Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS annotation by Petermann: 'Erh. 24. März 1866' [Received 24 March 1866]. For a published version of this letter, see Voigt (1996), p. 76.

26/1/66

Nur mit ein paar eiligen Worten kann ich, verehrter Herr Professor, diese Reisenotizen von Mr Giles u seine Karte begleiten, da es mir an Zeit gar sehr gebricht in dieser Jahreszeit ausserordentlicher Dürre, die auch meine Gartendirectur erschwert. Die Casuarina, deren Giles erwähnt, ist C. rigida Miquel; der Cottonbush = Sclerolaena paradoxa R.Brown, die Owenia = O. acidula Ferd Mueller, The spotted tree = Flindersia Strzeleckiana Ferd Mueller, der Baum mit den scharf schmeckenden Blättern ist Codonocarpus cotinifolius Ferd Mueller —

Über die Unglücksfälle, welche M'Intyres Parthie betrafen muss ich mit nächster Post berichten, da noch keine officiellen Depeschen angelangt sind. Nach Privatnachrichten (die ich einstweilen geheim zu halten bitte) hat M'Intyre eine schöne Position südlich von dem Coopers Creek verlassen ist vorgedrungen zu einem Platz am Flusse, den er in 2 früheren Jahren besucht, fand dort das Flussbett wasserleer. Auf dem Rückzug geht er voran um Wasser herbei zuschaffen. In seiner Abwesenheit vertheilt der Arzt den für Kranke mitgenommenen Brantwein, u unter dem Einfluss des Getränks werden die armen Pferde die 4 Tage kein Wasser hatten losgelassen ohne einmal (was grässlich ist) sie des Gepäcks zu entledigen, trotz dessen, dass die Parthie nur 24 Stunden ohne Wasser war. So wurden Gepäck Sättel u sw. u 70 Pferde verloren. Die 12 Camele sind gerettet. Uns, die wir hier das ganze anordneten, kann kein Tadel treffen. Wir hatten nicht Fond genug um die Kameele nach Port Denison oder dem Carp. Golf zu bringen bei Schiff. M'Intyre hatte auch seine Pferde u Ausrüstung schon am Paroo von der frühern Reise.

Eine neue Karte sende ich Ihnen über Paris per Schiff.

26 January 1866.

I can accompany these travel notes from Mr Giles and his map only with a few hasty words, esteemed Professor, as I have so very little time during this season of extraordinary drought, which is making the management of the Gardens more difficult for me. The Casuarina mentioned by Giles is C. rigida Miquel, the cotton bush is Sclerolaena paradoxa R. Brown, the Owenia is O. acidula F. Mueller, the spotted tree Flindersia strzeleckiana F. Mueller, the tree with the sharp-tasting leaves is Codonocarpus cotinifolius F. Mueller.

2

Notes and map not found. In January 1865 Ernest Giles, accompanied by W. H. Tietkens, 'left Melbourne for the country west of the Darling … to take up land for a Melbourne syndicate', and travelled from Wlicannia to Milparinka (both NSW) and back. (W. H. Tietkens to E. B. Dow, 4 September 1923, quoted in Dow (1937). See also Ericksen (1978), pp. 19-21.

I must report about the misfortunes that befell M'Intyre's party

3

Duncan McIntyre, with the Ladies' Leichhardt Search Expedition, 1865-6.

with the next mail, as so far no official messages have arrived. According to private news (which I ask you to keep to yourself for the present), M'Intyre had left a good site south of Cooper's Creek

4

Qld.

and proceeded to a locality at the river, that he had visited twice in previous years, but he found the river bed dry. On the return journey he went on ahead to procure water. During his absence the doctor

5

James Murray, who accompanied the expedition as medical doctor, naturalist and second-in-command to McIntyre.

distributed the brandy that had been brought in case of sickness, and under the influence of the drink the poor horses, that had had no water for four days, were let loose without even (it is horrible) unloading their packs, even though the party had only been without water for 24 hours. Thus packs, saddles and 70 horses were lost. The 12 camels have been saved. We,

6

M and the Ladies' Committee.

who organised all this, are beyond reproach. We did not have sufficient funds to transport the camels by ship to Port Denison

7

Now Bowen, Qld.

or the Gulf of Carpentaria. Also, M'Intyre already had his horses and equipment at the Paroo

8

Paroo River, Qld.

from his earlier travels.

I am sending you a new map by ship via Paris.

9

Map not identified.