The Central Australian Expedition 1844-1846: The Journals of Charles Sturt

lxxi+366 pages with color frontispiece, additional color plate, 3 half tone plates, map, appendices, bibliography and index. Small quarto (10" x 7") issued in original dark blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine and pictorial representation of the ship Victoria blind stamped in gilt on the cover. Works issued by the Hakluyt Society, Third Series, Number 10. Edited by Richard C Davis. First edition.

In August 1844, a heavily-laden party led by Captain Charles Sturt lumbered out of Adelaide, administrative seat of the young colony of South Australia. The Seventeen-man expedition had just been feted at a public breakfast. Soon after, it turned north toward the center of the continent. Among the procession of saddle horses, bullocks, sheep and wagon-loads of scientific equipment and provision for a year, rolled a light cart on which sat a boat. While many geographers had given up te notion of an inland sea lying in Australia's interior, Sturt had not. he set out to find it, doggedly certain that he would discover arable lands and stimulate the colony's pastoral economy. He was equally certain that he would be amply recognized and rewarded for such valuable public service. Six month later, trapped at an isolated waterhole and for surrounded by hundreds of miles of parched land, the party waited for rain. No inland sea had revealed itself on the journey inland; in fact, permanent water of any description was rare. Parched creek beds lay dry for months on end. finally, in July 1845, after having been unable to advance or retreat from the waterhole, the part rejoiced in falling rain. But by then the provisions were all but gone, and the men still faced the long journey back to Adelaide. One man died of scurvy, a debilitating scourge that ate away at the leader as well. Nonetheless, Sturt took a few of his healthiest men and pushed even farther toward the center, until - barely able to stay astride his horse - Sturt order the entire party home. Although he neither found an inland sea nor reached the center of the continent, Charles Stuart's considerable efforts revealed the nature of much of the mysterious land. and in a manner uncharacteristic of his times, he established respectful and cooperative relations with the Aborigines encountered along the way.

Condition:

Light edge wear at heal edges else a near fine copy in like jacket.