From Farquhar McRae to Ferdinand von Mueller   5 Feb 1881

Roebourne

West Australia

5/2/81

Sir F Von Muller

Dear Sir,

Under cover of this I forward you a few pieces of a small shrub growing in this district. a number of Sheep have died here from eating it, a few days since one man lost 700 the Sheep had fed over some ground which had been burnt about a month previous, & this plant was was the only vegetation that had sprang up. the sheep all died within two hours after eating it. This plant or Shrub grows to the height of about 12 inches when at maturity, as it gets old the leaves get hard & have a small sharp prickle on the end, it has a small flour¹ something like a comon Pea. I have not been able as yet to get any of the seed

If it will not be troubleing you too much I would very much like to hear from you about this plant, when I have an opportunity I will send you some of the flowers & seeds of it. I could also get you lots of other Botanical Specimens if you care for them.

About 16 months since myself & another person sent some sheep & horses to Beagle Bay near the Fitzroy River² most of the horses died shortly after landing I have sent others there & they have also died, they seem to go crankey & wander about & are very much afraid of water, they go to trees knock themselves about some are bad for several days before they die others die more suddenly. About the time I left Victoria about 15 years ago, I used to hear of horses dying on the upper part of the Murray & Daling³ Rivers in a similar manner I think I have heard that the cause of horses dying there was a plant called the darling Pea If you could give me any information about this poison I would be very thankful to you, as I would like if possible to find the cause of the horses dying before I send more there

Sheep do not appear to get poisoned at Beagle Bay but they do not thrive there, they are always poor although they have lots of apparently good food.

Yours truly

F McRae