The Explorers by Tim Flannery

Author:Tim Flannery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Non-fiction classic
ISBN: 9781922148643
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2013-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

WILLIAM WALL

Bad Is the Bush, 1844

William Wall, Irish ‘Collector and Preserver’ at the Australian Museum, lacked the stiff upper lip so often encountered in explorers’ writings. In 1844 he was sent on a collecting expedition with a bullock team from Sydney to the Murrumbidgee River. Reading Wall’s account gives the idea that he was pushing into the deepest wilds, but in fact he was journeying down what was to become the Hume Highway—and even then a weekly coach ran the route.

Wall had a unique way with words. I have left his spelling and punctuation entirely as I found them, not least because I found it difficult to divine the state of Mr Clark, who was, Wall tells us, ‘compleatly punalised when he saw us’!

Friday Septr. 13th.—The Morning very gloomy likely to rain left Hurley’s at 6 oclock for Camden. Had a wreatched night no sleep full of anxiety. Paid 5/- for bed and Tea also 3/- coach hire to Camden—arrived at Camden at 8 ock. had breakfast payed 1/ 6—left for Brownlow Hill accompanied by Mr Lakeman the propicitor of the Camden Inn in a Spring Cart got lost in the Bush about 11 ock. after driving about for 4 hours we came in sight of a farm which he believed to be Mr M. McLeay…It rained on us all day so that we arrived in a dreadfull mess wet through.

Saturday Septr. 14th.—Got my cloths dry the weather still very Bad so wet that we are obliged to remain untill Monday casterated a young Cock for Mr McLeay…

Wednesday Septr. 18th.—The weather still favourable I leave here to accompany the Teams which are wating a short distance at a place called Mount Hunter left Mount Hunter this Morning at 9 ock…the Roads not the best and the Bullocks young and troublesome in travelling i collected a few Insects…I slept in a Team with an old Tarpolian over me, I must say it was anything but comfortable night fine shot nothing…

Friday Septr. 20th.—The morng. very gloomy and likely to rain had a smart shower…shot 1 mock Diamond Bird 1 yellow-eared Honey sucker and 2 common Birds saw nothing rare—one of our Bullocks droped on the Road which prevents us from going any further…

Monday Septr. 23rd.—Up at sunrise the morning fine but stormy we start from here about 7 oclk. feel Rather bettor in health thank god during the day I got very I11 so much so that I am determined to return by the mail tomorrow morng. Toward Evening we reached Luctam’s Publick House and I their made enquiries about my fair to Sydney I thought by leaving my Box and other things that he might forward me on the Coach but the answer I received from him was dam his Eyes if he would forward his mother…

Wednesday Septr. 25th.—The morning very dark and likely to rain we are obliged to remane here all day as our Bullocks are compleatly nocked up for want of food some of them are not able

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