense plains and belts of scrub.” Leaving the main party in camp, Stuart with a couple of men, again went on a series of trips, a painstaking examination of the country to find water. The first trip out, they found “Frew’s Waterhole” and “Howell’s Ponds” and the main party arrivals and “all sat down and had a good stare at us, “Proceeded to the top of the Ashburton Range Artificial Horizon Artificial Horizon moved camp. It was hard trying work, but the small party persevered with two day journeys, (the limit of the horses’ endurance without water). Extracts from Stuart’s journal tell the story: “thick forest...not seen a drop...Sturt Plain... following the flight of the birds...not a drop...scrub almost impassable...” The plains were hot and waterless and the dense forest was suffocatingly hot and tore clothes and equipment to pieces. On one such trip, the pack horse died. Auld recounts “We were always very anxious, as may be imagined, for the return of Stuart, and the surmise whether he found water or not was a Auld recounts “We were always very anxious, as may be imagined, for the return of Stuart, and the surmise whether he found water or not was a matter of great concern. Sometimes we could tell a long way off that the party had been unsuccessful, owing to the staggering gait of the several natives came into camp, bringing their piccaninnies with them. Kekwick brought out some tape and calico, presented to the expedition by some kind person for the natives. We had great fun in decorating the youngsters who seemed delighted.” “May 6 Frew’s Waterhole...returned to the camp...Yesterday matter of great concern. Sometimes we could tell a long way off that the party had been unsuccessful, owing to the staggering gait of the horses.” In camp, one monotonous day followed another. “One day horses.” In camp, one monotonous day followed another. “One day several natives came into camp, bringing their piccaninnies with them. Kekwick brought out some tape and calico, presented to the expedition by some kind person for the natives. We had great fun in decorating the youngsters who seemed delighted.” The local natives came by to see the new arrivals and “all sat down and had a good stare at us, remaining a long time... Newcastle Waters April 7 I shall require to rest my horses here for some days as they are very tired and leg weary, having accomplished the journey from Chambers Creek to this place in three months all but one day.” Stuart now began where he left off on the previous expedition.
