Journey Across the Western Interior of Australia

London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Searle. 1875. Large octavo size [16x24cm approx]. Very Good condition. Green gilt decorated cloth boards, corners lightly bumped & a little rubbed. Spine edge also lightly rubbed - just light shelf wear. Bookplate to front pastedown and front hinge slightly cracked. A very nice, solid and clean copy of this scarce title. Small gift inscription to top of Preface. Illustrated with eight black & white engravings and large fold-out map [with neatly repaired tears] at rear. 307 pages. Important account of the first expedition to cross from Alice Springs to Roebourne on the West Coast of Australia in 1872 Warburton left South Australia as leader of an expedition that included his son Richard and J. Lewis. It was financed and provided with seventeen camels and six months supplies by (Sir) Walter Hughes and (Sir) Thomas Elder, and sought to link the province with Western Australia. After leaving Alice Springs in April 1873, they endured long periods of extreme heat with little water, and survived only by killing the camels for meat. They reached the Oakover River with Warburton strapped to a camel. On 11 January 1874 they were brought to Charles Harper's de Grey station in northern Western Australia. They had conquered the formidable Great Sandy Desert to become the first to cross the continent from the centre to the west. Warburton was emaciated and blind in one eye; at a public banquet in Adelaide later he attributed their survival to his Aboriginal companion Charley. . 1st Edition. Hardback.