Page:Expeditions of Discovery in South Australia (IA jstor-1798142).pdf/2

 tact and management so indispensable in the leader of an expedition of discovery.

On the 5th of December, 1838, Mr. Eyre again left New South Wales with 1000 sheep and 600 cattle, and arrived safely in Adelaide on the 23rd of February, 1839. This time he accomplished the journey in a much shorter period, having been less than three months on the road. The vague expressions of the documents from which we derive our information do not enable us to determine whether the interval consumed on this expedition is calculated from the time of his leaving Sydney, or from the time of his leaving the settled districts of the colony of New South Wales. Be that as it may, to Mr. Eyre belongs the honour—without any derogation from the high merits of Messrs. Hawdon and Bonney—of having been the first to undertake, and one of the most persevering in thoroughly opening, the road for the thousands of sheep and cattle which have since been driven overland from Sydney to South Australia, so much to the benefit of the latter colony.

Before quitting this preliminary matter to dwell upon our proper theme—Mr. Eyre's exploits as a discoverer—it may not be altogether irrelevant to notice his successful efforts to extend still further that branch of commerce which he had been mainly instrumental in establishing. On the 30th of January he left Adelaide to open a communication between that settlement and Western Australia by water, for the exportation of sheep. Upon landing his flock at King George's Sound, he undertook a further overland journey with them to Swan River, a distance of 320 miles. Since that time the trade in stock between the colonies of South and Western Australia has continued steadily to increase.

These incidents in the life of Mr. Eyre do not seem to us out of place here. They illustrate the character of the man—explain in some measure how he has been able to accomplish what he has already achieved—and lead us to hope that the material interests of his adopted country, and geographical science, will be yet further benefited by the exertions of so resolute and enterprising a spirit.

During the course of the year 1839, Mr. Eyre engaged in two expeditions of discovery. On the 1st of May he left Adelaide to explore the regions to the north of that settlement. He was absent nine weeks; and, during that time, he travelled about 220 miles, examining the country between Spencer's Gulf and the Murray River to about 36 miles north of Mount Arden. His party had with them ten horses and two drays, and the expedition was fitted out and supported exclusively at his expense.

Mr. Eyre returned to Adelaide on the 29th June, and on the 8th July he started for Port Lincoln. He was absent nine weeks.