Sir, —
Allow me to present to you the following letter from my friend, Allan Hughan, Esq.,1 who so long resided on the Murray River, within Victorian territory, and from whom many of the public institutions of the country experienced much general and enlightened support.
The statements concerning the probable destinations of the remnants of Leichhardt's party in the interior being more towards the western coast are not merely a repetition of former traditions (now, however, given in a much more tangible form), but coincide with descriptions advanced by me for many a year. Let the hope not be vain, that high-minded men in the Australian communities will render every support to disclose the truths of these aboriginal traditions. In the measures for throwing light on this new account of Leichhardt's death the colony of West Australia ought to be more prominently advanced; and if only a few dromedaries were brought from Asia to King George's Sound2 by the P. and O. steamers, any small party sent out might at the cool season readily enough traverse the generally waterless or saline depressions which the pastoral travellers, without the aid of camels, have hitherto been unable to explore, while not merely the object of ascertaining Leichhardt's fate would be gained, but likely also important additions be made to the geography of Australia.
The expedition, so vigorously continued in the field through the exertions of the ladies, was directed by the fair promoters of this national enterprise some months since from Carpentaria to the S. W, the inquiries at the Gulf being then concluded; and should this season prove favourably rainy, it is likely that the ladies' party will reach the locality mentioned by Messrs. Rowe and Monger. Nevertheless, exertions should also be made from the W. A. settlements to advance to that point from the opposite direction, as, indeed, the success of the ladies' expedition, though ever so well conducted, must largely depend on the chances of the season.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
FERD. MUELLER.
Botanical-gardens, April 24.
Please cite as “FVM-67-04-24,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on