were visited by a few natives who seemed to be very friendly. Today they have set fire to the grass round about us, and the wind being very strong from the south east it travelled with great rapidity. In coming into camp about three miles back, I and the two that were with me narrowly escaped being surrounded by it, it was as much as our horses could do to get past it, as it came rolling and roaring along in one immense sheet of flame and smoke, destroying everything before it.” they were visited by a few natives who seemed to be very friendly. Today they have set fire to the grass round about us, and the wind being very strong from the south east it travelled with great rapidity. In coming into camp about three miles back, I and the two that were with me narrowly escaped being surrounded by it, it was as much as our horses could do to get past it, as it came rolling and roaring along in one immense sheet of flame and smoke, destroying everything before it.” “May 6 Frew’s Waterhole...returned to the camp...Yesterday they At length Stuart succeeded in striking a chain of ponds journey; to make the Victoria through the country I have just passed would be impossible. I must now endeavour to find a country to the northward and make the Roper.” At length Stuart succeeded in striking a chain of ponds running to the north, one of them – Kings Chain of Ponds “This certainly is a very pretty place...It reminds me much of the Park Land found by Captain Sturt in 1845.” Following a small creek they came to “Daly Waters...in honour of His Excellency the Governor in Chief.” Further attempts north met only with dry plains. “Followed my running to the north, one of them – Kings Chain of Ponds “This certainly is a very pretty place...It reminds me much of the Park Land found by Captain Sturt in 1845.” Following a small creek they came to “Daly Waters...in honour of His Excellency the Governor in Chief.” Further attempts north met only with dry plains. tracks back to Auld’s Chain of Ponds, and had difficulty in doing so, the ground being so hard that the hoofs of the horses scarcely left any impression on it. This would be a fearful country to be lost in, as there is nothing to guide them, and one cannot see more than 300 yards around.” “I feel this heavy work, much more than I did the journey of last “Followed my tracks back to Auld’s Chain of Ponds, and had difficulty in doing so, the ground being so hard that the hoofs of the horses scarcely left any impression on it. This would be a fearful country to be lost in, as there is nothing to guide them, and one cannot see more than 300 yards around.” “I feel this heavy work, much more than I did the journey They had now been camped for a month and the hard work had achieved very little progress. “May 11 I am nearly in a fix – my long journey, with the achieved very little progress. “May 11 I am nearly in a fix – my long journey, with the horses unable to do more than two nights without water, and the waterbags retaining only half the quantity in one day’s horses unable to do more than two nights without water, and the waterbags retaining only half the quantity in one day’s journey; to make the Victoria through the country I have just passed would be impossible. I must now endeavour to find a country to the northward and make the Roper.” They had now been camped for a month and the hard work had year, so much of it is beginning to tell upon me.” And so Stuart spent two days in camp at Daly Waters “bringing up the plan.” Fresh fish were a welcome change of diet. Abandoning further attempts northwest and north, they tried to the east. Efforts at last rewarded, they came to Purdie’s Ponds and later the River Strangeways and the whole party moved northwards. They were now in country explored by Gregory. It appeared to have a large native population and they were followed for a time. The grass was above their heads in places and different plants and trees were seen. Stony rises and deep gorges created problems with the horses, but the extreme water shortage was over. “June 27 West Roper River...It is a splendid river...and the country could not be better...it is simply magnificent.” A lost horse was found bogged in a creek, but another was drowned in a deeper channel of last year, so much of it is beginning to tell upon me.” And so Stuart spent two days in camp at Daly Waters “bringing up the plan.” Fresh fish were a welcome change of diet. Abandoning further attempts northwest and north, they tried to the east. Efforts at last rewarded, they came to Purdie’s Ponds and later the River Strangeways and the whole party moved northwards. They were now in country explored by Gregory. It appeared to have a large native population and they were followed for a time. The grass was above their heads in places and different plants and trees were seen. Stony rises and deep gorges created problems with the horses, but the extreme water shortage was over. “June 27 West Roper River...It is a splendid river...and the country could not be better...it is simply magnificent.” A lost horse was found bogged in a creek, but another was drowned in a deeper channel and to eke out rations, the meat was cut up to be dried. “We are all enjoying a delightful change of fresh meat from dry. It is a great treat.” Drawing by Stephen King Drawing by Stephen King Send to a friend… australiasexplorersway.com.au The Stuart Highway 13 15
